Santa Clara County · California
Morgan Hill ADU guide: local rules, permits & property planning
Morgan Hill’s ADU materials include a worked attached-unit fee worksheet. The example makes the relationship between ADU area, primary-home area and engineering fees visible without turning one sample into a universal price.
Local planning guide · Reviewed October 2, 2026
What matters for an ADU in Morgan Hill
Permitting authority: City of Morgan Hill — permit information
Official local guidanceLocal rules and design checks
| Topic | Local guidance |
|---|---|
| Attached-unit checklist | Use the attached ADU checklist when the new unit is an addition to the main home. |
| Geohazard areas | The checklist calls for a soils report in geohazard areas. |
| Coordinated drawings | Include structural, energy, CalGREEN and construction-waste materials where identified in the submittal list. |
Selected local requirements, not a complete zoning determination. Confirm the current rules for your address with the responsible agency.
Fees and budget checks
The City’s July 2025 sample compares an 800-square-foot attached ADU with a 2,000-square-foot primary home, producing a 0.40 area ratio. Request a current Engineering Land Development estimate; the example is explicitly an estimate and not a current flat fee.
Morgan Hill impact-fee estimatesHow to start the permit process
Assemble the ADU-specific checklist rather than only a residential-addition drawing set. The published checklist directs PDF plans and supporting materials to the City’s permits intake email.
Municipal calculation example
800-square-foot attached ADU worksheet
The City’s checklist includes a clearly labeled sample fee worksheet. Its fictional address and sample amounts must not be presented as a built project.
View the original sourceMorgan Hill ADU questions
- Is the 0.40 fee ratio automatic for my ADU?
- No. It belongs to the City’s 800/2,000-square-foot example. Your dimensions and scope need their own calculation.
- Why might a soils report be required?
- Morgan Hill’s checklist identifies geohazard areas as a trigger; confirm the property’s conditions with the City.
Sources for this guide
- City of Morgan Hill — permit information
- Morgan Hill impact-fee estimates
- 800-square-foot attached ADU worksheet
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 Morgan Hill 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.