ADU builder in Sacramento, CA

Who issues ADU permits in Sacramento?

Inside city limits, ADU permits go through the City of Sacramento Community Development Department. If your address is in an unincorporated area such as Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Arden Arcade or Orangevale, the County of Sacramento handles the permit instead. We confirm the jurisdiction for your parcel at the first call, because it changes fees, timelines and some rules.

The city offers free pre-approved ADU plans in studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom layouts. Building from a pre-approved plan can save design fees and shorten plan check. We can build those plans as drawn, or design a custom unit when your lot or goals call for it.

What makes older Sacramento neighborhoods good for ADUs?

East Sacramento, Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and Oak Park have many homes with detached garages at the back of the lot, often on an alley. That layout is ideal for a garage conversion or a new detached ADU. An alley can give the ADU its own address feel and makes construction access easier.

These neighborhoods also come with older infrastructure. Sewer laterals can be clay pipe, electrical panels are often undersized for a second unit, and some streets fall within historic districts with design review. We check all of this during the site visit, so the budget reflects what is actually in the ground.

What about newer areas like Natomas?

North and South Natomas have newer homes on tighter lots, often with attached garages and smaller backyards. Attached ADUs, junior ADUs and attached garage conversions tend to be the best fit here. Some subdivisions have HOAs. State law limits how far an HOA can block an ADU, but HOA design review can still apply.