Yes. Rancho Cordova approves an ADU with a building permit only, no hearing and no discretionary review, in every zone that allows a single-family home, under Rancho Cordova Municipal Code 23.901.060 (ADUs) and 23.901.065 (JADUs). The city's published standards allow one ADU plus one junior ADU per lot: 850 sq ft for a studio or one-bedroom, 1,000 sq ft with two or more bedrooms, a 16 ft detached height limit (18 ft within half a mile of major transit, plus 2 ft for a roof pitch that matches the house under state law), 4 ft side and rear setbacks, and one parking space unless a state exemption applies. State law separately requires approval of up to three units on a single-family lot through Gov. Code 66323: a conversion ADU, a JADU and a new detached ADU of up to 800 sq ft. No impact fee may be charged on an ADU of 750 sq ft or less (Gov. Code 66311.5). The city publishes no flat ADU permit fee; Building and Safety gives estimates by email, and its August 2026 review-timeline sheet estimates 10 business days for planning review and 15 for the first building plan check.
Zoning & Size Requirements [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Yes — Rancho Cordova allows ADUs. A detached ADU can typically be up to 850 sq ft under current California and Rancho Cordova zoning rules.
See what this means for your lot — ask Rancho Cordova ADU builders for a quote →
| Allowed Zones | All zones that allow single-family homes (city ADU standards table, citing RCMC 23.901.060 for ADUs and 23.901.065 for JADUs). State law also requires approval on any residential or mixed-use lot with a proposed or existing dwelling (Gov. Code 66323(a)) and bars minimum lot size rules (66314(b)(1)). The codified 23.901.060 text sits on eCode360 (RA4605) behind a bot check and could not be read; the standards here are the city's published table. Confirm your parcel with Planning, (916) 851-8750. |
| Max Size (Detached) | 850 sq ft for a studio or one-bedroom; 1,000 sq ft with two or more bedrooms (city ADU standards table, RCMC 23.901.060). Those are exactly the floors a city must allow under Gov. Code 66321(b)(2): the published cap is the state minimum, the city publishes no higher figure (such as 1,200 sq ft), and the codified text could not be read. Lot coverage cannot block an 800 sq ft unit with 4 ft side and rear setbacks (66321(b)(3)); a detached unit under the 66323 route is capped at 800 sq ft. |
| Max Size (Attached) | 850 sq ft for a studio or one-bedroom, 1,000 sq ft with two or more bedrooms, and total floor area not more than 50 percent of the primary dwelling (city ADU standards table; Gov. Code 66314(d)(4)). Separate exterior access from the main entrance is required. The city's own footnote: no provision of RCMC 23.901.060, including lot coverage or legal nonconformity, may preclude an attached 800 sq ft ADU at least 16 ft tall with 4 ft side and rear setbacks that meets all other standards. |
| Max Size (JADU) | 500 sq ft, entirely within an existing or proposed single-family residence, with an efficiency kitchen and either its own sanitation facilities or facilities shared with the house (city ADU FAQ; RCMC 23.901.065). No additional off-street parking may be required for a JADU. A JADU of 500 sq ft or less also pays no impact fees (Gov. Code 66311.5(c)(1)). |
| Max Height | 16 ft for a detached ADU; 18 ft if the lot is within one-half mile walking distance of a major transit stop or high-quality transit corridor; attached ADU 25 ft or the district's limit for the primary dwelling, whichever is lower (city ADU standards table). State law adds two feet above the 16 or 18 ft detached limit for a roof pitch aligned with the house (Gov. Code 66321(b)(4)(B), SB 543, effective January 1, 2026); the city's table omits it, so cite the statute if held to a flat 16 or 18 ft. |
| Max Units | City-published local route: one attached or detached ADU plus one JADU per single-family lot. State route (Gov. Code 66323): a conversion ADU and a JADU inside the existing house or an accessory structure (plus up to 150 sq ft for access) and one new detached ADU of up to 800 sq ft: three units. Multifamily lots: conversions of at least one and up to 25 percent of existing units, and up to eight detached ADUs with an existing building (not above its unit count) or two with a proposed one. |
Setback Requirements [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Rancho Cordova requires a rear setback of about 4 ft for a detached ADU, and parking requirements vary by unit size or location. Owner-occupancy is not required — you can rent it out without living on the property.
