Sacramento ADU Permit Fees: The Complete 2026 Guide (City & County)
A complete breakdown of every permit fee, impact fee, and utility connection cost for building an ADU in Sacramento City and Sacramento County. Updated for 2026.
Why Permit Fees Matter More Than You Think
One of the most common budget surprises for Sacramento ADU builders is the total cost of permits, fees, and utility connections. Most contractor quotes focus on construction costs — but permit fees, impact fees, and utility connection costs can add $25,000–$50,000 to your total project budget. This guide covers every fee category for ADU projects in Sacramento City and Sacramento County, with 2026 fee schedules where available. Always verify current fees directly with the relevant agency before finalizing your budget — fee schedules are updated annually.
Sacramento City ADU Permit Fees
Sacramento City processes ADU permits through the Community Development Department at 300 Richards Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95811. Phone: (916) 808-5616. Online portal: cityofsacramento.org/community-development. Building Permit Fee: Calculated as a percentage of the project's permitted construction value (PCV). For a $250,000 ADU, the building permit fee is approximately $8,500–$12,000. The fee schedule is available on the City's website. Plan Check Fee: 65–80% of the building permit fee. For a $250,000 ADU, plan check runs $5,500–$9,600. Plan check is paid upfront when plans are submitted. Fire Sprinkler Permit: $500–$1,500 depending on system complexity. Required for all new ADUs over 500 sq ft in Sacramento City. Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing (MEP) Permits: $800–$2,500 total for all three trades. Total Sacramento City permit fees (typical $250,000 ADU): $15,300–$25,600.
Sacramento City Utility Connection Fees
Utility connection fees are separate from building permits and are paid to Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SRCSD) and Sacramento City Utilities. Sewer Connection Fee: $5,000–$12,000 if a new sewer connection is required. If your ADU connects to the existing home's sewer lateral, this fee may be waived or reduced. Contact SRCSD at (916) 875-9000 to verify. Water Meter Fee: $3,000–$8,000 for a new water meter. If the ADU shares the primary home's water meter (allowed for JADUs and some attached ADUs), this fee is avoided. Stormwater Fee: $500–$2,000 depending on impervious surface area added. Total utility connection fees (if new connections required): $8,500–$22,000.
School Impact Fees
California law requires payment of school impact fees for new residential construction, including ADUs. Sacramento City ADU projects are subject to fees from the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD). Sacramento City Unified School District fee (2026): $4.79 per square foot for residential construction. For a 600 sq ft ADU: $2,874. For a 1,200 sq ft ADU: $5,748. Note: California AB 602 (2021) capped school impact fees for ADUs at the rate for new single-family construction, which is significantly lower than the rate for multi-family construction. Verify the current rate with SCUSD at (916) 643-9000.
Sacramento County ADU Permit Fees (Unincorporated Areas)
For properties in unincorporated Sacramento County (including Arden-Arcade, Orangevale, and other unincorporated communities), permits are processed through Sacramento County Planning and Environmental Review. Building Permit Fee: Similar to Sacramento City — calculated as a percentage of permitted construction value. Slightly lower than City fees for comparable projects. Plan Check Fee: 65% of building permit fee. Sewer/Septic: Properties on Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SRCSD) sewer pay connection fees similar to Sacramento City. Properties on private septic systems must obtain Placer County Environmental Health approval for septic expansion. Total Sacramento County permit fees (typical $250,000 ADU): $13,000–$22,000 — slightly lower than Sacramento City.
Placer County ADU Permit Fees (Roseville, Rocklin, Auburn, Loomis, Penryn)
Placer County cities and unincorporated areas have their own fee schedules. Here are the key contacts: City of Roseville: (916) 774-5276 | roseville.ca.us/permits City of Rocklin: (916) 625-5060 | rocklin.ca.us/building City of Auburn: (530) 823-4211 | cityofauburn.org Placer County (Auburn, Loomis, Penryn): (530) 745-3000 | placer.ca.gov/planning Placer County cities generally have lower permit fees than Sacramento City, but school impact fees from local school districts (Roseville City School District, Rocklin Unified, etc.) apply and vary by district. Total Placer County permit fees (typical $250,000 ADU): $11,000–$20,000.
Fee Reduction Strategies
Several strategies can legally reduce your ADU permit fee burden: 1. Use pre-approved ADU plans. Sacramento City and some Placer County cities offer pre-approved ADU plan sets that qualify for expedited review and reduced plan check fees. Ask your builder if they have pre-approved plans on file. 2. Share utilities with the primary home. If your ADU can share the existing water meter and sewer lateral (allowed for JADUs and some attached ADUs), you avoid $8,500–$22,000 in utility connection fees. 3. Build under 500 sq ft. ADUs under 500 sq ft may avoid fire sprinkler requirements in some jurisdictions, saving $1,500–$3,000. 4. Apply for the CalHFA ADU Grant. The California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) offers grants of up to $40,000 for qualifying ADU projects that can offset permit and pre-development costs. Visit calhfa.ca.gov/adu for current program availability. 5. Time your permit submission. Sacramento City processes ADU permits faster during slower construction seasons (winter). Faster processing means lower carrying costs if you're financing the project.
Complete Fee Checklist
Use this checklist to ensure you've budgeted for every fee category: [ ] Building permit fee (contact your jurisdiction for current schedule) [ ] Plan check fee (typically 65–80% of building permit fee) [ ] Fire sprinkler permit (if required) [ ] MEP permits (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) [ ] Sewer connection fee (if new connection required) [ ] Water meter fee (if new meter required) [ ] Stormwater fee [ ] School impact fee (contact local school district) [ ] Arborist report fee (if mature trees present) [ ] Soils/geotechnical report (if required by site conditions) [ ] Energy compliance (Title 24) documentation [ ] Survey/boundary verification (if required) Total budget addition: $25,000–$50,000 on top of construction costs.
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