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Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit in Sacramento, California

Sacramento publishes a dedicated ADU handout through the Building Division. It defines the unit as a permanent dwelling providing 'permanent facilities for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.' and allows two per lot.

Verified 2026-09-11 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Two ADUs are allowed on a single lot or parcel, attached or detached. NOT QUOTED: the handout is a two-column PDF and this sentence is not contiguous in the extracted text.
  • 'The maximum size of a detached ADU is 1,200 ft2.'
  • Planning comes first - planning approval, or an approval for concurrent review, must be obtained before the building permit application reaches the Building Division. NOT QUOTED: two-column PDF, the sentence spans a column break.
  • An ADU's tenure is constrained - it may be rented separately from the primary residence but may not be sold or otherwise conveyed away from it. NOT QUOTED: two-column PDF, the sentence spans a column break.

Required documents

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Fee schedule

ADU permit feesThe handout covers size, count, code basis and submittal rather than dollar figures.
NOT PUBLISHED in the ADU handout

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit permit actually take in Sacramento?

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Inspection process

  1. 1

    Inspections via the Building Division

    Scheduled after permit issuance.

Tips

  • TWO ADUs ARE ALLOWED BUT THEY SHARE ONE FLOOR-AREA BUDGET. The City's own worked example is two detached units of 400 and 800 square feet totalling 1,200.
  • PLANNING BEFORE BUILDING, OR ASK FOR CONCURRENT REVIEW. Planning approval must be obtained before the building permit application unless a concurrent review request is approved by Senior Planning staff.
  • YOU CAN RENT AN ADU BUT YOU CANNOT SELL IT SEPARATELY - the handout says it may not be sold or otherwise conveyed from the primary residence.

Frequently asked questions

Sacramento requires an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit for: Two ADUs are allowed on a single lot or parcel, attached or detached. NOT QUOTED: the handout is a two-column PDF and this sentence is not contiguous in the extracted text.; 'The maximum size of a detached ADU is 1,200 ft2.'; Planning comes first - planning approval, or an approval for concurrent review, must be obtained before the building permit application reaches the Building Division. NOT QUOTED: two-column PDF, the sentence spans a column break.; An ADU's tenure is constrained - it may be rented separately from the primary residence but may not be sold or otherwise conveyed away from it. NOT QUOTED: two-column PDF, the sentence spans a column break.. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Sacramento - Community Development Department, Building Division at 916-264-5011 before starting work.

In Sacramento, the published ADU permit fees is: NOT PUBLISHED in the ADU handout. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Sacramento does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Sacramento - Community Development Department, Building Division at 916-264-5011 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Planning approval, or a Memorandum of Understanding Concurrent Plan Review Request; Plan set. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Sacramento requires 1 inspection(s) for an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit, in order: Inspections via the Building Division. Schedule each through City of Sacramento - Community Development Department, Building Division (916-264-5011).

Apply through City of Sacramento - Community Development Department, Building Division. Phone: 916-264-5011. Office hours: NOT ASSERTED. Sacramento publishes a Public Counter Information & Appointments page; no hours are stated here. The Building Division help line is 916-264-5011.. Official information: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/community-development/building.

Sacramento, California has adopted: California Building Standards Code as applied locally. Sacramento's ADU handout names the set it works to: the 'applicable provisions of the current California Building Code (CBC), Residential (CRC), Energy' code, together with Plumbing (CPC), Mechanical (CMC), Electrical (CEC) and local ordinances. NO EDITION YEAR IS ASSERTED - the handout says 'current', and this record does not state the City's adopting ordinance.. Local amendments apply — see the Sacramento overview page for the full list.

Two. The City allows a total of two ADUs on a single lot or parcel, attached or detached, and the total square footage of detached ADUs on the lot may not exceed 1,200 square feet.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.

Checklists & handouts

Department & other records

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Sacramento building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

Sacramento's permit history isn't searchable here yet

This page covers what the permit requires. What we don't have for Sacramento yet is the record of permits actually issued — the history you'd search by street address. That is a gap in our coverage, not a statement about any particular property.

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Other permits in Sacramento

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Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit in other cities

Fresno, CaliforniaLong Beach, CaliforniaOakland, CaliforniaSan Diego, CaliforniaSan Jose, CaliforniaAult, ColoradoBennett, ColoradoBerthoud, Colorado

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