ADU permit cost and fee breakdown in Fresno, California

An early-budgeting estimate of the permit-related fees an accessory dwelling unit is likely to incur in Fresno. These are not official figures.

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17 fee lines

ADU size

California generally exempts ADUs under 750 sq ft from development impact fees, so the 749 / 750 / 751 steps are worth comparing.

400 sq ft 500 sq ft 749 sq ft 750 sq ft 751 sq ft 1,000 sq ft 1,200 sq ft

Estimated total permit fees at 750 sq ft

$26,075 – $85,975

Assumed construction valuation

$270,000

Used only to compute valuation-based fees. It is not a construction quote.

Where the money goes

Building permit$1,650 – $3,850
The core permit issued by the city building department.
Plan check$575 – $1,775
Review of your drawings for code compliance.
Impact fees$4,000 – $18,500
Development impact fees. Often waived for ADUs under 750 sq ft.
School district fees$6,450 – $7,900
Developer fees charged by the local school district.
Utility connection$1,500 – $8,000
Water, sewer, and electrical connection or capacity charges.
Inspection$300 – $1,200
Field inspections during construction.
Technology & surcharges$50 – $300
Records, technology, and general plan surcharges.
Other$11,550 – $44,450
Fees that do not fit the categories above.

The darker segment is the low end of the range; the full bar is the high end.

Read before you budget

Most fee lines are working estimates rather than verified published city rates. Confirm every line with the city before budgeting.
Some fee items appear more than once, so category totals may double count.

Fee items

Building permit

The core permit issued by the city building department.

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
Building Construction Permit	$857	Flat fee	Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) - County of Fresno
Building Construction Permit Fee	$800 – $3,000	Estimated range

Building Construction Permit
$857
Flat fee
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) - County of Fresno
Building Construction Permit Fee
$800 – $3,000
Estimated range

Plan check

Review of your drawings for code compliance.

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
Building Plan Check	$279	Flat fee	Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) - County of Fresno
Building Plan Check Fee	$300 – $1,500	Estimated range

Building Plan Check
$279
Flat fee
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) - County of Fresno
Building Plan Check Fee
$300 – $1,500
Estimated range

Impact fees

Development impact fees. Often waived for ADUs under 750 sq ft.

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
Development Impact Fee Threshold for ADUs under 750 sq ft	$0	Flat fee	PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT FEES - City of Fresno
Development Impact Fee for ADUs over 750 sq ft	$3,000 – $15,000	Estimated range	PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT FEES - City of Fresno
Regional Transportation Mitigation Fee	$1,000 – $3,500	Estimated range	Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) - County of Fresno

Development Impact Fee Threshold for ADUs under 750 sq ft
$0
Flat fee
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT FEES - City of Fresno
Development Impact Fee for ADUs over 750 sq ft
$3,000 – $15,000
Estimated range
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT FEES - City of Fresno
Regional Transportation Mitigation Fee
$1,000 – $3,500
Estimated range
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) - County of Fresno

School district fees

Developer fees charged by the local school district.

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
School Fee per Square Foot	$4.79 per sq ft	Per square foot	TADU Cost Estimate - City of Fresno
School Fee Applicability for ADUs	Verify directly with the city	Verify with city	Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) - County of Fresno
School District Fee	$4.79 per sq ft	Per square foot

School Fee per Square Foot
$4.79 per sq ft
Per square foot
TADU Cost Estimate - City of Fresno
School Fee Applicability for ADUs
Verify directly with the city
Verify with city
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) - County of Fresno
School District Fee
$4.79 per sq ft
Per square foot

Utility connection

Water, sewer, and electrical connection or capacity charges.

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
Utility Connection and Meter Fees	$1,500 – $8,000	Estimated range

Utility Connection and Meter Fees
$1,500 – $8,000
Estimated range

Inspection

Field inspections during construction.

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
Building Inspection Fee	$300 – $1,200	Estimated range

Building Inspection Fee
$300 – $1,200
Estimated range

Technology & surcharges

Records, technology, and general plan surcharges.

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
Technology and General Plan Surcharges	$50 – $300	Estimated range

Technology and General Plan Surcharges
$50 – $300
Estimated range

Other

Fees that do not fit the categories above.

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
Zone Clearance Application Fee	$648	Flat fee	What are the costs to build tiny homes, ADUs in Fresno CA?
Permits and Impact Fees Range	$5,400 – $20,800	Estimated range	ADU Cost in Fresno, CA (2026) - Buildability
Total Estimated Permits and Impact Fees	$5,000 – $22,000	Estimated range

Zone Clearance Application Fee
$648
Flat fee
What are the costs to build tiny homes, ADUs in Fresno CA?
Permits and Impact Fees Range
$5,400 – $20,800
Estimated range
ADU Cost in Fresno, CA (2026) - Buildability
Total Estimated Permits and Impact Fees
$5,000 – $22,000
Estimated range

These are estimates, not official fees

Use these figures for early budgeting only. They are not a quote, not a government fee determination, and not legal advice. Actual fees depend on your parcel, your plans, your construction valuation, your utility provider, and the fee schedule in force on the day your permit is issued. Confirm every number with Fresno before you commit money.

City reference pages for verification

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