One of the most common points of confusion for out-of-area investors buying in the Sacramento region: the City of Sacramento and Sacramento County are two separate permitting jurisdictions with two separate ADU ordinances, and your property's exact address determines which one applies.
Setbacks and Lot Coverage
Both jurisdictions follow California's state ADU framework as a baseline, but apply their own specific setback distances and maximum lot-coverage percentages on top of it, which can affect where on your lot an ADU can be sited.
Parking Requirements
Parking requirements for ADUs can differ between city and county properties, particularly for properties near transit corridors, which may qualify for parking requirement waivers under state law.
Review Timelines
Permit review timelines depend on current staffing and volume at each jurisdiction's planning department, and can shift year to year. We stay current on both offices' typical turnaround so we can set realistic expectations at the feasibility stage.
Beyond Sacramento: Placer and El Dorado County
If you're evaluating properties in Rocklin or Granite Bay (Placer County) or El Dorado Hills or Cameron Park (El Dorado County), those jurisdictions layer on their own additional rules — including wildfire-zone construction standards in parts of El Dorado County. See our service area pages for city-specific notes, or talk to us before you finalize a purchase decision based on assumed ADU potential.