Permit guides

ADU Permits in Citrus Heights: a Homeowner's Guide

Free permit-ready plans, the 749 sq ft fee line, and local design rules — in plain language.

Last updated October 2026. Rules change; always confirm current requirements with the city before you build.

Who handles your permit

ADU permits in Citrus Heights come from the Building & Safety Division at 6360 Fountain Square Drive, Citrus Heights, CA 95621 — (916) 727-4760, Building@CitrusHeights.net. Applications are filed through the city's online Citizen Access Portal and reviewed ministerially, meaning no public hearing: if the plans meet the standards, they move.

What you can build

1,200 sq ftMax for a detached ADU

749 sq ftAt or under this: impact fees waived

60%Local cap: attached ADU vs. existing living area

4 ftMinimum side and rear setbacks

FREECity permit-ready ADU plans (PRADU program)

30 daysApproval clock for pre-approved detached ADUs

One local number to know: an attached ADU in Citrus Heights is capped at 60% of the existing living area (up to 1,200 sq ft) — tighter than the state's 50%-or-1,200 rule looks at first glance. Detached units follow the standard 1,200 sq ft max.

Free permit-ready plans

Citrus Heights runs its own Permit-Ready ADU Program (PRADU) with free, city-pre-approved plans — two one-bedroom models and one two-bedroom model — plus a vendor plan list under the state's AB-1332 pre-approval framework. Using a pre-approved design skips a large part of plan check, and state law gives the city just 30 days to approve or deny a detached ADU on pre-approved plans.

Free plans aren't plug-and-play. You still file a site-specific submittal showing placement, setbacks, and utility connections for your lot — the plan is pre-cleared, your property isn't.

What goes into the submittal

Application through the Citizen Access Portal
Site plan plus the PRADU/vendor plan set, or full custom plans with structural and Title 24 documents
Utility sign-offs (water, sewer, power, gas as needed)
Fees calculated from project valuation — the city doesn't publish a flat ADU fee, so get a project-specific quote early

Where applications usually get stuck

The 60% attached cap. Homeowners plan an attached ADU at the state max and discover the local limit mid-review.
Privacy window rules. Two-story ADUs near property lines may need obscure glass or clerestory windows — a design detail that's expensive to fix late.
Architectural compatibility. Exterior work must be compatible with the main dwelling; reviewers do check.
Fee surprises. With fees tied to valuation rather than a flat schedule, confirm numbers before you budget the project.

Not sure where to start? That's the part we do. We check your lot against Citrus Heights' standards, line up the right plan path — PRADU, vendor, or custom — and manage the submittal and corrections — one point of contact.

Tell us what you need help with.

Not sure where to start? That's what we're here for.

Send your project

Erik — (916) 540-8960 · Vall — (916) 956-8106
office@pcg-engineering.pro