El Cajon waives all local impact fees on ADUs under 750 sq ft per California Government Code §65852.2(f)(3). ADUs 750 sq ft or larger pay impact fees proportional to the primary dwelling's square footage. Standard building permit and plan-check fees still apply through the Community Development Department fee schedule, and school district fees follow SB 13 proportional rules.
Under California Government Code §65852.2(f)(3) — added by AB 881 and SB 13 in 2019 — ADUs less than 750 square feet are exempt from all local impact fees. This includes water and sewer capacity charges, traffic impact fees, parks fees, and public facilities development impact fees. The City of El Cajon implements this exemption through the Community Development Department fee schedule. ADUs 750 sq ft or larger pay impact fees proportional to the ADU's floor area relative to the principal dwelling, not the full single-family rate. School district fees (Cajon Valley Union School District for elementary and middle, Grossmont Union High School District for high school) are also collected proportionally under Gov. Code §65852.2(f)(2). Water service is provided by Helix Water District in most of El Cajon, with Otay Water District serving portions of the southern city; both districts allow ADUs to share existing primary-dwelling service where capacity permits, avoiding duplicate connection fees. Building permit fees themselves are based on construction valuation per ECMC Title 15 and are not waived. Inclusionary or affordable-housing fees are preempted on ADUs under state law.
Misrepresenting ADU square footage to claim the under-750 sq ft exemption is permit fraud and can void the Certificate of Occupancy. Failure to pay required permit fees blocks permit issuance. Helix Water District or Otay Water District may refuse new service connections without paid capacity fees.
El Cajon, CA
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