Custom ADU Builder Sacramento
Compare custom scope, site constraints, model options, finish level, construction sequence, and written pricing before selecting a build approach.
Sacramento County · California
Sacramento ADU design & construction
Review available property information, identify what is still missing, and frame the local questions that must be confirmed before design, budgeting, permitting, or construction decisions.
Full-service ADU construction
Custom ADU builder & contractor services in Sacramento
Start with a custom ADU builder or ADU contractor in Sacramento, then coordinate design, architecture, engineering, permits, budgeting, construction, inspections, and handoff around the property.
ADU Contractor Sacramento
Coordinate construction scope, subcontractors, schedule, inspections, site logistics, and closeout around a clearly defined permitted set.
ADU Design Build Sacramento
A coordinated design-build workflow keeps property review, design, engineering, permitting, budgeting, procurement, and construction aligned.
ADU Design Sacramento
Develop the floor plan, exterior direction, material selections, functionality, and site fit before committing to engineering and construction.
ADU Architect Sacramento
Architectural planning can address layout, massing, code constraints, site relationships, and permit drawings where an appropriately licensed professional is required.
ADU Engineer Sacramento
Engineering coordination can cover structural, foundation, utility, civil, energy, and other disciplines required by the property and permitting authority.
City of Sacramento · Reviewed October 2, 2026
Start with the city boundary and the right standards.
A Sacramento mailing address does not establish the permitting agency. This guide covers the City of Sacramento. Unincorporated properties use Sacramento County’s separate process.
Sacramento County ADU programChoose local standards under §17.228.105(B) or the State Standards path under §17.228.105(C); do not combine them.
| Planning item | Sacramento local path | State Standards path |
|---|---|---|
| Detached floor area | 1,200 sq ft combined across detached ADUs. | 800 sq ft for the new detached ADU. |
| Side / rear setbacks | Within 60 ft of the front boundary: 3 ft. Farther back: no first-floor minimum; 3 ft for the second floor. | 4 ft. |
| Height | Zoning-district maximum. | 18 ft; 2 additional feet for a roof pitch aligned with the primary home. |
Local-path front and street-side setbacks follow zoning. Levee setbacks still apply; conversions have separate exceptions. This is a planning summary, not the full checklist or a parcel approval.
CDD-0009: official standards and zoning checklist (June 23, 2026)Sacramento permit budget
Compare the City’s 749, 750 and 1,200 sq ft fee examples.
| ADU floor area | Worksheet total |
|---|---|
| 749 sq ft | $5,271.90 |
| 750 sq ft | $10,624.40 |
| 1,200 sq ft | $14,842.50 |
These are agency-fee illustrations, not construction prices or final invoices. School charges are paid separately; special-district fees, additional utility or impact charges, and extra review can change the amount.
Read the City fee worksheet and exclusionsSacramento application path
Resolve zoning and utilities before completing the plans.
1. Optional zoning review
CDD-0009 offers no-cost zoning review, effective July 12, 2026, before the building-permit application.
Zoning review instructions2. Coordinate the site
Consult SMUD early. Check protected trees and, on the local path, historic-property design standards.
City’s pre-design checklist3. Apply for the building permit
Using a preapproved plan? CDD-0455 explains the City’s online application, plan uploads and required supporting documents. Site-specific approval is still required.
Preapproved-plan permit instructions
For a foothill property outside the city, start again with its actual jurisdiction and hazard maps. A regional label cannot determine a parcel’s wildfire, flood or access requirements.
Published local project · Rossle Homes
An East Sacramento carport became a 400 sq ft family ADU.
Rossle Homes describes converting an attached carport into a one-bedroom, one-bath home for the owners’ parents. Its case study details roof reinforcement, a new slab, utility connections and siding matched to the original home.
Planning takeaway: when comparing conversion and new-build concepts, inspect the existing structure and utility work before assuming that reusing a footprint will simplify construction.
Read Rossle Homes’ East Sacramento case studyBuilder-reported example reviewed October 2, 2026. Built by Rossle Homes; not an ADU California Inc. portfolio project.
Local authority and planning resources
Reviewed local guide6 reviewed sourcesUpdated 2026-10-02
Use the City of Sacramento documents below for a property inside city limits. The regional Sacramento / Placer / El Dorado grouping is a navigation aid; each city or unincorporated county area has its own permitting authority. Confirm that authority before choosing plans or comparing fees.
- City of Sacramento — Accessory Dwelling Units
Resource reviewed: 2026-10-02. Reconfirm requirements before applying.
- Sacramento CDD-0009 — Optional Zoning Review and ADU Standards
Resource reviewed: 2026-10-02. Reconfirm requirements before applying.
- Sacramento CDD-0419 — ADU Fee Estimate, revised July 12, 2026
Resource reviewed: 2026-10-02. Reconfirm requirements before applying.
- Sacramento Preapproved ADU Program
Resource reviewed: 2026-10-02. Reconfirm requirements before applying.
- Sacramento CDD-0455 — Preapproved ADU Permit Application
Resource reviewed: 2026-10-02. Reconfirm requirements before applying.
- Sacramento County — Separate Shelf Ready ADU Program
Resource reviewed: 2026-10-02. Reconfirm requirements before applying.
Does a Sacramento address use City or County ADU rules?
Confirm the parcel’s jurisdiction first. This page covers the City of Sacramento. Sacramento County operates a separate ADU program for unincorporated properties; a Sacramento mailing address alone does not establish which agency reviews the project.
Why compare 749 and 750 square feet when budgeting Sacramento fees?
The City’s July 2026 CDD-0419 worksheet adds park, SAFCA and transportation-authority charges in its 750-square-foot example. The worksheet totals are approximate and exclude some charges. Request an address-specific fee estimate before choosing a floor area solely for fee savings.
Can I build immediately with a Sacramento preapproved plan?
No. The City’s AB 1332 program still requires site-specific design, planning and zoning approval, and a building permit. Its CDD-0455 instructions explain the electronic application and supporting documents for a preapproved ADU.
Are Sacramento County shelf-ready plans the same as the City program?
No. The County’s shelf-ready program serves its unincorporated jurisdiction and still requires permits and applicable fees. Check with the responsible agency before purchasing or adapting a plan from another jurisdiction.
This is an informational guide, not an office-location listing or confirmation that ADU California Inc. accepts projects here. Contact the team to confirm availability. Parcel boundaries, hazards, utility capacity and site suitability remain unverified.
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 Sacramento address.
California directory
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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.