ADU permit cost and fee breakdown in Santa Ana, California
An early-budgeting estimate of the permit-related fees an accessory dwelling unit is likely to incur in Santa Ana. These are not official figures.
Prepared by GetYourPermit editorial teamReport an error
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
$8,450 – $57,750
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 – $4,500
The core permit issued by the city building department.
- Plan check$1,000 – $3,000
Review of your drawings for code compliance.
- Impact fees$0 – $20,000
Development impact fees. Often waived for ADUs under 750 sq ft.
- School district fees$0 – $5,000
Developer fees charged by the local school district.
- Utility connection$1,500 – $8,500
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$4,000 – $15,000
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.
Permit fee
$1,500 – $4,500
Estimated range
What fees do I have to pay to build an ADU? - City of Santa Ana
Plan check
Review of your drawings for code compliance.
Application review fee
$1,000 – $3,000
Estimated range
What fees do I have to pay to build an ADU? - City of Santa Ana
Impact fees
Development impact fees. Often waived for ADUs under 750 sq ft.
Development impact fee
$0 – $12,000
Estimated range
What fees do I have to pay to build an ADU? - City of Santa AnaCalifornia ADU impact-fee baseline
$0 – $8,000
Estimated range
ADU Investment Orange County: Costs, Rents & Rules
School district fees
Developer fees charged by the local school district.
School fee
$0 – $5,000
Estimated range
Facebook group post mentioning Santa Ana ADU school fee
Utility connection
Water, sewer, and electrical connection or capacity charges.
Utility connection fees
$1,500 – $8,500
Estimated range
Accessory Dwelling Unit FAQs Archives - City of Santa Ana
Inspection
Field inspections during construction.
Inspection fees
$400 – $1,500
Estimated range
What fees do I have to pay to build an ADU? - City of Santa Ana
Technology & surcharges
Records, technology, and general plan surcharges.
Technology fee
$50 – $250
Estimated range
What fees do I have to pay to build an ADU? - City of Santa Ana
Other
Fees that do not fit the categories above.
Pre-development / design / engineering costs
$4,000 – $15,000
Estimated range
What fees do I have to pay to build an ADU? - City of Santa Ana
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 Santa Ana before you commit money.
City reference pages for verification