← PCG Engineering
Permit guides
ADU Permits in Fair Oaks: a Homeowner's Guide
Fair Oaks isn't a city — so Sacramento County issues your permit. The county's ADU standards, the Village area, and second-story rules — in plain language.
Last updated October 2026. Rules change; always confirm current requirements with the county before you build.
First: it's the county, not a city
Fair Oaks is unincorporated — there is no city building department. ADU permits are issued by Sacramento County's Building Permits & Inspection Division: the Building Assistance Center at 9800 Goethe Road, Sacramento, CA 95827, or the Downtown Permit Center at 827 7th Street, Room 102 — (916) 875-5296, building.saccounty.gov. The 95628 ZIP borders Orangevale, Citrus Heights, and Gold River, so verify the parcel's jurisdiction before you start.
What you can build
The county's ADU zoning standards (current version effective May 2025) set the local rules:
1,200 sq ftMax for a detached ADU under state law
1 storyDetached ADUs are limited to one story under county standards
18 ftPossible with increased setbacks: 10 ft rear, 5 ft side
4 ftMinimum side and rear setbacks, standard detached ADUs
PermanentAll ADUs must be on a permanent foundation
60 daysState deadline to act on a complete application
Fair Oaks-specific things to know
- Fair Oaks Village area. The historic Village and the river bluffs carry additional design and environmental considerations — confirm any special-area rules with county planning early.
- Second-story caution. The county notes that second-story ADUs can trigger a Minor Special Development Permit — the detached one-story form is the simpler path.
- Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District. The county collects park impact fees through the district on residential development, including ADUs.
- Generous lots, older infrastructure. Fair Oaks has many large half-acre-plus parcels with older wells, septics (where not yet converted), and electrical panels — verify service adequacy early.
Keep it one story, keep it simple. On Fair Oaks's larger lots it's tempting to design a two-story ADU. But the county's one-story default for detached units means a second story needs a Minor Special Development Permit — added time, added discretion.
What goes into the submittal
- Building permit application to Sacramento County (online or in person)
- Site plan: lot lines, structures, setbacks, easements, utilities, drainage
- Architectural plans: floor plans, elevations, sections
- Structural plans and calculations, Title 24 energy documents
- Park district fee calculation for the Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District
Where applications usually get stuck
- Second-story ambitions. Designing two stories first, then discovering the Minor Special Development Permit requirement.
- Service upgrades. Older electrical panels and (on some parcels) well/septic transitions add scope.
- Village-area rules. Parcels near Fair Oaks Village may face design standards beyond the base ADU rules.
- Septic conversions. A few parcels still on septic need a sewer connection plan before the ADU can proceed.
Not sure where to start? That's the part we do. We verify your parcel's jurisdiction, check it against the county's ADU standards, and manage the submittal and corrections — one point of contact.