Complete 2026 cost breakdown: construction, permits, financing, and expected rental ROI.
Calculate your Citrus Heights ADU cost →Building an ADU in Citrus Heights costs between $170,000-$400,000 for new construction, with per-square-foot costs averaging $250-$500. These figures include design, permitting, site preparation, and construction. The most affordable option is a garage conversion at $90,000-$200,000, while prefab/modular ADUs fall in between at $170,000-$340,000.
| Cost Category | Estimated Range |
|---|---|
| Architectural Plans | $3,000 – $15,000 |
| Permits & Fees | Valuation-based (Master Fee Schedule, February 1, 2026): a $200,000 ADU pays about $2,933 building permit plus 65% plan check ($1,906), 6% General Plan and 4% technology surcharges, a 3.25% zone check and $94 issuance, roughly $5,300 in all; get a quote from Building at (916) 727-4760. |
| Impact Fees | State law bars impact fees on an ADU of 750 sq ft of interior livable space or less and a JADU of 500 sq ft or less (Gov. Code §66311.5(c)). The city's Impact Fee Schedule (January 1, 2026) marks smaller ADUs EXEMPT and charges an ADU of 750-1,200 sq ft $1,467 multimodal + $3,045 park + $887 fire facility = $5,399, half the single-family rate. Separately, San Juan USD school fees apply from 500 sq ft (916-971-7073) and sewer connection charges are set by SASD/SRCSD (916-876-6100), which state law lets them charge proportionately for a new detached unit but not for a conversion or JADU. |
| Site Prep & Foundation | $10,000 – $35,000 |
| Framing & Structure | $15,000 – $45,000 |
| Plumbing | $8,000 – $20,000 |
| Electrical | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| HVAC | $3,000 – $8,000 |
| Interior Finishes | $15,000 – $40,000 |
Quotes for the same ADU commonly vary 20–40% between builders. We pass your request to up to 5 local builders serving Citrus Heights, where we have them — free, no obligation.
Get Citrus Heights builder quotes →Permit fees in Citrus Heights are Valuation-based (Master Fee Schedule, February 1, 2026): a $200,000 ADU pays about $2,933 building permit plus 65% plan check ($1,906), 6% General Plan and 4% technology surcharges, a 3.25% zone check and $94 issuance, roughly $5,300 in all; get a quote from Building at (916) 727-4760.. The review timeline is Not published by the city. State law requires a completeness notice within 15 business days and a decision within 60 days of a complete application where a home already exists, otherwise the application is deemed approved (Gov. Code §66317(a)(2)-(3)); §106.42.015.F binds the city to those timelines., with plan check: Building Division plan check at 65% of the building permit fee, due at submittal; extra review cycles cost $177 each and outside plan-check consultants beyond the second cycle are billed at cost (Master Fee Schedule). The free permit-ready plans are already approved by the Building Division, so only the site plan and site-specific items (utilities, solar, easements) are reviewed. Fire sprinklers are not required unless the primary home has them (§106.42.015.E.5). Each ADU is also subject to the state solar requirement, which may be met on the main house.. Impact fees are State law bars impact fees on an ADU of 750 sq ft of interior livable space or less and a JADU of 500 sq ft or less (Gov. Code §66311.5(c)). The city's Impact Fee Schedule (January 1, 2026) marks smaller ADUs EXEMPT and charges an ADU of 750-1,200 sq ft $1,467 multimodal + $3,045 park + $887 fire facility = $5,399, half the single-family rate. Separately, San Juan USD school fees apply from 500 sq ft (916-971-7073) and sewer connection charges are set by SASD/SRCSD (916-876-6100), which state law lets them charge proportionately for a new detached unit but not for a conversion or JADU.. Pre-approved plans: Yes. The Permit-Ready ADU Program (LEAP-grant funded) offers three city-owned plan sets free of charge: a 496 sq ft one-bedroom, a 599 sq ft one-bedroom and a 749 sq ft two-bedroom, each 16 ft tall with a choice of roof lines and exterior finishes, accessible features and a mirrored layout; all are pre-approved by the Building Division (drawn to the 2019 California Residential Code, so confirm the current set with Building before you order). The city also accepts designers' plans for AB 1332 pre-approval (Gov. Code §65852.27), but as of September 2026 no vendor has submitted any, so the Preapproved Vendor list is empty..
| 1-Bedroom Rent | $1,700-$1,950/month |
| 2-Bedroom Rent | $2,100-$2,350/month |
| Annual Rental Income (est.) | $21,900/year |
| Payback Period (est.) | 13.0 years |
| Short-Term Rental | No. An ADU or JADU may not be rented for 30 consecutive days or less, so 31 days is the minimum (§106.42.015.E.11, Ord. 2026-004; Gov. Code §66323(e)); units lawfully built before 2020 are exempt from the local rule. |
| Overall ROI Estimate | 5-10% gross annual return on a detached build; 8-20% on a garage conversion |
A typical ADU in Citrus Heights generates approximately $21,900 per year in rental income based on average 1-bedroom rents. At an average construction cost of $285,000, the estimated payback period is 13.0 years — before accounting for the resale value the ADU adds, which an appraiser determines from comparable sales in Citrus Heights and varies by market (often less than build cost).
1. Garage conversions save 40-60% vs new construction since the shell already exists. Average cost in Citrus Heights: $90,000-$200,000.
2. Prefab/modular ADUs offer predictable pricing and faster timelines. Average: $170,000-$340,000.
3. Pre-approved plans — available in Citrus Heights, which can save $3,000-$10,000 in design costs and 2-3 months in review time. See which cities offer pre-approved ADU plans.
4. State grants — California's CalHFA ADU grant (up to $40K) is currently paused; check calhfa.ca.gov/adu for status and your state for active programs.
5. Get multiple bids — ADU contractor pricing varies 20-40% for the same project. We recommend getting at least 3 quotes.
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