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Permit guides
ADU Permits in Turlock: a Homeowner's Guide
Turlock is fully electronic for ADU submittals — and its published fee schedule makes one thing clear: staying under 750 square feet saves you real money.
Last updated October 2026. Rules change; always confirm current requirements with the city before you build.
Who handles your permit
The City of Turlock Development Services Department — Building & Safety Division handles ADU permits from 156 S. Broadway, Suite 130, Turlock — (209) 668-5560. All projects must be submitted electronically in PDF format via a link provided by staff; a plan check deposit is due with the application, and projects needing more than three plan checks pay additional fees.
What you can build
Free plansStanislaus County pre-drawn ADU library available in Turlock
E-submittalAll projects submitted electronically via a staff-provided link
<750 sq ftExempt from capital facility impact fees under state law
~$8.5k–$10.2kListed capital facility fee for a 2nd unit at 750+ sq ft
TIDTurlock Irrigation District — electric and water
60 daysMinisterial decision on a complete application
The Stanislaus County pre-drawn plans — and Turlock's fee table
Stanislaus County partnered with Turlock, Modesto, Ceres, Oakdale, Riverbank, and Waterford to produce pre-drawn ADU plans for detached new construction — from a 260 sq ft studio to a 1,192 sq ft 3-bedroom — with multiple exterior finish options, free to property owners. Using them skips most structural plan check; your submittal centers on the site.
Watch the fee table: Turlock's capital facility development fee schedule lists roughly $8,500–$10,200 (indexed) per 2nd unit at 750 sq ft and above — but state law exempts units under 750 sq ft from those fees. Sizing just under the line is the single biggest fee decision you'll make.
What goes into the submittal
- Building permit application — complete every line (mark N/A where it doesn't apply); plan check deposit payable by cash, check, or online.
- Plot plan drawn to scale (three sets per the city's checklist): parcel dimensions, structure locations, driveway, easements, wells/septic, and setbacks from property lines, structures, pools, and water supply.
- Floor plan — not required when using the pre-checked plans; foundation details likewise.
- Fire sprinkler plans if the main dwelling is sprinklered.
- Stormwater worksheet — Turlock requires an erosion/sediment control worksheet or SWPPP for grading work.
Where applications usually get stuck
- The 750 sq ft fee cliff. A unit that creeps over 750 sq ft triggers the full capital facility fee — lock the size early.
- Electronic submittal format. PDFs must be complete for the staff-provided link; civil, landscape, and fire-system drawings are not part of the building submittal and go to other departments.
- TID coordination. Electric service and meter work run through the Turlock Irrigation District — a separate queue from the city.
- Agricultural edges. Parcels near Williamson Act contract land on Turlock's fringe can face compatibility and setback questions.
- Solar as a separate track. New detached ADUs carry roof-mounted PV — recent Turlock ADU permits pair the ADU with a separate solar system permit, so sequence it.
Not sure where to start? That's the part we do. We look at your property, map the requirements, coordinate the plans and specialists, and manage the submittal and corrections — one point of contact.