ADU Impact Fees: Carson vs Pasadena
How do adu impact fees rules compare between Carson, CA and Pasadena, CA?
Carson and Pasadena have similar restriction levels.
Carson, CA
Los Angeles County
Carson cannot charge any impact fees on ADUs under 750 sq ft, per Gov. Code §65852.2(f)(3)(A). ADUs 750 sq ft and larger may be charged impact fees only proportional to the primary dwelling's square footage. Standard building permit and plan check fees still apply.
View full Carson rules →Pasadena, CA
Los Angeles County
Pasadena exempts ADUs under 750 square feet from all impact fees per California Government Code §65852.2(f)(3) and extends the exemption to ADUs up to 900 square feet from the city's Residential Impact Fees (RIFs) and Construction Tax. Reduced citywide RIFs and Construction Tax for larger ADUs took effect July 17, 2025. ADUs using Pasadena's Standard Plans qualify for additional permit-fee waivers.
View full Pasadena rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Carson | Pasadena |
|---|---|---|
| ADUs under 750 sq ft | NO impact fees allowed (state preemption) | - |
| ADUs 750+ sq ft | Impact fees proportional to main dwelling size | - |
| School fees | Only on ADUs 500+ sq ft (Ed. Code §17620) | - |
| Utility connection | Not required for ADUs in existing structures | - |
| Standard permit fees | Building/plan check fees still apply (based on construction cost) | - |
| Under 750 sq ft | - | All impact fees waived (state law) |
| Under 900 sq ft | - | RIFs + Construction Tax waived (city) |
| Standard Plans | - | Added permit-fee waivers |
| Affordable Covenant | - | All RIFs waived, any size |
| Reduced Fees Effective | - | May 6 / Jul 17, 2025 |
| State Law | - | Gov. Code §65852.2(f) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Carson FAQ
Will Carson charge me impact fees for a small ADU?
No. State law prohibits any impact fees on ADUs under 750 sq ft. Standard building permit fees still apply.
Do I need a new water/sewer connection?
Not for ADUs converted from existing space (garage, basement, etc.). New detached ADUs may require connection fees proportional to size.
What if Carson charges me an illegal fee?
File a complaint with California HCD's ADU enforcement unit and dispute the fee through Carson's permit appeal process.
Pasadena FAQ
Are ADU impact fees waived in Pasadena?
Yes for ADUs of 900 sq ft or less — Pasadena exempts these from Residential Impact Fees (RIFs) and the Construction Tax. ADUs under 750 sq ft also receive the full state-law exemption from all local development impact fees under Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(f)(3). ADUs 900 sq ft or larger pay reduced fees effective July 17, 2025.
How do Pasadena Standard Plans help with fees?
ADUs built using Pasadena's pre-approved Standard Plans qualify for additional waivers on plan-check and several permit fees beyond the RIF and Construction Tax exemption. This is the lowest-cost path to permitting in Pasadena.
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