| Rear Setback | 4 ft (city ADU standards table), the most state law allows for a newly built ADU (Gov. Code 66314(d)(7)). No setback may be required for an existing structure converted to an ADU, or for a new structure rebuilt in the same location and to the same dimensions. The city notes its setbacks are general standards that may vary with existing easements. |
| Side Setback | 4 ft (city ADU standards table; Gov. Code 66314(d)(7)). The city also requires a 6 ft building separation between a detached ADU and the primary dwelling. |
| Front Setback | The zoning district's front setback for the primary dwelling (city ADU standards table). It cannot be applied so as to block an 800 sq ft ADU with 4 ft side and rear setbacks that meets all other local standards (Gov. Code 66321(b)(3)). |
| Parking Required | One off-street space per ADU, covered or uncovered, tandem allowed; none for a JADU (city ADU standards table; exemptions at RCMC 23.901.060(L)). State law caps it at one space per unit or bedroom, whichever is less (Gov. Code 66314(d)(10)(A)), and bars any parking requirement within half a mile walking distance of transit, in a historic district, inside the house or an accessory structure, or with a car-share vehicle within a block (66322(a)). Lost garage parking need not be replaced. |
| Owner Occupancy | Not required for an ADU, and the city may not require it (Gov. Code 66315). The one condition Rancho Cordova applies is rental term: the ADU may be rented only for longer than 30 days (city ADU FAQ). Junior ADUs are the exception where an owner-occupancy deed restriction may still apply; confirm with Planning, (916) 851-8750. |
| Min Lot Size | None. A city's ADU standards may not include a minimum lot size (Gov. Code 66314(b)(1)), and a conforming ADU does not count against the lot's allowable density (66319). |
Permit Process & Fees [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]
An ADU permit in Rancho Cordova goes through a ministerial, by-right review. Typical timeline: City estimate (Residential Review Timelines, Rev. 08/18/2026): ADU/JADU planning review 10 business days, building plan check 15 (10 per re-check), 10 to issue: about 35 business days on a clean pass. State law: 60 days from a complete application or the ADU is deemed approved (Gov. Code 66317). Permit fees: No published ADU permit fee. Rancho Cordova gives Building Permit and Development fee estimates on request by email to PermitServices@CityofRanchoCordova.org with the proposed square footage; no fee schedule appears on the ADU FAQ or the Building and Safety pages (checked 2026-09-20).
| Approval Process | Ministerial: a building permit, no hearing and no discretionary review (Gov. Code 66317(a)(1)). File a complete application electronically through the city's online permit portal; Building and Safety answers application questions at (916) 851-8760 or PermitServices@cityofranchocordova.org, Planning at (916) 851-8750 or PlanningServices@cityofranchocordova.org, 2729 Prospect Park Drive. The Building and Safety Forms and Downloads page carries a 'New Construction (Home/ADU) - Residential Permit' submittal sheet. Planning review comes first: the city's timeline sheet says the building plan-check clock does not start until Planning has approved the project, and incomplete submittals are returned unreviewed. A detached ADU can be given its own address on request during permitting if it is physically detached with separately billed and installed utilities and a mail receptacle (Public Works, 916-851-8710); attached ADUs and JADUs cannot. |
| Review Timeline | City estimate (Residential Review Timelines, Rev. 08/18/2026): ADU/JADU planning review 10 business days, building plan check 15 (10 per re-check), 10 to issue: about 35 business days on a clean pass. State law: 60 days from a complete application or the ADU is deemed approved (Gov. Code 66317). |
| Permit Fees | No published ADU permit fee. Rancho Cordova gives Building Permit and Development fee estimates on request by email to PermitServices@CityofRanchoCordova.org with the proposed square footage; no fee schedule appears on the ADU FAQ or the Building and Safety pages (checked 2026-09-20). |
| Impact Fees | None on an ADU of 750 sq ft or less, or a JADU of 500 sq ft or less: Gov. Code 66311.5(c)(1), effective January 1, 2026, binds the city, special districts and water corporations alike. Above 750 sq ft, city impact fees are charged in proportion to the primary dwelling's square footage (city ADU FAQ, which still carries the pre-2026 wording that put the line just short of 750). Utility connection fees and capacity charges are not impact fees and may still be charged, proportionately, for a new detached unit (66311.5(b)-(c)(2)). The FAQ lists Sacramento Area Sewer District (916-876-6100), Sacramento County Water Agency (916-874-6851), SMUD (916-732-5700), Golden State Water (1-800-999-4033), California American Water (916-568-4251) and Sacramento Metro Fire District (916-859-4330) as the agencies to contact. School district developer fees are collected separately; the city's form RCB0901 is the certificate of compliance, and the rate comes from the district, not the city. |
