ADU permit process in Monterey, California

Monterey County, California

Prepared by GetYourPermit editorial teamReport an error

We haven’t written Monterey’s permit guide yet.

We publish permit process guides one city at a time, and we would rather publish nothing than guess at Monterey’s rules using another city’s process. Permit steps, submittal requirements, and review timelines are set locally, so a guide copied from a neighboring city would be wrong in ways that cost you time.

Here is what is useful for Monterey right now.

See the fee estimate for Monterey

Start here instead — official and primary sources for Monterey

CitySchedule of Fees and Fines
The live City Finance page identifies the FY26-27 Master Fee Schedule as the current source and advises applicants to confirm a particular service or permit fee if it may have changed.
Accessed August 29, 2026
CityMaster Fee Schedule, Fiscal Year 2026/2027
The current City schedule provides separate valuation-bracket tables for Building Permit fees and Plan Check fees, a 15% General Plan Fee, and the valuation-approval condition.
Accessed August 29, 2026
CityBuilding and Safety Services
The live City Building page says the permit portal identifies required plan reviews and calculates applicable fees from project-specific scope, valuation, and regulatory triggers; it also links the ADU/JADU checklist.
Accessed August 29, 2026
CityPlan Submittal
The City’s live submittal guidance states that plan-check fees are valuation-based and identifies the school, TAMC, Monterey One Water, City sewer-connection, fire, stormwater, and water-permit layers that may apply.
Accessed August 29, 2026
CityADUs and JADUs
The live City ADU page states that impact fees follow state law and the City’s adopted schedule, requires sufficient water and sewer services, and identifies City plan review and issuance steps.
Accessed August 29, 2026
CityADUs and JADUs Pre-Submittal Checklist
The City checklist requires plan-check payment after preapplication, water-credit verification, and identifies connection and utility conditions specific to ADUs/JADUs.
Accessed August 29, 2026

What to ask the Monterey building department

The current building permit fee schedule, and the date it took effect.
Whether development impact fees apply at your square footage — many California cities waive them for ADUs of 750 sq ft or less.
Plan submittal requirements: what drawings they expect, in what format, and whether submittal is online or in person.