La Habra, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Impact Fees (2026)

Municipal Code § 18.12.150(D) sets ADU utility and fee rules alongside the state ADU statutes it implements. Paragraph 2.a exempts any ADU under seven hundred fifty square feet from impact fees entirely. Paragraph 2.b charges ADUs of seven hundred fifty square feet or larger an impact fee proportionate to the square footage of the primary dwelling on the lot, rather than a flat fee, and paragraph 2.c requires all applicable public service and recreation impact fees to be paid before occupancy, citing California Government Code Sections 66000 et seq. and 66012 et seq.

Paragraph 2.d borrows the definition of 'impact fee' from California Government Code Section 66324. Paragraph 3 addresses connection fees and capacity charges separately: an ADU is not treated as a new residential use for calculating water or sewer connection fees or capacity charges unless it is built together with a new single-unit dwelling, and where an ADU is contained within a proposed or existing single-unit home meeting the size threshold in subsection K.1.a, the city cannot impose a connection fee or capacity charge unless that new-dwelling condition applies.

For any other ADU, the connection fee or capacity charge must be proportionate to the burden the unit adds, based on unit size or the number of plumbing fixtures. Paragraph 3.c confirms a JADU is never treated as a separate or new dwelling for water, sewer or power purposes. Subsection C.5 separately protects owners of pre-2020 unpermitted ADUs from impact fees or connection charges except when utility work is required for health and safety compliance.