Sacramento offers the most fully built-out ADU support program in California: a dedicated ADU Hub, Shelf Ready predesigned all-electric plans, Symbium Build integration, and a Development Impact Fee Deferral Program.
Local ADU Ordinance vs State ADU Standards (owner picks one). Detached up to 1,200 sq ft total (local path); new detached up to 800 sq ft (state path). Attached: 50% of primary or 850/1,000 sq ft. JADU 500 sq ft. EA-2/EA-3 overlay limited to 1 ADU/lot.
State guarantee: California requires every city to allow at least an 800 sq ft ADU exempt from local lot coverage, FAR, and front-setback rules.
Height baseline: 16 ft for detached, rising to 18 ft within ½ mile of major transit. Attached ADUs follow the primary home, capped at 25 ft.
Hub defers to City Code 17.228.105(B)/(C). Parking limits follow the applicable state/local ADU standards for the selected track.
Online ADU Resource Center plus Symbium Build integration. Shelf Ready (predesigned all-electric) plans uploaded to Symbium. Land Information Lookup App for zoning.
State backstop: A complete ADU permit must receive a decision in 60 business days. If the city stalls past 30 business days, AB 253 lets you hire a certified private plan checker to force a 10-business-day decision.
Development Impact Fee Deferral Program defers impact fee payment until final Building Division inspections (CDD-0330). Affordable deed-restricted units may qualify for $0 city-controlled residential impact fees. State law waives development impact fees for ADUs ≤749 sq ft.
SB 543: No impact fees on ADUs ≤750 sq ft. Above 750 sq ft, fees scale to the ratio of ADU size vs the main home.
Visit the official Sacramento ADU page (link in hero) for current eligibility and downloads.
Standard ADUs in Sacramento: no owner-occupancy required (made permanent in 2023).
JADUs: limited to 500 sq ft of interior livable space within an existing single-family home. Owner occupancy is required only when sanitation facilities are shared with the main house. JADUs cannot be used as short-term rentals (AB 1154 / SB 543).
Sketch a floorplan, walk through it in 3D, and have our planners review it for size, height, and setback compliance before you submit to Sacramento.
Heads up: Local rules change frequently. This page summarizes publicly available state law (California Government Code §§ 66310–66342) and current local guidance for general planning purposes. Always confirm specifics with the Sacramento planning desk before submitting plans. ADUMetrics does not provide legal advice.