ADU permits · California

California ADU permits: city-by-city in 2026

Q: What does California state law say about ADU permits?

Under AB 881, cities must approve compliant ADU applications within 60 days of a complete submission — no public hearings, no neighbor appeals. SB 543 requires a 15-business-day completeness determination. SB 1211 (2025) allows up to 8 detached ADUs on multifamily lots. AB 462 streamlines Coastal Zone reviews to 60 days concurrent with building permits.

Q: Are impact fees waived for California ADUs?

ADUs under 750 sq ft are exempt from impact fees statewide under SB 13 and follow-on legislation. Above 750 sq ft, proportional impact fees apply — typically $10,000–$25,000 in major California metros.

Q: Which California city has the fastest ADU permits?

San Jose runs the fastest in 2026 at 35–55 day actual approvals (Andalusia Drafting 2026). LADBS in Los Angeles offers 20+ pre-approved plans that cut review to 50–70 days when used. San Diego runs 50–75 days standard.

Permit fees, approval timelines, and ADU-specific rules across California. Each city below has its own page with sourced data, including the planning-department URL we re-validate against each quarter.

Cities

City	Permit fees (all-in)	Timeline	Notes
Berkeley	$8,000 – $18,000	~11 wks	Berkeley has a published pre-approved ADU plan catalog.
Fresno	$2,500 – $4,000	~6 wks	Five free city pre-approved ADU plans (340 / 499 / 625 / 625-over-garage / 1,015 sq ft) with three elevation options each (Craftsman, Contemporary, Gable).
Glendale	$4,000 – $12,000	~9 wks	NOTE: Glendale ADU code page updated Nov 7, 2025 - verify current rules.
Irvine	$8,000 – $15,000	~9 wks	NOTE: data unavailable from primary city source - Irvine municode link for Chapter 3-26 Accessory Dwelling Standards returns "Content Not Found" and FY 2025-27 budget PDF does not itemize ADU fees.
Long Beach	$3,000 – $8,000	~12 wks	Pre-Approved ADU Program (PAADU) supports same-day over-the-counter permit issuance for plans drawn from the city catalog.
Los Angeles	$1,500 – $8,500	~18 wks	LADBS publishes 20+ free pre-approved standard plans that cut review to 50–70 days.
Oakland	$5,000 – $15,000	~11 wks	Oakland charges a flat $2,671 building permit fee for new detached ADUs; plan check runs ~65% of that.
Pasadena	$7,000 – $16,900	~9 wks	2025 fee restructure: ADUs <=900 sq ft get 25% reduction on Construction Tax, General Plan Maintenance, and Technology fees.
Riverside	$3,000 – $10,000	~8 wks	Inland Empire labor + materials run 30-40% below LA Basin - the largest absolute cost advantage in California.
Sacramento	$5,135 – $10,239	~9 wks	Sacramento publishes exact line-item ADU fees on city form CDD-0419 (revised Oct 1, 2025).
San Diego	$6,500 – $21,000	~10 wks	Standard ADU permit timelines 50–75 days.
San Francisco	$33,000 – $57,000	~14 wks	Highest permit fees in California — 6–9% of construction cost (Andalusia 2026).
San Jose	$12,000 – $25,000	~7 wks	Fastest permit timeline in California — 35–55 day actual approvals (Andalusia Drafting 2026).
Santa Monica	$5,000 – $15,000	~22 wks	NOTE: SB 1077 (California Coastal Commission ADU guidance) in active development through 2026 - Coastal permitting may shift mid-project.
Santa Rosa	$3,000 – $8,000	~10 wks	Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) overlay covers a large share of parcels post-Tubbs/Glass fires — Chapter 7A construction (ember-resistant vents, Class-A roofing, defensible space) adds $15,000–$30,000.

