Petaluma, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Impact Fees (2026)
Key Facts
- Water connection fee
- Waived for JADUs
- Sewer connection fee
- Waived for JADUs
- Max JADU size
- 500 square feet
- Location requirement
- Within existing walls of home
- Minimum rental term
- More than 30 days
Summary
Petaluma exempts junior accessory dwelling units from local utility connection fees. IZO Section 7.035(L) and (M) waive both the water connection fee and the sewer connection fee that would otherwise apply when a homeowner builds a JADU inside an existing single-family home, cutting one of the largest out-of-pocket costs for adding a small second unit.
L. No Water Connection Fees. No water connection fee is required for the development of a junior accessory dwelling unit. M. No Sewer Connection Fee. No sewer connection fee is required for the development of a junior accessory dwelling unit.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2931 NCS, passed July 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Petaluma's Implementing Zoning Ordinance addresses accessory unit connection fees only for junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs), the smallest category of second unit. 035(M) does the same for sewer connection fees. 035(D) and (F). 035(C). 035(N). 2), which restricts impact fees on ADUs under 750 square feet and controls over any conflicting local practice.
Violations & Fines
A unit that does not meet the JADU standards, such as exceeding 500 square feet, lacking a separate exterior entry, or being rented for less than 30 days as a short-term rental, does not qualify as a Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit under Section 7.035, and Petaluma may treat it as an unpermitted addition subject to standard building and zoning enforcement rather than the fee-waived JADU pathway. Owner-occupancy failures can likewise disqualify the unit from JADU status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay a water or sewer connection fee for a junior ADU in Petaluma?
Does the fee waiver apply to a full detached ADU, not just a junior ADU?
Do I still need a building permit even though the connection fees are waived?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Petaluma
California rules heatmap·Compare Petaluma to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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ADU Impact Fees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sonoma County handle adu impact fees.