San Francisco waives most development impact fees for Accessory Dwelling Units smaller than 750 square feet under Planning Code Section 401 and Cal. Gov't Code 65852.2(f)(3)(A). ADUs 750 sq ft or larger pay impact fees calculated on a proportional basis to the primary dwelling under state law.
Per Government Code 65852.2(f)(3)(A), local agencies cannot impose any impact fee on ADUs under 750 sq ft. For ADUs 750 sq ft and larger, fees must be charged proportionally to the square footage of the primary dwelling — typically computed as (ADU sf / primary dwelling sf) x base fee. San Francisco impact fees that apply to qualifying ADUs include the Inclusionary Affordable Housing Fee (Planning Code 415), Jobs-Housing Linkage Fee, Transportation Sustainability Fee, Child-Care Fee, and applicable area-plan fees (Eastern Neighborhoods, Market-Octavia). SFPUC water and sewer capacity charges still apply but follow a separate proportional-credit calculation when the ADU is on the same meter. School-impact fees from SFUSD are collected separately at building-permit issuance.
Failure to pay required impact fees blocks issuance of the building permit and the Certificate of Final Completion under Planning Code 402. Unpaid fees become a lien on the property and accrue interest at 10% per annum. Misrepresenting ADU square footage to avoid fees is a violation of Planning Code 176 and subjects the owner to enforcement penalties.
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See how San Francisco's adu impact fees rules stack up against other locations.
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