ADULocal ADU Guide

Sacramento region / California

Sacramento ADU rules
& permit guide.

Sacramento’s city resource center offers three free, all-electric shelf-ready ADU plans, from a studio to a two-bedroom home. It also separates planning, design and construction into a clear sequence.

Editorial review 2026-09-07 · View sources

The local detail to check first

Before you choose a design

The shelf-ready page still references the 2022 residential building code. Confirm that the plan set is accepted for your application date. The page allows mirroring but says other modifications are not allowed.

Local requirements at a glance

Min/max ADU size

City shelf-ready designs: 367 habitable sq ft studio, 559 sq ft one bedroom, and 747 sq ft two bedrooms. These describe the plan library, not all project limits.

Process

Submit a site plan showing where the ADU will sit and follow the Shelf Ready ADU Plan Submittal Guide.

Your next three steps

  1. Check city jurisdiction, zoning and whether a shelf-ready design fits.
  2. Choose a plan and prepare a site plan; confirm code-version acceptance with the Building Division.
  3. Use the city’s plan submittal guide and application steps to assemble your package.

2026 state-law context

ADUs and JADUs have different occupancy rules

California generally prohibits local owner-occupancy requirements for ADUs. A narrow exception applies to certain separately sold affordable ADUs. For JADUs, owner occupancy generally applies when the bathroom is shared with the main home; separate-bathroom JADUs are treated differently under 2026 law. Check the HCD handbook and your project's permit conditions.

Older local summaries may not reflect the latest state changes. Read HCD’s March 2026 handbook, pages 32–33.

A starting point for your design

Local plan resources

Three free shelf-ready designs ↗

All-electric studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom plans. Verify the applicable building-code edition before submitting.

Questions for your first planning conversation

  • Which approval path applies to my building and ADU type?
  • Do easements, trees, slope, access or fire conditions affect placement?
  • Which utility upgrades and agency reviews should be included in my budget?
  • Are preapproved plans available, and what site work still needs review?