California FAQ

What does California state law say about ADU permits?: Under AB 881, cities must approve compliant ADU applications within 60 days of a complete submission — no public hearings, no neighbor appeals. SB 543 requires a 15-business-day completeness determination. SB 1211 (2025) allows up to 8 detached ADUs on multifamily lots. AB 462 streamlines Coastal Zone reviews to 60 days concurrent with building permits.
Are impact fees waived for California ADUs?: ADUs under 750 sq ft are exempt from impact fees statewide under SB 13 and follow-on legislation. Above 750 sq ft, proportional impact fees apply — typically $10,000–$25,000 in major California metros.
Which California city has the fastest ADU permits?: San Jose runs the fastest in 2026 at 35–55 day actual approvals (Andalusia Drafting 2026). LADBS in Los Angeles offers 20+ pre-approved plans that cut review to 50–70 days when used. San Diego runs 50–75 days standard.

Get sourced ADU permit updates monthly

Cities

City	Permit fees (all-in)	Timeline	Notes
Berkeley	$8,000 – $18,000	~11 wks	Berkeley has a published pre-approved ADU plan catalog.
Fresno	$2,500 – $4,000	~6 wks	Five free city pre-approved ADU plans (340 / 499 / 625 / 625-over-garage / 1,015 sq ft) with three elevation options each (Craftsman, Contemporary, Gable).
Glendale	$4,000 – $12,000	~9 wks	NOTE: Glendale ADU code page updated Nov 7, 2025 - verify current rules.
Irvine	$8,000 – $15,000	~9 wks	NOTE: data unavailable from primary city source - Irvine municode link for Chapter 3-26 Accessory Dwelling Standards returns "Content Not Found" and FY 2025-27 budget PDF does not itemize ADU fees.
Long Beach	$3,000 – $8,000	~12 wks	Pre-Approved ADU Program (PAADU) supports same-day over-the-counter permit issuance for plans drawn from the city catalog.
Los Angeles	$1,500 – $8,500	~18 wks	LADBS publishes 20+ free pre-approved standard plans that cut review to 50–70 days.
Oakland	$5,000 – $15,000	~11 wks	Oakland charges a flat $2,671 building permit fee for new detached ADUs; plan check runs ~65% of that.
Pasadena	$7,000 – $16,900	~9 wks	2025 fee restructure: ADUs <=900 sq ft get 25% reduction on Construction Tax, General Plan Maintenance, and Technology fees.
Riverside	$3,000 – $10,000	~8 wks	Inland Empire labor + materials run 30-40% below LA Basin - the largest absolute cost advantage in California.
Sacramento	$5,135 – $10,239	~9 wks	Sacramento publishes exact line-item ADU fees on city form CDD-0419 (revised Oct 1, 2025).
San Diego	$6,500 – $21,000	~10 wks	Standard ADU permit timelines 50–75 days.
San Francisco	$33,000 – $57,000	~14 wks	Highest permit fees in California — 6–9% of construction cost (Andalusia 2026).
San Jose	$12,000 – $25,000	~7 wks	Fastest permit timeline in California — 35–55 day actual approvals (Andalusia Drafting 2026).
Santa Monica	$5,000 – $15,000	~22 wks	NOTE: SB 1077 (California Coastal Commission ADU guidance) in active development through 2026 - Coastal permitting may shift mid-project.
Santa Rosa	$3,000 – $8,000	~10 wks	Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) overlay covers a large share of parcels post-Tubbs/Glass fires — Chapter 7A construction (ember-resistant vents, Class-A roofing, defensible space) adds $15,000–$30,000.

California FAQ

What does California state law say about ADU permits?

Under AB 881, cities must approve compliant ADU applications within 60 days of a complete submission — no public hearings, no neighbor appeals. SB 543 requires a 15-business-day completeness determination. SB 1211 (2025) allows up to 8 detached ADUs on multifamily lots. AB 462 streamlines Coastal Zone reviews to 60 days concurrent with building permits.

Are impact fees waived for California ADUs?

ADUs under 750 sq ft are exempt from impact fees statewide under SB 13 and follow-on legislation. Above 750 sq ft, proportional impact fees apply — typically $10,000–$25,000 in major California metros.

Which California city has the fastest ADU permits?

San Jose runs the fastest in 2026 at 35–55 day actual approvals (Andalusia Drafting 2026). LADBS in Los Angeles offers 20+ pre-approved plans that cut review to 50–70 days when used. San Diego runs 50–75 days standard.