ADU Permit Fees in Los Angeles: What to Expect

If you are building an ADU in Los Angeles, expect to pay several separate permit-related fees rather than one flat charge. The usual lineup is a plan check fee, a building permit fee, school fees paid to your local school district, utility and sewer connection charges, and in some cases city impact or development fees. Each one is set by a different agency, calculated a different way and paid at a different point in the process.

There is no single number we can honestly give you, because fees vary by city, by the size and type of your ADU, and by how much utility work your project needs, and the agencies update their fee schedules regularly. The good news is that every one of these fees is published or can be estimated by the agency that charges it. This guide walks through each fee type, what makes it go up or down, when it comes due, and where to look up the current amounts for the City of Los Angeles, Glendale, Burbank and Pasadena.

Why ADU permit fees come from several places

Homeowners are often surprised that the building department is not the only agency sending them a bill. An ADU is a new (or newly legal) living unit, so it touches several systems at once:

The building department reviews your plans and inspects construction. In the City of LA, that is the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Glendale, Burbank and Pasadena each run their own building and safety divisions.
The school district collects fees on new residential space to help fund school facilities.
The sewer and sanitation agency may charge for the added load your ADU puts on the system.
Water and power utilities may charge for new meters, service upgrades or connections. In the City of LA that is usually LADWP; Glendale, Burbank and Pasadena operate their own city utilities.
Planning or public works may assess development or impact fees, depending on the city and the size of the unit.

California has passed a series of laws over the past several years that limit what cities can charge for ADUs, including restrictions on impact fees for smaller units and on connection fees for certain conversions. These rules change, and how each city applies them can differ, so treat any general statement (including ours) as a starting point and confirm current rules with the state housing department at hcd.ca.gov or with your city.

Each ADU fee type, explained

Plan check fee

This fee pays for the building department to review your drawings for code compliance: structural, energy, fire and life safety, zoning and so on. It is typically calculated from the project's valuation (an estimate of construction value the department assigns based on size and type of construction) rather than from your actual contract price.

What drives it: the square footage of the ADU, the type of construction, and the scope of work. A new detached unit generally carries more review than a garage conversion or a junior ADU inside the existing house. Some departments also add separate review fees for things like grading, fire sprinklers, or planning and zoning review.

When it is paid: usually at submittal, before the city starts reviewing your plans.

Building permit fee

Once the plans are approved, you pay for the permit itself, which covers field inspections during construction. Like plan check, it is usually tied to project valuation. Separate electrical, plumbing and mechanical permit fees are often bundled in or listed as line items.

What drives it: size, construction type and the number of trades involved. A full kitchen, bathroom, new electrical panel and HVAC system add trade permits that a simpler scope might not.

When it is paid: at permit issuance, after plan check approval and after you have cleared other required sign-offs (school fees, for example).

School fees

School districts are allowed to collect developer fees on new residential construction. For ADUs, whether the fee applies and how much it is depends on the district and the amount of new habitable space. Many garage conversions and smaller units are treated differently than large new builds, but the rules are set by the district and state law, so check rather than assume.

What drives it: the amount of new livable square footage and your specific school district's rate.

When it is paid: before the building permit is issued. You typically pay the district directly and bring proof of payment (or a certificate showing the fee does not apply) back to the building department.

Utility and sewer connection charges

This is the category that varies most from one lot to the next. Possible charges include:

Sewer capacity or connection fees for the new unit's added load on the system.
Water meter or service fees if you add a separate meter or upsize your existing service.
Electrical service fees if your main panel or service drop needs an upgrade to carry the ADU.
Gas service charges if you are running a new line or adding a meter.

What drives it: whether you share utilities with the main house or install separate meters, the condition and capacity of your existing service, the distance from the ADU to the connection points, and the rules of your specific utility. State law limits some connection fees for certain ADU types, but separate meters or service upgrades can still bring charges.

When it is paid: it depends on the agency. Sewer fees are often collected before permit issuance. Utility service fees may come during construction, when you apply for the new service or meter. If you want a deeper look at how utility decisions affect your project, our guide on planning plumbing and electrical for your ADU covers the trade-offs.

City impact and development fees

Some cities charge fees for parks, transportation or other public facilities on new housing. State law restricts these for ADUs, particularly smaller units, and requires that larger units be charged in proportion to the size of the main house. Whether your project triggers any impact fee depends on your city and your ADU's size relative to your home.

What drives it: your city's fee program, the size of the ADU and the size of your existing house.

When it is paid: usually before permit issuance.

Smaller fees that add up

Expect a handful of smaller line items as well. Depending on the city and project, these can include records or archive fees, technology or systems surcharges, energy code review, state-mandated surcharges, address assignment, demolition permits, and fees for any required reports or reviews tied to hillside, fire zone or historic properties.

