ADU permit cost and fee breakdown in Sacramento, California

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

Prepared by GetYourPermit editorial teamReport an error

10 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

$9,000 – $34,400

Assumed construction valuation

$270,000

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

Where the money goes

Building permit$1,200 – $3,500
The core permit issued by the city building department.
Plan check$1,200 – $4,000
Review of your drawings for code compliance.
Impact fees$3,000 – $12,000
Development impact fees. Often waived for ADUs under 750 sq ft.
School district fees$1,500 – $5,000
Developer fees charged by the local school district.
Utility connection$1,500 – $8,000
Water, sewer, and electrical connection or capacity charges.
Inspection$500 – $1,500
Field inspections during construction.
Technology & surcharges$100 – $400
Records, technology, and general plan surcharges.

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.

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
City building permit fee	$1,200 – $3,500	Estimated range	Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Fee Estimate (New Construction)

City building permit fee
$1,200 – $3,500
Estimated range
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Fee Estimate (New Construction)

Plan check

Review of your drawings for code compliance.

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
City planning application fee	$400 – $1,500	Estimated range	Step 4: Costs - ADU Sacramento
City building plan review fee	$800 – $2,500	Estimated range	Step 4: Costs - ADU Sacramento

City planning application fee
$400 – $1,500
Estimated range
Step 4: Costs - ADU Sacramento
City building plan review fee
$800 – $2,500
Estimated range
Step 4: Costs - ADU Sacramento

Impact fees

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

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
Development impact fees waived for ADUs 749 sq ft and under	Verify directly with the city	Verify with city	Step 4: Costs - ADU Sacramento
Development Impact Fees (ADUs 749 sq ft and under)	$0	Flat fee
Development Impact Fees (ADUs 750 sq ft and larger)	$3,000 – $12,000	Estimated range

Development impact fees waived for ADUs 749 sq ft and under
Verify directly with the city
Verify with city
Step 4: Costs - ADU Sacramento
Development Impact Fees (ADUs 749 sq ft and under)
$0
Flat fee
Development Impact Fees (ADUs 750 sq ft and larger)
$3,000 – $12,000
Estimated range

School district fees

Developer fees charged by the local school district.

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
School impact fees may apply for larger ADUs	$1,500 – $5,000	Estimated range	Step 4: Costs - ADU Sacramento

School impact fees may apply for larger ADUs
$1,500 – $5,000
Estimated range
Step 4: Costs - ADU Sacramento

Utility connection

Water, sewer, and electrical connection or capacity charges.

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
Utility-related review/connection fees	$1,500 – $8,000	Estimated range	Step 4: Costs - ADU Sacramento

Utility-related review/connection fees
$1,500 – $8,000
Estimated range
Step 4: Costs - ADU Sacramento

Inspection

Field inspections during construction.

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
Inspection-related fees	$500 – $1,500	Estimated range	Step 4: Costs - ADU Sacramento

Inspection-related fees
$500 – $1,500
Estimated range
Step 4: Costs - ADU Sacramento

Technology & surcharges

Records, technology, and general plan surcharges.

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
Technology and Records Surcharges	$100 – $400	Estimated range

Technology and Records Surcharges
$100 – $400
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 Sacramento before you commit money.

City reference pages for verification

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