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Permit guides

ADU Permits in El Dorado Hills: a Homeowner's Guide

County process, the CSD design review step most people miss, and septic realities — in plain language.

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

Who handles your permit

El Dorado Hills is unincorporated, so there's no city building department — permits come from the El Dorado County Planning and Building Department, Placerville office: 2850 Fairlane Court, Placerville, CA 95667. Building: (530) 621-5315 (bldgdept@edcgov.us). Planning: (530) 621-5355 (planning@edcgov.us). You're dealing with county timelines and county forms, not a city counter.

What you can build

State ADU law applies here the same as anywhere in California. The local wrinkles are about who else has to sign off — and in El Dorado Hills, there's one almost everyone misses.

The step most people miss: CSD architectural approval

If your property sits in an architecturally controlled area of the El Dorado Hills Community Services District, the district's architectural approval of your plans is required before the county will issue the permit. The county doesn't enforce HOA or CSD design rules — but it won't issue without that sign-off where it applies. Check with your CSD or HOA before you spend on full construction drawings, not after.

What goes into the submittal

• County building permit application (with the owner-builder section completed if you're acting as your own contractor)
• Site and grading plans drawn to an industry-standard scale
• Floor plans, framing, sections, elevations, and structural details
• Title 24 energy compliance
• Encroachment permit if your driveway connects to a county-maintained road

Where applications usually get stuck

• Septic capacity. Adding a bedroom without public sewer can trigger a septic system expansion review through Environmental Management — resolve this before designing, not during plan check.
• Fire Safe driveways. County Fire Safe Regulations govern driveway width, grade, and turnarounds; rural lots fail here often.
• Unpermitted existing work. After-the-fact permits in the county require a wet-stamped report from a licensed architect or engineer verifying the structural work — inspectors won't take anyone's word for what's inside the walls.
• Contractor licensing. Contractors working as the owner's agent need an active state license, workers' comp, and a current El Dorado County business license.