ADU permit cost and fee breakdown in Irvine, California
An early-budgeting estimate of the permit-related fees an accessory dwelling unit is likely to incur in Irvine. These are not official figures.
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ADU size
California generally exempts ADUs under 750 sq ft from development impact fees, so the 749 / 750 / 751 steps are worth comparing.
Estimated total
Estimated total permit fees at 750 sq ft
$4,550 – $35,800
Assumed construction valuation
$270,000
Used only to compute valuation-based fees. It is not a construction quote.
Where the money goes
- Building permit$1,500 – $5,000
The core permit issued by the city building department.
- Plan check$1,000 – $3,500
Review of your drawings for code compliance.
- Impact fees$0 – $8,000
Development impact fees. Often waived for ADUs under 750 sq ft.
- School district fees$0 – $6,000
Developer fees charged by the local school district.
- Utility connection$1,500 – $10,000
Water, sewer, and electrical connection or capacity charges.
- Inspection$500 – $2,000
Field inspections during construction.
- Technology & surcharges$50 – $300
Records, technology, and general plan surcharges.
- Other$0 – $1,000
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.
- Totals do not vary by ADU size for this city, so the size selector will not change the estimate.
Fee items
Building permit
The core permit issued by the city building department.
Building permit fee
$1,500 – $5,000
Estimated range
ADU Rules in Irvine, CA (2026) — Requirements & Costs
Plan check
Review of your drawings for code compliance.
Plan check fee
$1,000 – $3,500
Estimated range
ADU Rules in Irvine, CA (2026) — Requirements & Costs
Impact fees
Development impact fees. Often waived for ADUs under 750 sq ft.
California ADU impact-fee baseline
$0 – $8,000
Estimated range
ADU Rules in Irvine, CA (2026) — Requirements & Costs
School district fees
Developer fees charged by the local school district.
Irvine Unified School District fee threshold
$0 – $6,000
Estimated range
ADU Rules in Irvine, CA (2026) — Requirements & Costs
Utility connection
Water, sewer, and electrical connection or capacity charges.
Water/sewer connection fees
$1,500 – $10,000
Estimated range
ADU Rules in Irvine, CA (2026) — Requirements & Costs
Inspection
Field inspections during construction.
Inspection fee
$500 – $2,000
Estimated range
Technology & surcharges
Records, technology, and general plan surcharges.
Technology fee
$50 – $300
Estimated range
Other
Fees that do not fit the categories above.
Pre-approved ADU plans
$0 – $1,000
Estimated range
Pre-Approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Plans
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 Irvine before you commit money.