Vacaville processes ADU and JADU permits ministerially through the Community Development Department / Building Division under VMC 14.09.122 and California Government Code 66317. The city must act on a complete application within 60 days. Submittal is through the eTRAKiT online portal. Pre-approved ADU plans accelerate review under AB 434 (Gov. Code 66315).
California Government Code 66317 (formerly 65852.2(b)(1)) requires Vacaville to approve, deny, or request corrections on a complete ADU or JADU application within 60 days from receipt of a complete application. If the city fails to act within 60 days, the application is deemed approved. The 60-day clock pauses during correction cycles. Review is strictly ministerial (Gov. Code 66317(b)): no public hearing, no Planning Commission, no neighborhood notification, and no discretionary design review. Vacaville uses the eTRAKiT online permit portal. Required submittals: site plan showing existing improvements, setbacks, and parking; floor plans and elevations; structural plans for new construction; California Plumbing Code, California Electrical Code, and California Mechanical Code plans; Title 24 energy compliance documentation; and Wildland-Urban Interface findings for properties in the Hillside (H) Overlay or Lagoon Valley Specific Plan area. California's pre-approved ADU plans program under Gov. Code 66315 (AB 434, 2023) requires Vacaville to maintain a library of pre-approved plans that can be permitted within 30 days. AB 1033 (Gov. Code 66341, 2024) allows local jurisdictions to opt in to ADU condominium-ization (separate sale of the ADU); Vacaville has not yet adopted AB 1033 as of the 2025 ordinance update. Permit fees and impact fees follow Gov. Code 66322 (sub-750 sq ft ADU is exempt from city impact fees).
Failing to act on a complete application within 60 days results in deemed approval under Gov. Code 66317. Vacaville's improper denial or imposition of non-objective standards can be challenged via writ of mandate under California Code of Civil Procedure 1085. Building an ADU without permits violates VMC Title 15 and 14.09.122 - enforcement includes stop-work orders, double permit fees, and orders to expose concealed work. Unpermitted ADUs typically cannot be financed and block sale.
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