800 sq ft ADU · checked Oct 18, 2026
800 sq ft ADU fees in Salinas: $6,925–$11,229, $478 more than at 750 sq ft
Salinas charges no impact fees that we model, so going from 750 to 800 sq ft adds only $478 in size-based fees such as school fees and permits.
750 vs 800
What the extra 50 sq ft changes in Salinas
- Combination building permit (incl. electrical, mechanical, plumbing): $2,994 at 750 sq ft → $3,078 at 800 sq ft
- Building plan check: $1,796 at 750 sq ft → $1,847 at 800 sq ft
- Energy plan check: $269 at 750 sq ft → $277 at 800 sq ft
- Technology surcharge (TrakIt): $253 at 750 sq ft → $260 at 800 sq ft
- General Plan / Zoning Maintenance Fee: $897 at 750 sq ft → $956 at 800 sq ft
- School fee (district; statewide cap shown): $0–$4,035 at 750 sq ft → $0–$4,304 at 800 sq ft
Staying at 750 sq ft would save about $478 in fees under today’s law.
Line by line: 750 sq ft vs 800 sq ft, now and under SB 1117
Detached ADU, 2,000 sq ft main home (example assumption). The 2027 column applies SB 1117, which limits impact fees to the area over 750 sq ft.
| Fee | 750 sq ft (2026) | 800 sq ft (2026) | 800 sq ft (from 2027) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planning & zoning | |||
| General Plan / Zoning Maintenance Fee | Est.$897 | Est.$956 | Est.$956 |
| Planning: building permit review | $170 | $170 | $170 |
| Planning inspection (ADU & JADU) | Est.$337 | Est.$337 | Est.$337 |
| Building permit & plan check | |||
| Combination building permit (incl. electrical, mechanical, plumbing) | Est.$2,994 | Est.$3,078 | Est.$3,078 |
| Building plan check | Est.$1,796 | Est.$1,847 | Est.$1,847 |
| Energy plan check | $269 | $277 | $277 |
| Technology surcharge (TrakIt) | $253 | $260 | $260 |
| Impact fees | |||
| City development and traffic impact fees | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| School district fee | |||
| School fee (district; statewide cap shown) | Up to$4,035 | Up to$4,304 | Up to$4,304 |
| Modeled total | $6,716–$10,751 | $6,925–$11,229 | $6,925–$11,229 |
State law
Why 800 sq ft is the size every city must allow
Local limits on lot coverage, floor area ratio, open space and minimum lot size can’t stop an 800 sq ft ADU with 4 ft side and rear setbacks, and a detached unit of up to 800 sq ft must be approved ministerially alongside a junior ADU.
Gov. Code §66321(b)(3)
size based upon a percentage of the proposed or existing primary dwelling, or limits on lot coverage, floor area ratio, open space, front setbacks, and minimum lot size, for either attached or detached dwellings that does not permit an accessory dwelling unit with at least 800 square feet of interior livable space and with four-foot side and rear yard setbacks to be constructed in compliance with all other local development standards.
Gov. Code §66323(a)(2)
One detached, new construction, accessory dwelling unit that does not exceed four-foot side and rear yard setbacks for a lot with a proposed or existing single-family dwelling.
Gov. Code §66323(a)(2)(A)
A total floor area limitation of not more than 800 square feet of livable space.
Quoted from Government Code, Title 7, Division 1, Chapter 13 (Accessory Dwelling Units), incl. §66311.5 (opens in new tab), checked Oct 18, 2026.
FAQ
Questions about 800 sq ft adu in Salinas
How much are the fees for an 800 sq ft ADU in Salinas?
Our model of Salinas’s official schedules comes to $6,925–$11,229 for a detached 800 sq ft ADU with a 2,000 sq ft main home, compared with $6,716–$10,751 at 750 sq ft.
Does an 800 sq ft ADU pay impact fees in Salinas?
No impact fees that we model. State law would allow proportional impact fees above 750 sq ft, but Salinas’s schedules we use don’t charge any for this ADU.
Can Salinas stop me from building an 800 sq ft ADU?
Not with lot coverage, floor area ratio, open space or minimum lot size limits. State law requires cities to allow at least an 800 sq ft ADU with 4 ft side and rear setbacks (Gov. Code §66321(b)(3)), provided it meets other objective standards such as height.
Do school fees apply at 800 sq ft?
Yes. School fees apply above 500 sq ft; at 800 sq ft the statewide Level 1 cap is $4,304, and many districts charge less.
Not modeled yet
What these totals leave out
- Monterey One Water’s one-time sewer capacity fee isn’t modeled; the City says to get an estimate from the agency.
- Valuation uses the City’s minimum for Type VB wood-frame homes; another construction type or a higher signed contract changes the permit fees.
- Fire plan check, supplemental reviews and Public Works encroachment permits aren’t included.
More
Keep going
Sources
Official sources
Every figure comes from these documents; each line’s quoted text is on the Salinas page.
- City of SalinasFY 2026/27 City-Wide Schedule of Fees and Service Charges (opens in new tab)
- City of Salinas Community DevelopmentAccessory Dwelling Units (ADU's) (opens in new tab)
- City of SalinasCommunity Development Planning Fee Schedule (effective July 1, 2025) (opens in new tab)
- California State Allocation Board (Department of General Services, OPSC)State Allocation Board item: 2026 adjustment to the Level I developer fee (meeting of January 28, 2026) (opens in new tab)
- California Legislative Information (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)Government Code, Title 7, Division 1, Chapter 13 (Accessory Dwelling Units), incl. §66311.5 (opens in new tab)
- HCD via data.ca.govHousing Element Annual Progress Report (APR) data, Table A2: ADU building permits by year (opens in new tab)