| Plan Check | Building plan check follows Planning approval (city timeline sheet: 15 business days first cycle, 10 per subsequent cycle). Fire sprinklers are required in a newly built ADU only where the existing primary dwelling has an automatic residential sprinkler system, and a house built before sprinklers were required does not have to add one to take an attached ADU (city ADU FAQ; Gov. Code 66314(d)(12)). The ADU may need photovoltaic panels under the California Energy Code (FAQ). Projects in the American River Parkway or a FEMA flood zone add five business days per review cycle; expedited review can be requested on form RCB1202 (timeline sheet, notes 4 and 5). |
| Pre-Approved Plans | None published. The Planning Division document library and the Building and Safety forms page list no pre-approved or permit-ready ADU plan gallery (checked 2026-09-20), so every ADU needs a full plan set. Gov. Code 65852.27 required every local agency to have a program for pre-approving applicant-submitted ADU plans by January 1, 2025; ask Planning at (916) 851-8750 whether any plans have been pre-approved under it. |
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Construction Costs [17][18][19][20]
Building an ADU in Rancho Cordova typically costs $170,000-$400,000 ($250-$500 per sq ft); a garage conversion runs $90,000-$200,000.
See what this means for your lot — ask Rancho Cordova ADU builders for a quote →
| Average Build Cost | $170,000-$400,000 |
| Cost per Sq Ft | $250-$500 |
| Garage Conversion | $90,000-$200,000 |
| Prefab ADU (Installed) | $170,000-$340,000 |
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Rental Income Potential [21][22]
A 2-bedroom ADU in Rancho Cordova rents for around $1,800-$2,200/mo, an estimated 5-10% gross annual return on a detached build; 8-20% on a garage conversion.
| Avg Rent (1 Bedroom) | $1,400-$1,800/mo |
| Avg Rent (2 Bedroom) | $1,800-$2,200/mo |
| Short-Term Rental | No. The ADU may be rented only for a term longer than 30 days (city ADU FAQ), the one rental condition state law lets a city impose (Gov. Code 66315) and one that 66323(e) requires for units built under the state route. |
| Est. Annual ROI | 5-10% gross annual return on a detached build; 8-20% on a garage conversion |
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Recent Law Changes
What's Changed Recently
- 2026-09-20: re-verified against the city's ADU FAQ and standards table (Planning Department, October 2024, still the document the city links), the city's Residential Estimated Project Review Timelines (Rev. 08/18/2026, new to this entry) and Gov. Code 66311.5, 66314, 66315, 66317, 66321 and 66323 as in force in 2026. Size caps stay 850/1,000 sq ft, which are the state floors; the impact-fee exemption is restated as 750 sq ft or less per 66311.5; a city review-time estimate replaces 'ask Building and Safety'; cost and rent ranges move to dated 2026 Sacramento-region guides and HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs.
- Sourcing limit: the codified text of RCMC 23.901.060 and 23.901.065 on eCode360 (RA4605) is behind a bot check that was not bypassed, and no archived copy exists; the ordinance number and effective date of the city's most recent ADU amendment are unverified. The standards here are the city's own published table, which cites 23.901.060 throughout.
- SB 543 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 520), effective January 1, 2026: two extra feet of detached ADU height for a roof pitch aligned with the house (Gov. Code 66321(b)(4)(B)); the impact-fee section was renumbered to 66311.5 and exempts an ADU of 750 sq ft or less of interior livable space; 66317 deems an ADU approved if the city does not act within 60 days of a complete application.
- AB 1170 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 67), effective January 1, 2026, amended Gov. Code 66314, the core standards section for ADUs on single-family lots.
- Gov. Code 66316 and 66325: a local ADU ordinance that conflicts with the state article is null and void and the state standards apply; a city remains free to be less restrictive.
- California's ADU statutes were renumbered into Gov. Code 66310-66342 by SB 477, effective March 25, 2024; a city handout that cites an older section number is citing repealed law.
