ADU permit cost and fee breakdown in Santa Rosa, California

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

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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

$60,975 – $100,275

Assumed construction valuation

$270,000

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

Where the money goes

Building permit$15,000 – $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 – $15,000
Development impact fees. Often waived for ADUs under 750 sq ft.
School district fees$3,300 – $4,025
Developer fees charged by the local school district.
Utility connection$0 – $15,000
Water, sewer, and electrical connection or capacity charges.
Inspection$500 – $2,000
Field inspections during construction.
Technology & surcharges$41,175 – $55,750
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.

Fee items

Building permit

The core permit issued by the city building department.

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
Building permit fees	$15,000 – $5,000	Estimated range	Accessory Dwelling Units \| Santa Rosa, CA

Building permit fees
$15,000 – $5,000
Estimated range
Accessory Dwelling Units | Santa Rosa, CA

Plan check

Review of your drawings for code compliance.

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
Plan check fees	$1,000 – $3,500	Estimated range	Fee Schedule

Plan check fees
$1,000 – $3,500
Estimated range
Fee Schedule

Impact fees

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

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
California ADU impact fee baseline	$0 – $15,000	Estimated range	Accessory Dwelling Units \| Santa Rosa, CA

California ADU impact fee baseline
$0 – $15,000
Estimated range
Accessory Dwelling Units | Santa Rosa, CA

School district fees

Developer fees charged by the local school district.

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
School impact fees	$4.89 per sq ft	Per square foot

School impact fees
$4.89 per sq ft
Per square foot

Utility connection

Water, sewer, and electrical connection or capacity charges.

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
Utility connection fees	$0 – $15,000	Estimated range	Accessory Dwelling Units \| Santa Rosa, CA

Utility connection fees
$0 – $15,000
Estimated range
Accessory Dwelling Units | Santa Rosa, CA

Inspection

Field inspections during construction.

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
Inspection fees	$500 – $2,000	Estimated range	Accessory Dwelling Units \| Santa Rosa, CA

Inspection fees
$500 – $2,000
Estimated range
Accessory Dwelling Units | Santa Rosa, CA

Technology & surcharges

Records, technology, and general plan surcharges.

Fee	Amount	Basis	Source
Technology surcharge	5.69% of construction valuation	Percent of valuation	Fee Schedule
Advanced planning surcharge	12.26% of construction valuation	Percent of valuation	Fee Schedule

Technology surcharge
5.69% of construction valuation
Percent of valuation
Fee Schedule
Advanced planning surcharge
12.26% of construction valuation
Percent of valuation
Fee Schedule

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 Rosa before you commit money.

City reference pages for verification

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