El Dorado County · California
El Dorado Hills ADU guide: local rules, permits & property planning
El Dorado Hills uses County Planning and Building. The County’s fee examples distinguish the El Dorado Hills CSD area from Serrano, so even a nearby example can have the wrong agency assumptions.
Local planning guide · Reviewed October 2, 2026
What matters for an ADU in El Dorado Hills
Permitting authority: El Dorado County — unincorporated El Dorado Hills
Official local guidanceLocal rules and design checks
| Topic | Local guidance |
|---|---|
| County authority | Confirm the unincorporated parcel and apply through El Dorado County rather than a neighboring city. |
| Agency conditions | The County identifies fire, solar and septic requirements as items that can remain applicable to an ADU. |
| Fee-zone check | Identify the parcel’s County fee zone and serving districts before comparing example worksheets. |
Selected local requirements, not a complete zoning determination. Confirm the current rules for your address with the responsible agency.
Fees and budget checks
The County collects half the building fee and the full planning fee at application, with remaining building and agency fees at issuance. Its Zone C example is labeled EDH CSD, not Serrano, and is based on a typical house—not an ADU quote.
El Dorado County fee schedules, zones and sample feesHow to start the permit process
Establish the parcel’s districts and ADU scope, use the County’s ADU checklist, and obtain fire, utility or septic requirements. Separate the amounts due at application from amounts due at issuance.
Plan resource
County pre-reviewed ADU design
El Dorado County offers a downloadable pre-reviewed design intended to reduce design and permit work. Confirm the site requirements before adopting it.
View the original sourceEl Dorado Hills ADU questions
- Can I use the County’s EDH sample fees for a Serrano property?
- The sample explicitly excludes Serrano. Request the correct district and project-specific assessment.
- Is the entire building fee due at application?
- The County’s published procedure collects half at application and the remainder at issuance, alongside other applicable charges.
Sources for this guide
- El Dorado County — ADUs
- El Dorado County fee schedules, zones and sample fees
- County pre-reviewed ADU design
Local sources reviewed October 2, 2026. Historical examples retain their stated dates. Contact ADU California to confirm project availability; this guide does not establish an office location or property approval.
A useful first review
Separate what is available from what still needs verification.
01
Confirm the property
Start with a complete address and review the available parcel, building, and map context.
02
Identify the unknowns
Keep missing setbacks, easements, utilities, access, hazards, and local requirements visible.
03
Choose the next review
Use the preliminary result to prepare a focused conversation with the required professionals and agencies.
Explore project types
Compare the scope before choosing a solution.
These pages explain the questions each project type introduces. They do not assert that a particular scope is permitted or suitable for your address.
Compare planning footprints
See common ADU sizes before choosing a design.
These model pages are planning references only. They are not a statement that a particular size is allowed or buildable at a El Dorado Hills address.
California directory
Explore more city guides.
The next useful action
Put your address at the center of the conversation.
The online review is preliminary and is not a permit decision, survey, engineering opinion, construction document, final price, or guaranteed schedule.