What the city allows, what it charges, and which licensed builders work here. Checked against the city's ADU pages on Oct 18, 2026.
San Francisco has two ADU programs, State and Local. You pick one for your project and can't combine them.[3][2] Compare them
Ranked by a public score anyone can check: license, years licensed, ADU types and cities shown on their own sites, a local office, and published prices. Nobody pays to move up. Quote requests go to our team with the builder you picked. How we rank
Based in Pleasanton, Alameda County
CSLB #1094866 active Class B Licensed 4 years
Based in Santa Clara, Santa Clara County
CSLB #889458 active Class B Licensed 19 years
Based in Mill Valley, Marin County
CSLB #1117837 active Class B Licensed 2 years
Based in Redwood City, San Mateo County
CSLB #1119693 active Class B Licensed 2 years
Based in Beverly Hills, outside the Bay Area; serves San Francisco from there
CSLB #1160077 active Class B Licensed under a year
Based in Los Gatos, Santa Clara County
CSLB #1060310 active Class B Licensed 6 years
Based in Concord, Contra Costa County
CSLB #993580 active Class B Licensed 12 years
Based in Colorado, outside the Bay Area; serves San Francisco from there
CSLB #1089992 active Class B Licensed 4 years
San Francisco has two ADU programs, State and Local. You pick one for your project and can't combine them.
Detached ADU, max size[1]
Attached ADU, max size[1]
Junior ADU (inside the house)[1][3]
Height[1]
Units on a single-family lot[1][3]
| City fees, all departments (sf.gov rule of thumb) | 6% to 9% of construction cost[2] sf.gov says a new unit typically costs at least $125,000 in material and labor, and architects and engineers add about 10%. |
|---|---|
| Building permit, DBI Table 1A-A (valuation $200,001 to $500,000) | Plan review $4,011 + $13.31 per extra $1,000; issuance $1,402 + $4.21 per extra $1,000[6] For permits issued on or after July 12, 2026. Other departments' fees and trade permits are extra. |
| Permit Review Roundtable (State program) | $0 extra[7] |
| Impact fees | $0 under 750 sq ft or on lots with 3 or fewer units; otherwise in proportion to the main home[1][8] Planning Code Article 4 impact fees were cut 67% from Aug 22, 2026. The inclusionary fee was not cut. |
| School fees (SF Unified) | $3.79 per sq ft[9][2][5] DBI calculates the fee from your application. The city register does not say how ADUs are charged; state law lets districts charge only ADUs over 500 sq ft. |
| Water and sewer capacity charges (SFPUC) | $0 for an ADU on a single-family lot[10][11] SFPUC won't make you upsize your meter. If you choose a new or bigger meter, you pay installation fees only. Buildings with more units pay capacity charges when they add ADUs. |
Create a free OpenGov account and submit plans electronically. Local-program projects need a Planning Approval Letter before DBI submittal.[2]
Your design professional lists any special inspections. Trade permits may be separate. A final inspection closes the permit.[2]
Review time: State-program ADUs: 60 days from a complete application.[1][2]
State deadline: State law gives the city 15 business days to say if your application is complete and 60 days to approve or deny a complete one.[5]
Apply at: PermitSF portal
DBI pre-approves detached ADU plans that designers submit, for a $2,408 flat fee per plan paid by the designer. The plans are made for 25-ft lots and are valid for the current code cycle.[12]
Who qualifies: Not for lots in slope-protection, landslide or liquefaction, Maher or flood zones.
The city page links no list of approved plans or designers.
Under the State program a detached ADU can be 850 sq ft (studio or 1-bed) or 1,000 sq ft (2+ bed), 18 ft tall, 4 ft from side and rear lines. On a single-family lot you can add 1 detached, 1 converted and 1 junior ADU.[1]
Under the State program, 850 sq ft for a studio or 1-bedroom and 1,000 sq ft for 2 or more bedrooms. An attached ADU can instead be 50% of the main home if that is larger. A junior ADU is up to 500 sq ft.[1]
sf.gov says City fees run 6% to 9% of construction cost. ADUs under 750 sq ft pay no impact fees, and SFPUC charges no water or sewer capacity charge for an ADU on a single-family lot. SF Unified's school fee is $3.79 per sq ft.[2][1][10][9]
Every fact on this page links to one of these. We read each one on the date shown.