Sacramento allows two ADUs per lot, attached or detached, with an existing or proposed main home. ADUs can be rented but not sold separately.[1]
California cities can set their own ADU rules, but never stricter than state law. Grey lines show the state floor from the HCD ADU Handbook.
| Size limits | Detached: up to 1,200 sq ft, and all detached ADUs on a lot together cannot exceed 1,200 sq ft (garages excluded). Attached: 50% of the main home or 850 sq ft (1,000 sq ft with 2 or more bedrooms), whichever is greater.[1] State law: a city's maximum size must allow at least 850 sq ft, or 1,000 sq ft for more than one bedroom, and local rules cannot block an 800 sq ft ADU with 4 ft side and rear setbacks (Gov. Code 66321).[3] |
|---|---|
| Height | No city-specific figure verified. The state minimum below applies; confirm local details with the city. State law: detached ADUs get at least 16 ft; 18 ft within a half mile walk of a major transit stop or high-quality transit corridor (plus 2 ft to match roof pitch) or on a lot with a multistory multifamily building; attached ADUs up to 25 ft or the main home's limit if lower (Gov. Code 66321).[3] |
| Setbacks | No city-specific figure verified. The state minimum below applies; confirm local details with the city. State law: side and rear setbacks can be no more than 4 ft for new ADUs; converted existing space needs no new setback (Gov. Code 66314, 66323).[3] |
| Parking | No city-specific figure verified. The state minimum below applies; confirm local details with the city. State law: at most 1 space per ADU or per bedroom, whichever is less, and none within a half mile walk of public transit, in a historic district, within one block of a car share, or for ADUs inside the house (Gov. Code 66314, 66322).[3] |
| Owner occupancy | No city-specific figure verified. The state minimum below applies; confirm local details with the city. State law: no owner occupancy requirement for ADUs (Gov. Code 66315). A JADU requires the owner to live on site if it shares a bathroom with the main home (Gov. Code 66333).[3] |
| Permit steps and timeline | Planning approval, or approval for concurrent review, comes before the building permit application. Plans can be submitted electronically. Each ADU needs its own address.[1] State law: the city must approve or deny a complete application within 60 days when there is an existing home on the lot (Gov. Code 66317).[3] |
| Fees | Impact fees are waived under 750 sq ft and apply at 750 sq ft and up. School district fees apply. The Building Division offers a permit fee estimate for a $164 fee (form CDD-0278).[1] State law: no impact fees on ADUs of 750 sq ft or less; above that, impact fees must be proportional to the size of the main home. Plan check, permit and school fees can still apply.[3] |
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Sources
Every fact above links to an official city or state page. Rules change; check the source before you build.
- [1] City of Sacramento: ADU handout CDD-0423 (rev. Jan 29 2026) checked Oct 2026
- [2] City of Sacramento: Accessory Dwelling Units checked Oct 2026
- [3] HCD ADU Handbook (March 2026) checked Oct 2026