ADU permit cost and fee breakdown in Lancaster, California
An early-budgeting estimate of the permit-related fees an accessory dwelling unit is likely to incur in Lancaster. 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
$23,750 – $45,250
Assumed construction valuation
$270,000
Used only to compute valuation-based fees. It is not a construction quote.
Where the money goes
- Building permit$1,000 – $3,500
The core permit issued by the city building department.
- Plan check$800 – $2,500
Review of your drawings for code compliance.
- Impact fees$0 – $5,000
Development impact fees. Often waived for ADUs under 750 sq ft.
- School district fees$0 – $4,500
Developer fees charged by the local school district.
- Utility connection$1,500 – $8,000
Water, sewer, and electrical connection or capacity charges.
- Inspection$400 – $1,500
Field inspections during construction.
- Technology & surcharges$50 – $250
Records, technology, and general plan surcharges.
- Other$20,000
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.
- Some fee items appear more than once, so category totals may double count.
- 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.
City building permit fees
$1,000 – $3,500
Estimated range
Fee Schedules & Forms | City of Lancaster
Plan check
Review of your drawings for code compliance.
City plan check fees
$800 – $2,500
Estimated range
Fee Schedules & Forms | City of Lancaster
Impact fees
Development impact fees. Often waived for ADUs under 750 sq ft.
California ADU impact-fee baseline for smaller units
$0 – $5,000
Estimated range
Housable - ADU Development in Lancaster, CA
School district fees
Developer fees charged by the local school district.
California school fee baseline
$0 – $4,500
Estimated range
ADU Permit Costs in California (2026) | Complete Fee Breakdown
Utility connection
Water, sewer, and electrical connection or capacity charges.
Utility connection fees
$1,500 – $8,000
Estimated range
Fee Schedules & Forms | City of Lancaster
Inspection
Field inspections during construction.
Inspection fees
$400 – $1,500
Estimated range
Fee Schedules & Forms | City of Lancaster
Technology & surcharges
Records, technology, and general plan surcharges.
Technology fees
$50 – $250
Estimated range
Fee Schedules & Forms | City of Lancaster
Other
Fees that do not fit the categories above.
ADU Assistance Loan Program
$10,000
Flat fee
ADU Assistance Loan Program | City of LancasterModel-guessed Lancaster ADU Assistance Loan Program
$10,000
Flat fee
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 Lancaster before you commit money.
City reference pages for verification