Everything homeowners ask about building an ADU in Citrus Heights — answered with 2026 data.
Yes, ADUs are allowed in Any lot with an existing or proposed primary unit, duplex or multi-unit dwelling (Zoning Code §106.42.015.A.1, as replaced by Ord. No. 2026-004). Table 2-2 lists an ADU as a permitted use in every residential and open-space zone: RD-1 through RD-30, MH and O (§106.24.030). A JADU is allowed only on a single-family-zoned lot with a single-family home (§106.42.015.D). State law also requires ministerial approval in any residential or mixed-use zone with a dwelling (Gov. Code §66323(a)). in Citrus Heights, CA. The maximum size for a detached ADU is Local option: 1,200 sq ft regardless of the primary home's size (§106.42.015.B.3.b), measured as interior livable space from the inside face of the exterior walls, excluding garages, porches and unfinished space (E.4). Above 800 sq ft the zone's lot coverage applies: 30% in RD-1 to RD-4, 50% in RD-5 to RD-15 (Table 2-4). State option: 800 sq ft (§106.42.015.C.1.a(3); Gov. Code §66323(a)(2)). No local standard may block an 800 sq ft unit with 4-ft side and rear setbacks (Gov. Code §66321(b)(3)). Attached ADUs can be up to 60% of the existing primary dwelling's floor area, up to 1,200 sq ft, but never less than 850 sq ft for a studio or one-bedroom or 1,000 sq ft for two or more bedrooms. Citrus Heights has an ADU-friendliness score of 8/10. Check our full Citrus Heights ADU rules page for complete zoning details.
ADU construction in Citrus Heights typically costs $170,000-$400,000. The cost per square foot averages $250-$500. Garage conversions are more affordable at $90,000-$200,000, while prefab ADUs cost $170,000-$340,000. Permit fees add 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. to your budget. See our detailed Citrus Heights ADU cost guide.
Detached ADUs in Citrus Heights can be up to Local option: 1,200 sq ft regardless of the primary home's size. Attached ADUs are limited to 60% of the existing primary dwelling's floor area, up to 1,200 sq ft, but never less than 850 sq ft for a studio or one-bedroom or 1,000 sq ft for two or more bedrooms. Junior ADUs (JADUs) have a cap of 500 sq ft of interior livable space, created within the walls of the proposed or existing single-family home including an attached garage, with at least an efficiency kitchen, its own exterior entrance, and either a private or a shared bathroom (§106.42.015.D.1). One JADU per lot under either pathway. A recorded deed restriction barring separate sale must be shown before the building permit issues (§106.42.015.D.3; Gov. Code §66333). Maximum height is Detached: 18 ft, plus 2 ft to match the primary home's roof pitch (§106.42.015.E.2.b); 25 ft where the ADU sits above a detached accessory structure (E.2.c). Attached: the zoning district's limit, 30 ft in the single-family RD zones (Table 2-4; city ADU Development Standards page), or more where state law allows (E.2.a). The three permit-ready plans are drawn at 16 ft. You are allowed up to Single-family lot, local option: one ADU plus one JADU on a qualifying lot.
Rear setback: 4 ft for a newly built ADU (§106.42.015.E.1); none for converting, or rebuilding in place, an existing structure (E.1.a). The city's ADU web page and FAQ, written before the 2026 rewrite, still show a 20-ft rear yard for attached ADUs (reducible to 10 ft); the adopted code and Gov. Code §66314(d)(7) cap side and rear setbacks at 4 ft for any new ADU, so ask Planning at (916) 727-4740 before designing to 20 ft. No ADU may sit in an easement without the holder's written consent (E.1.b). Side setback: 4 ft for a newly built ADU (§106.42.015.E.1); none for conversions of existing structures (E.1.a). The city's pre-rewrite ADU page lists a 5-ft side yard for attached ADUs, but the adopted code applies the 4-ft figure to any ADU and Gov. Code §66314(d)(7) bars a local side setback of more than 4 ft for a new ADU. Second-floor windows within 10 ft of a side lot line must be obscured or clerestory, and balconies above the ground floor must stay 10 ft from side and rear lines (E.9). Front setback: The front and street-side setbacks of the underlying zone apply (20 ft front in RD-1 to RD-4, 15 ft in RD-5/RD-7, Table 2-4) and ADUs are prohibited in the front yard under the local option (§106.42.015.B.2), except that a front setback may not be applied if it would prohibit an attached or detached ADU of up to 800 sq ft with 4-ft side and rear setbacks (§106.42.015.E.1.c). Note that garage conversions may be exempt from setback requirements if the existing structure is already within the setback area.
None. No additional off-street parking is required for an ADU or JADU, and when a garage, carport or parking space is demolished or converted for the unit, no replacement parking is required (§106.42.015.E.7; Gov. Code §66314(d)(11)). Many cities and states have been relaxing ADU parking requirements in recent years. In California, no additional parking is required for ADUs near transit.
Not required for an ADU. For a JADU, owner-occupancy (in either the JADU or the main home) is required only if the JADU shares a bathroom with the primary dwelling; a JADU with its own sanitation facilities, or one owned by a government agency, land trust or housing organization, is exempt (§106.42.015.D.2, tracking AB 1154 and Gov. Code §66333(b), effective January 1, 2026). Note that owner-occupancy rules vary by state law — California and several other states have eliminated this requirement for standard ADUs.
The ADU permit review timeline in Citrus Heights is typically 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. 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. Pre-approved plans availability: 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.
Average ADU rental income in Citrus Heights: 1-bedroom units rent for $1,700-$1,950/month, 2-bedroom units for $2,100-$2,350/month. Short-term rentals: 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. Expected ROI: 5-10% gross annual return on a detached build; 8-20% on a garage conversion.
The minimum lot size for an ADU in Citrus Heights is No minimum lot size. State law bars minimum-lot-size standards for ADUs (Gov. Code §66314(b)(1)), and neither the ADU nor the JADU counts toward the parcel's density (§106.42.015.B.1.a). Minimum parcel sizes in Table 2-3 (for example 8,500 sq ft in RD-4) govern subdivisions, not ADUs. This applies to detached ADUs — garage conversions and JADUs may have different or no lot size requirements.
Garage conversions are one of the most popular and affordable ADU options. In Citrus Heights, a garage conversion typically costs $90,000-$200,000. The key advantages are lower cost (no foundation work), potential setback exemptions, and faster permitting. Read our complete garage conversion guide.
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