Fresno, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Permits (2026)

Under FMC 15-2754, an ADU permit in Fresno requires a building permit only — no public hearing, no discretionary review, and no Conditional Use Permit. Applications go through the Development Services Division (Planning, Building, and Public Utilities review concurrently). Fresno offers five pre-approved ADU plans (340 sf studio up to 1,015 sf 3-bedroom, with Craftsman, Contemporary, and Gable elevations) which shorten plan review by skipping structural and architectural re-review. State law caps local processing at 60 days once the application is complete. SB 9 (Gov. Code §§65852.21 and 66411.7) lets eligible single-family lots split into two parcels and add up to two units per parcel, but Fresno applies its objective design standards from the Development Code. AB 1033 (2023) allows cities to opt in to ADU condo-ization; Fresno has not adopted an opt-in ordinance as of this writing, so ADUs cannot be sold separately from the primary unit. Fire sprinklers may be required if the primary dwelling has them or if the ADU is near combustible construction.