Tips for Building an ADU in Rancho Cordova
- Ask for the state route by name. Gov. Code 66323 requires approval of a conversion ADU plus a JADU plus a new detached ADU of up to 800 sq ft, three units where the city's published local option gives two. It is a separate route, not an add-on to the local standards.
- Size to 750 sq ft, not 749. Since January 1, 2026 the state exemption covers an ADU of 750 sq ft of interior livable space or less (Gov. Code 66311.5(c)(1)), so a 750 sq ft unit pays no impact fee; the city FAQ's older wording drew the line just short of that. Utility connection or capacity charges are separate.
- Budget the calendar from the city's own sheet: 10 business days of planning review, then 15 for the first building plan check and 10 to issue, and 10 more for every correction cycle. Only complete submittals start the clock, and the building clock waits for Planning.
- The 16 ft detached height limit is not the whole rule. SB 543 adds two feet for a roof pitch aligned with the house, and 18 ft applies within half a mile walking distance of a major transit stop or high-quality transit corridor (Gov. Code 66321(b)(4)).
- Check the 66322 parking exemptions before giving up a driveway space: within half a mile walking distance of public transit, inside the house or an accessory structure, or with a car-share vehicle within a block, no parking may be required at all.
- Converting a garage? The city cannot make you replace the lost parking (Gov. Code 66314(d)(11)), and no setback applies where you convert an existing structure or rebuild in the same footprint (66314(d)(7)).
- A detached ADU can carry its own street address (physically detached, separately billed utilities, its own mail receptacle), which makes a 31-day-plus tenancy simpler to run; attached ADUs and JADUs share the house address.
- Cost basis: build, per-sq-ft, garage and prefab ranges are the Sacramento-region figures from four 2026 contractor cost guides (updated April to June 2026), not Rancho Cordova quotes; rents bracket the September 2026 Rancho Cordova listing median against HUD's FY2027 Small Area FMR for ZIP 95670 ($1,770 one-bedroom, $2,170 two-bedroom), while ZIP 95742 on the east side runs higher ($2,530 and $3,100).
- Cost basis (2026-09-20 re-verification): short term allowed: No. The ADU may be rented only for a term longer than 30 days (city ADU FAQ), the one rental condition state law lets a city impose (Gov. Code 66315) and one that 66323(e) requires for units built under the state route. The ADU generally cannot be sold or conveyed separately from the primary dwelling (66314(d)(1); the FAQ cites 66341).
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Sources & References
All data on this page is sourced from official government records and verified market data. View our full methodology.
- Accessory Dwelling Units: Frequently Asked Questions, City of Rancho Cordova Planning Department (ADU and JADU development standards table citing RCMC 23.901.060; PDF dated October 12, 2024, still the document linked from the Planning document library on 2026-09-20; read via the Internet Archive capture of March 21, 2025) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Planning Division Document Library, City of Rancho Cordova (links the ADU FAQ and the Zoning Code on eCode360; no pre-approved plan program listed) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Rancho Cordova Municipal Code, Title 23 Zoning Code (eCode360 RA4605): not readable for this entry; the host serves a bot-verification challenge that was not bypassed and no archived copy exists Municipal Code — Accessed 2026-09-20
- California Government Code 66314, ADU ordinance standards (amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 67 (AB 1170), effective January 1, 2026) state_statute — Accessed 2026-09-20
- California Government Code 66321, ADU size and height standards (amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 520 (SB 543), effective January 1, 2026) state_statute — Accessed 2026-09-20
- California Government Code 66322, parking exemptions and nonconforming conditions state_statute — Accessed 2026-09-01
- California Government Code 66323, ministerial approval of multiple ADUs and JADUs (amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 520 (SB 543), effective January 1, 2026) state_statute — Accessed 2026-09-20
- California Government Code 66315, no additional standards and no owner-occupant requirement state_statute — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Residential - Estimated Project Review Timelines, City of Rancho Cordova Building and Safety (RCBSD, Rev. 08/18/2026): ADU and JADU row Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Building Permit Fee Estimates, City of Rancho Cordova (estimates by email request; no published ADU fee) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Building and Safety Forms and Downloads, City of Rancho Cordova (New Construction (Home/ADU) - Residential Permit submittal sheet; forms RCB1202 and RCB0901) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- California Government Code 66311.5, ADU fees and the 750 sq ft or less impact-fee exemption (renumbered by Stats. 2025, Ch. 520 (SB 543), effective January 1, 2026) state_statute — Accessed 2026-09-20
