Bay Area ADU permit not only gives you the peace of mind that the project meets applicable standards to protect you and your family’s safety, it also protects your investment.
As professional ADU contractors in Bay Area, we know various factors to consider when planning for an ADU project. We want to ensure you understand the permits that may apply to your project.
Consequently, our Bay Area remodeling contractors handle the entire process of acquiring the permits necessary for your ADU project from your local building departments on time.
Planning and building permit fees are charges for services based on the project’s valuation, the unit’s size, or the number of bedrooms.
Our ADU design and construction experts will be your partner to validate and help you understand the Bay Area ADU permit fees. They include, but are not limited to:
| Fee type | Fee purpose | How to determine the charges |
| Building permit application fee | To cover the cost of providing building permit counter processing and plan review services | Calculated as an average of the unit and safety service fee, as applicable |
| Building permit issuance fee | To cover the cost of providing building inspection services and clerical processing after your building permit is issued | Calculated as the remaining total unit and safety service fee, as applicable |
| Zoning review fee | To cover the cost of reviewing your building permit application for conformance to local zoning and planning ordinances | The planning division fee schedule assigns a flat fee as appropriate for the level of review your application requires |
| Public work fee | To cover the cost of city infrastructure, such as roads, sidewalks, drainage facilities, and sanitation facilities, and providing services, such as sanitation and water, in specific locations. | Computed from plan review fee, connection fees, and per fixture fees charged to supply services. |
| Environmental fees | To cover the cost of providing plan review and inspection services for exterior features such as grading, drainage, and driveways | It is manually calculated by Land Development staff to recover the time and expense associated with the review and inspection of your project. |
| Affordable housing fee | To provide funds for ongoing and future affordable housing projects | This charge applies to qualifying residential projects with a conditioned floor area over 500 sq. ft. |
Based on what could be permitted on your property, we can assist you in considering the options available for creating an ADU on your parcel. Here are some of the critical regulations governing ADU construction in the Bay Area:
ADUs are allowed on most residential lots as long as they meet specific zoning requirements; local zoning ordinances may restrict the number of ADUs permitted on a lot, as well as their size and location.
ADUs can be up to 1200 sq. ft. for detached units and up to 50% of the existing living area for attached units. For instance, if your primary dwelling is 2000 sq. ft., you can have an ADU of up to 1000 sq. ft.
One parking space on site is required for the ADU unless the ADU is within half a mile of public transportation or if the ADU is part of the primary dwelling or an existing accessory structure.
For ADU to be permitted on your property, it must be zoned for residential use and mixed-use districts. Both ADU and junior ADU may be allowed on one lot.
The size of your property can impact your ability to build an ADU. Local zoning ordinances may restrict the maximum number of units permitted on a lot and their size. For example, some cities within the Bay Area may limit the total square footage of all structures on a lot, impacting your ability to build a detached ADU.
Contact Done Right Home Remodeling today to discuss your ADU vision and learn how hands-off you can be with the Bay Area ADU permit.
Due to the ever-changing building regulations, a permit shall expire six months after its date if the work has yet to start. Once the job has begun and discontinued for twelve months, the permit will immediately expire.
The requirements for building an ADU in the Bay Area vary depending on the specific city where the ADU will be located. Therefore, an ADU must adhere to the applicable zoning, building, and ADU regulations.
Some ADUs may have yet to be eligible for permits under prior zoning regulations; with updated rules, many may now qualify for permits subject to the Bay Area code regarding site standards, environmental reviews, and utility connections for your unit to be legal.
The layout of your property may impact your ability to build an ADU; for example, if the property has limited space, finding a place for ADU can be challenging. Additionally, if your property is located on a steep slope or has other topographical challenges, it may be more difficult to build an ADU.
