A Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit is the most affordable way to add a rental unit to your Sacramento property. Convert an existing room into an independent living space for a fraction of the cost of a standard ADU.
A Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU) is a small residential unit of no more than 500 square feet that is created within the existing footprint of a single-family home. Unlike a standard ADU, a JADU doesn't require new construction — it's carved out of existing space, typically by converting a bedroom, attached garage, or portion of the main house.
JADUs were established by California Assembly Bill 2406 (2016) and expanded by subsequent legislation. They are the most affordable path to adding a rental unit to your property because you're working within existing walls, foundation, and roof. A JADU requires its own exterior entrance, an efficiency kitchen, and may share a bathroom with the main house (though a separate bathroom is recommended for rental purposes).
In Sacramento, JADUs are particularly attractive because they can be built for $20,000–$80,000 — a fraction of the $100K–$400K cost of a standard ADU. At Sacramento rental rates of $800–$1,400/month for a studio/1-bed, a JADU can pay for itself in as little as 2–5 years.
| Feature | JADU | Standard ADU |
|---|---|---|
| Max size | 500 sqft | 1,200 sqft |
| Location | Within existing home | Attached or detached |
| Cost | $20K – $80K | $80K – $400K+ |
| Timeline | 1 – 3 months | 3 – 14 months |
| Kitchen | Efficiency kitchen | Full kitchen |
| Bathroom | Can share with main home | Must have own bathroom |
| Parking | None required | None required |
| Owner occupancy | Required | Not required |
| Impact fees | Exempt | Exempt if ≤749 sqft |
| Separate utilities | Not required | May be required |
| Can build both? | Yes — 1 JADU + 1 ADU per lot | Yes — 1 ADU + 1 JADU per lot |
Because JADUs work within existing structures, costs are dramatically lower than standard ADUs.
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