ADU builders in San Jose, California

Quoted from San Jose’s own fee schedule (FY 2026-27). These are city fees only. They do not include what a builder charges to design and build the unit.

Plan check

basis sqft-based, ADU-specific table
detail Accessory Dwelling Unit 'ADU' - New/Alteration table. Plan Review: 0-750 sq. ft. = $1,137; 751 sq. ft. - 1,200 sq. ft. = $1,950. Modular fees are 10% lower for plan review. Floor rate: 'Plan Review Fees shall be $325 per hour (with 15 minute minimum for over-the-counter reviews and one hour minimum for review intakes) or fees listed in the table below, whichever is greater.'
as of 2026-08-10

Building permit

basis sqft-based, ADU-specific table (permit issuance + inspection)
detail ADU - New/Alteration table. Permit Issuance: 0-750 sq. ft. = $422; 751-1,200 sq. ft. = $633 (includes addressing assignment for the unit). Inspection: 0-750 sq. ft. = $1,732; 751-1,200 sq. ft. = $2,520 (includes meter release inspection; modular 20% lower). Floor rates: permit issuance $211/hr, inspection $315/hr, whichever is greater.
as of 2026-08-10

School district fees

rate Set by the applicable school district, not by the City. City does not publish a rate.
threshold stated by city As of Jan. 1, 2020, school impact fees do not apply to ADUs less than 750 sq. ft.
note The city states a 750 sq ft threshold for school fees. State law (Educ. Code sec. 17620(a)(1)(C)(i)) sets the school-fee exemption at 500 sq ft. San Jose's stated threshold is more generous to the applicant than the statutory minimum, so it is not a preemption problem, but it does not match the statute and applicants with a 600 sq ft ADU should confirm directly with the district.
as of page current as of 2026-08-14

Utility connections

sanitary sewer fee Residential - Single Family & Duplex: parcel less than 9,780 sq ft = $447 per lot; greater than 9,780 sq ft = $1,991 per acre.
sewage treatment plant connection fee Single Family Dwelling $780 per unit; Multiple Family Dwelling $438 per unit.
water Not a city fee for most of San Jose (San Jose Water Company / Great Oaks Water serve most of the city; San Jose Municipal Water serves parts). City does not publish an ADU water connection fee.
separate connection required City does not require a separate connection. FAQ notes PG&E is now requiring ADUs to have their own PG&E utility meter; JADUs are not considered separate units and do not require separate meters.
source FY 2026-27 Building Division Fee Schedule, Sanitary Sewer Fees and Sewage Treatment Plant Connection Fees, pp. 21-22
as of 2026-08-10

Impact fees

under 750 language verbatim School Fees - As of Jan. 1, 2020, school impact fees do not apply to ADUs less than 750 sq. ft. For ADUS of 750 sq. ft. or greater, please contact the school district/s for your location to ask about their impact fee requirements for ADUs. Parkland Impact Fees. View the map that shows the Park Impact Fees that vary according to location. As of Jan. 1, 2020, parkland fees do not apply to ADUs less than 750 sq. ft.
faq language verbatim Units less than 750 sq. ft. will cost less to build, and in accordance with state law, as of Jan. 1, 2020, these smaller units are not subject to impact fees

San Jose fee scheduleFee schedule PDF

Common questions

These came up when looking for ADU builders in San Jose but did not meet the bar for the list above, usually because they do not advertise a California licence number, do not name San Jose as an area they serve, or do not present accessory dwelling units as a service they offer. They are shown so the list above can be checked rather than taken on trust.

• Abodu Homes, Inc.
• Advantage Homes
• Baron Construction and Remodeling Co.
• Bayside Home Improvement Inc.
• Cabinet Express, Inc.
• California Construction Bay Area Inc.
• Casa Utopia Builders Inc.
• EOL Builders
• IT Construction
• McCormick Home Builders Inc.
• Modular Remodeling and Design Inc.
• ON Design & Remodeling
• ZEDEDA
• 20 Twenty Sustainable Manufacturing, Inc. near miss
• ADU Builders Bay Area near miss
• ADU Concepts near miss
• ADU Gurus LLC™ near miss
• ADU Homes near miss
• ADU Property Advisors near miss
• ADU San Mateo near miss
• ADU Silicon Valley near miss
• ADU West Coast near miss
• ADU studio near miss
• AJL Builders, Inc. near miss
• Acsiom Designs near miss
• Arkhaven Builders, Inc. near miss
• Atra Construction near miss
• BEAR RIVER CONSTRUCTION near miss
• BNC BUILDERS INC near miss
• Baumeister Construction near miss
• Bluejay Nest Construction, Inc. near miss
• California ADU Builders near miss
• City Builders and Development Inc near miss
• D&D Home Remodeling near miss
• Dream Design Build near miss
• Dwelling Lab near miss
• EcoSmart Builders near miss
• Element Home Remodeling near miss
• Eterna Design Build Inc near miss
• Everlast Home Builders, Inc near miss

1. Look the licence up yourself at cslb.ca.gov. It takes under a minute and shows the current status, any suspensions, and the bond.
2. Ask who carries workers’ compensation for the crew and for every subcontractor. A licensee with no employees may lawfully be exempt, but if someone is hurt on your property you can end up treated as the employer.
3. Ask for two recent permit numbers in any city, then look them up. A builder who has done the work can produce them immediately.
4. Get the price in writing against a drawing set. A published starting price is for a base model and rarely includes site work, utilities, or San Jose fees.