Complete 2026 cost breakdown: construction, permits, financing, and expected rental ROI.
Calculate your Savannah ADU cost →Building an ADU in Savannah costs between $130,000-$260,000 for new construction, with per-square-foot costs averaging $175-$345. These figures include design, permitting, site preparation, and construction. The most affordable option is a garage conversion at $70,000-$160,000, while prefab/modular ADUs fall in between at $100,000-$220,000.
| Cost Category | Estimated Range |
|---|---|
| Architectural Plans | $3,000 – $15,000 |
| Permits & Fees | 2026 Revenue Ordinance, Art. P: valuation = floor area x $80/sq ft; permit = $8 per $1,000 of the first $5,000, $4 per $1,000 to $10,000, $2 per $1,000 above, plus $75 plan review (valuation under $75,000). A new 700 sq ft ADU is about $230; a conversion within the existing footprint is a flat $200. |
| Impact Fees | City development impact fee (Ch. 15, Ord. 2-23-2023(12), full rate since July 1, 2025): $3,930.85 per single-family dwelling, $3,888.53 per duplex or townhouse unit, for parks, trails, fire, police and roads. No ADU exemption is written; confirm the category Development Services applies to an ADU. |
| 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 Savannah, where we have them — free, no obligation.
Get Savannah builder quotes →Permit fees in Savannah are 2026 Revenue Ordinance, Art. P: valuation = floor area x $80/sq ft; permit = $8 per $1,000 of the first $5,000, $4 per $1,000 to $10,000, $2 per $1,000 above, plus $75 plan review (valuation under $75,000). A new 700 sq ft ADU is about $230; a conversion within the existing footprint is a flat $200.. The review timeline is Not published. Neither the Revenue Ordinance nor the city's ADU page gives a review-time target; ask Planning and Urban Design (planning@savannahga.gov, 912-651-3108) before submitting. A historic-district Certificate of Appropriateness adds at least one monthly board cycle., with plan check: Plan review fee $75 for valuations under $75,000 or $150 for $75,000-$100,000, paid at submittal (2026 Revenue Ordinance, Art. P, Sec. 1(B)); review time not published.. Impact fees are City development impact fee (Ch. 15, Ord. 2-23-2023(12), full rate since July 1, 2025): $3,930.85 per single-family dwelling, $3,888.53 per duplex or townhouse unit, for parks, trails, fire, police and roads. No ADU exemption is written; confirm the category Development Services applies to an ADU.. Pre-approved plans: None. Savannah has no pre-approved ADU plan program and Georgia has no state program; the city's ADU page points only to the zoning standards..
| 1-Bedroom Rent | $1,300-$1,800/month |
| 2-Bedroom Rent | $1,700-$2,400/month |
| Annual Rental Income (est.) | $18,600/year |
| Payback Period (est.) | 10.5 years |
| Short-Term Rental | Only where zoning allows the use: short-term vacation rental is a limited use in A-1, TN-, TC-, D- and B- districts and is not permitted in RSF-, RTF, TR- or RMF- districts (Sec. 5.4, 8.4.37). |
| Overall ROI Estimate | 6-8% gross yield on a $130,000-$260,000 build at $1,300-$1,800/mo; both the house and the ADU may be long-term rentals with no owner-occupancy rule |
A typical ADU in Savannah generates approximately $18,600 per year in rental income based on average 1-bedroom rents. At an average construction cost of $195,000, the estimated payback period is 10.5 years — before accounting for the resale value the ADU adds, which an appraiser determines from comparable sales in Savannah 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 Savannah: $70,000-$160,000.
2. Prefab/modular ADUs offer predictable pricing and faster timelines. Average: $100,000-$220,000.
3. Pre-approved plans — available in Savannah, 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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