ADU and JADU Fees
Below are typical Permit Sonoma fees associated with building an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) or junior accessory dwelling unit (JADU). Project-specific scope and permit requirements may warrant additional fees. Some fees will be required up front for application review, others will be assessed later for inspections and permit issuance. Refer to Permit Sonoma Fee Schedules for additional information.
Initial Fees
Initial fees for routing your application to the various divisions for review must be paid before your permit can be processed. After payment is made, all affected divisions will review your application. Initial fees for reviewing the building permit will depend on the full project scope. Pre-reviewed, factory built, and manufactured ADUs have the benefit of reduced Building Plan Check and CalGreen Plan Review fees.
Fees Before Issuance
Once your application has been approved, additional fees associated with your ADU or JADU will be assessed. These must be paid before your building permit can be issued. Some fees are a flat rate while others may be assigned based on the valuation of the project, square footage, or other measurements. Fees at this stage include those for addressing, water/sewer connections, inspections, and various other fees necessary for building permit issuance.
Fees Before Final
Once your project has passed all inspections, impact and mitigation fees, if applicable, must be paid to receive your certificate of occupancy and final your building permit. JADUs are exempt from these fees due to their size, but ADUs are charged fees consistent with the requirements of Title 7, Chapter 13 of the California Government Code (or successor provisions). These include:
- Fire Impact Fees - ADUs with more than 750 square feet of interior livable space within the following fire districts are subject to fire impact fees:
- Sonoma County Fire District
- Sonoma Valley Fire District
- Parks Mitigation Fees - ADUs with more than 750 square feet of interior livable space are subject to park fees.
- Traffic Impact Fees - ADUs with more than 750 square feet of interior livable space are subject to traffic impact fees.
- Schools - ADUs with more than 500 square feet of interior livable space may be subject to school fees by the applicable school district. Contact your local school district for information and fee payment. Proof of payment to the appropriate school district must be provided to Permit Sonoma.
Connection Fees and Capacity Charges
If an ADU or JADU is to be connected to a public water or sewer system, associated permitting and fees may apply as authorized under Government Code Section 66311.5.
- ADUs and JADUs converted from existing space on lots with a single-family primary dwelling will not be required to install a new or separate utility connection directly between the unit and the utility nor pay a related connection fee or capacity charge.
- All other ADUs and JADUs may be required to install a new or separate utility connection directly between the unit and the utility and pay a related connection fee or capacity charge.
Fees for Pre-2020 ADUs and JADUs Without Permits
If eligible for a permit under Government Code Section 66311.7, an ADU or JADU created without permits prior to 2020 will not be suject to impact fees or connection fees or capacity charges unless utility infrastructure is necessary to remedy a health and safety issued and the fee is authorized under Government Code Section 66311.5(e). Regular fees for application review, inspections, and permit issuance will still apply. See ADUs and JADUs Without Permits for more information.
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