When each fee is paid in the process

Here is the typical sequence, though the order can shift a little by city:

At plan submittal: plan check fee and any separate review fees (planning, fire, grading).
During plan check: possible additional review fees if plans are revised significantly or require extra review time beyond what the original fee covers. This varies by department.
Before permit issuance: school fees, sewer fees, impact or development fees, and the building permit fee itself.
During construction: utility service, meter or upgrade charges, plus fees for any permit revisions or re-inspections.
At final: usually nothing new if everything was paid along the way, but outstanding items can hold up your certificate of occupancy.

For a step-by-step look at the whole permitting path, see our ADU permit roadmap.

What makes your fees higher or lower

Four factors do most of the work:

ADU size. Valuation-based fees rise with square footage, and size can determine whether school and impact fees apply at all.
City. The City of LA, Glendale, Burbank and Pasadena each publish their own fee schedules and apply state ADU rules in their own way. The same ADU can carry noticeably different fees across a city line.
Scope and ADU type. A garage conversion or junior ADU usually involves less new construction than a detached new build, which tends to reduce valuation-based fees and may exempt you from certain charges.
Utility work. Separate meters, panel upgrades, long sewer runs or a new connection to the main line can add charges that a project sharing existing service would not see.

Where to look up current fee amounts

Always go to the source. Fee schedules are updated, and older blog posts or forum threads go stale quickly.

City of Los Angeles

LADBS publishes its fee information and offers permit fee estimating resources on its site. Remember that school fees (paid to your school district), sewer fees and LADWP service charges are separate from LADBS fees, so check each agency.

Glendale

The City of Glendale building and safety division handles plan check and permits. Utility charges come through Glendale Water and Power.

Burbank

The City of Burbank building division manages permits and fees. Utility work goes through Burbank Water and Power.

Pasadena

The City of Pasadena planning and community development department handles building permits. Utility service runs through Pasadena Water and Power.

If your property is in unincorporated LA County or another city, the same principle applies: the local building department, school district, sanitation agency and utility each publish or quote their own fees. A phone call to the permit counter with your address and a rough description of the project is often the fastest way to get a realistic picture.

How to budget for permit fees

Permit fees are a real line item, but they are usually much smaller than construction itself. Here is a practical way to plan:

Start with construction. Use our ADU cost calculator for an instant estimate based on size and finish level. Most LA ADUs land between roughly $150K and $325K to build, depending on size and finish.
Add a separate line for fees. Do not bury them in construction. List plan check, permit, school, sewer, utility and impact fees individually, even if some end up being zero.
Get address-specific numbers early. Once you know your ADU size and type, ask each agency for a current estimate, or have your designer pull them.
Hold a contingency. Utility upgrades and revision fees are the most common surprises. A cushion keeps one unexpected charge from stalling the project.
Clarify what your quote includes. Ask any builder in writing which fees are in the quote and which you pay directly to agencies.

Our ADU cost breakdown for Los Angeles goes deeper on how construction, design and soft costs fit together.

How a complete permit package saves money and time

The most avoidable fee is the one you pay because your plans had to go back for another round. In our experience, most permit delays come from incomplete submittals and slow responses to plan-check corrections. Each correction cycle means more designer time, possible additional review fees in some departments, and weeks of carrying costs while you wait.

A well-prepared permit package typically moves through plan check in weeks per correction cycle rather than months. What makes a package complete:

An accurate survey or site plan showing setbacks, easements, existing structures and utility locations.
Structural calculations and energy compliance documents that match the drawings.
Clear notes addressing fire, sprinkler and utility questions up front.
Any required reports (soils, hillside or historic) included at submittal instead of requested later.
Fast, thorough responses when correction comments come back.

This is a big reason we handle design, permits and construction under one team. The people drawing the plans know what the builders need, and corrections get answered quickly. After 12+ years and 600+ ADUs delivered, we have seen how much a clean first submittal matters. We cannot promise any city's timeline, but a complete package removes the most common causes of delay.

Frequently asked questions

Are ADU permit fees included in a construction quote?

It depends on the builder and the contract. Ask in writing which fees are included and which you will pay directly to the city, school district and utilities.

Do garage conversions have lower permit fees?

Often, because there is less new construction and valuation-based fees are tied to scope. Some school, impact and connection fees may also apply differently. Confirm with your city and school district.

Can I get an exact fee amount before I submit plans?

You can get a close estimate once you know your ADU size, type and utility plan. Final amounts are set by each agency at the time of payment, and fee schedules change.

Why did my neighbor in another city pay different fees?

Each city sets its own fee schedule and applies state ADU rules in its own way, and utility situations vary lot by lot. Fees across a city line can differ noticeably for similar projects.

Should I talk to a tax professional about permit fees?

If you have questions about how permit fees or ADU costs affect your taxes, consult a qualified tax professional. We can explain the fees themselves, not their tax treatment.

Want a clearer picture of the fees and costs for your project? Schedule an ADU consultation and our team can talk through your plans, your city's requirements and what a complete permit package looks like for your project. You can also call us at (866) 429-1440, Mon-Sat, 9am-6pm PT.