- California Government Code 66317, ministerial review, 15-business-day completeness, 60-day decision and deemed approval state_statute — Accessed 2026-09-20
- California Government Code 65852.27, local pre-approved ADU plan programs (AB 1332) state_statute — Accessed 2026-09-19
- California Government Code 66316, non-compliant local ADU ordinance null and void state_statute — Accessed 2026-09-01
- California Government Code 66325, state article supersedes a conflicting local ordinance state_statute — Accessed 2026-09-01
- How Much Does It Cost to Build an ADU in Sacramento (updated April 28, 2026), Good Life Construction industry — Accessed 2026-09-19
- How Much Does an ADU Cost in Sacramento? (updated June 12, 2026), Upside ADU industry — Accessed 2026-09-19
- How Much Does an ADU Cost in Sacramento in 2026?, ADU Wizard industry — Accessed 2026-09-19
- Garage Conversion ADU in Sacramento: Complete 2026 Guide, Result Construction industry — Accessed 2026-09-19
- HUD FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent Schedule, ZIPs 95670 and 95742 (Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA HUD Metro FMR Area), effective October 1, 2026 Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Average Rent in Rancho Cordova, CA (last updated September 20, 2026), Zumper Market Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- California Department of Finance, Report E-1: Population and Housing Estimates for Cities, Counties, and the State, January 1, 2025 and 2026 Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-01
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build an ADU in Rancho Cordova?
Yes. ADUs are allowed in All zones that allow single-family homes (city ADU standards table, citing RCMC 23.901.060 for ADUs and 23.901.065 for JADUs). State law also requires approval on any residential or mixed-use lot with a proposed or existing dwelling (Gov. Code 66323(a)) and bars minimum lot size rules (66314(b)(1)). The codified 23.901.060 text sits on eCode360 (RA4605) behind a bot check and could not be read; the standards here are the city's published table. Confirm your parcel with Planning, (916) 851-8750. in Rancho Cordova. The maximum size for a detached ADU is 850 sq ft for a studio or one-bedroom; 1,000 sq ft with two or more bedrooms (city ADU standards table, RCMC 23.901.060). Those are exactly the floors a city must allow under Gov. Code 66321(b)(2): the published cap is the state minimum, the city publishes no higher figure (such as 1,200 sq ft), and the codified text could not be read. Lot coverage cannot block an 800 sq ft unit with 4 ft side and rear setbacks (66321(b)(3)); a detached unit under the 66323 route is capped at 800 sq ft.. Owner-occupancy is not required, so you can rent out the ADU.
How much does an ADU cost in Rancho Cordova?
ADU construction in Rancho Cordova typically costs $170,000-$400,000. Garage conversions run $90,000-$200,000, and prefab ADUs cost $170,000-$340,000.
How much can I rent an ADU for in Rancho Cordova?
Average ADU rents in Rancho Cordova are $1,400-$1,800/mo for a 1-bedroom and $1,800-$2,200/mo for a 2-bedroom unit.
Do I need parking for an ADU in Rancho Cordova?
One off-street space per ADU, covered or uncovered, tandem allowed; none for a JADU (city ADU standards table; exemptions at RCMC 23.901.060(L)). State law caps it at one space per unit or bedroom, whichever is less (Gov. Code 66314(d)(10)(A)), and bars any parking requirement within half a mile walking distance of transit, in a historic district, inside the house or an accessory structure, or with a car-share vehicle within a block (66322(a)). Lost garage parking need not be replaced.. Check with Rancho Cordova planning department for the latest California ADU parking rules, as many states have relaxed requirements in recent years.
How long does it take to get an ADU permit in Rancho Cordova?
The permit review timeline in Rancho Cordova is City estimate (Residential Review Timelines, Rev. 08/18/2026): ADU/JADU planning review 10 business days, building plan check 15 (10 per re-check), 10 to issue: about 35 business days on a clean pass. State law: 60 days from a complete application or the ADU is deemed approved (Gov. Code 66317).. Permit fees: No published ADU permit fee. Rancho Cordova gives Building Permit and Development fee estimates on request by email to PermitServices@CityofRanchoCordova.org with the proposed square footage; no fee schedule appears on the ADU FAQ or the Building and Safety pages (checked 2026-09-20).
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