Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

All ADU applications are currently processed first through TRPA, then through your local jurisdiction for a building permit. For the TRPA application, ADUs may qualify for expedited permitting through a Minor Project Application. To qualify, projects must be relatively simple in scope and present a low potential risk to the environment. More information about eligibility and criteria is listed in the Minor Project Application. If your ADU project does not qualify for a Minor Project Application, please use the Single-Family Dwelling Application.

Once your application has been received, it will go through the TRPA permitting process. Turnaround times for Minor Project Applications are 40 days or less, and 120 days for a Single-Family Dwelling Application. If you have additional questions about your project or the application process, you can call the front counter at 775-588-4547, or for extensive questions, set up a pre-application meeting.

For more information on local jurisdiction ADU requirements visit:

• Placer County’s Accessory Dwelling Unit Page
• City of South Lake Tahoe Accessory Dwelling Unit Page
• El Dorado County Residential Accessory Structures Page

An ADU is different from an accessory living space because an ADU is a standalone living space with a kitchen. Per TRPA TRPA Code of Ordinances, examples of residential accessory living spaces include garages, green houses, and art studios, to name a few. Accessory living spaces do not require a development right or a bonus unit, whereas ADUs do.

In California, TRPA allows up to two ADUs on a single-family or multi-family property. Local jurisdictions’ building codes in California (Placer County, El Dorado County, and the City of South Lake Tahoe) further specify the number and size of ADUs.

City of South Lake Tahoe:
Information on building an ADU within the City of South Lake Tahoe can be found here: https://www.cityofslt.us/1191/Accessory-Dwelling-Unit-FAQs

Placer County:
Information on building an ADU within the Tahoe Basin portion of Placer County can be found here: https://www.placer.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/55810/Assessory-Dwelling-Units-in-Placer-County-Tahoe?bidId=

El Dorado County:
Information on building an ADU within the Tahoe Basin portion of El Dorado County can be found here: https://www.edcgov.us/Government/planning/Pages/frequently_asked_questions-planning.aspx#Granny_Flat

Development rights are assets that are tied to a property and are rights that someone must acquire before a new property is developed. Development rights include tourist accommodation units (TAUs), single and multi-family residential units of use (RUUs), commercial floor area (CFA), and coverage. Residential units of Use (RUUs) are formed by combining a potential residential unit of use (PRU) and a residential allocation, or by converting a TAU or CFA.

A Residential Unit of Use (RUU) is required to build an ADU that is not income-restricted in the Tahoe Basin and is not within 1/2 mile of transit. Unused or underutilized development rights can be bought on the open market and used for projects, including building an ADU. More information on development rights and how to obtain them can be found here. As of January 2022, the price for a residential development right on the market, or for a TAU or CFA that can be converted to a residential development right, ranges from around $3,000 to $30,000, depending on type, availability and jurisdiction.

If your property is within ½ mile of an existing transit stop, ½ mile from a town center, or within an area zoned for multi-family housing, you are eligible to receive a development right for your ADU at no cost (this development right is called a “bonus unit”). TRPA awards bonus units in exchange for deed-restricting a unit to affordable, moderate, or achievable income levels. Deed restricting means a property owner has officially recorded through the assessor’s office that the property must be used in accordance with the income restrictions.

A bonus unit takes the place of a Residential Unit of Use. Receiving a bonus unit at no cost can help many property owners create an ADU they would not have been able to otherwise. By awarding bonus units in areas close to transit and town centers, the creation of new ADUs aligns with Lake Tahoe Regional Plan goals to make Tahoe communities more walkable, bikeable, and reduce reliance on cars.

For more information on bonus units and deed restriction requirements, please visit the TRPA’s Housing website and the Residential Bonus Unit Factsheet.

You can check the map here to see if your property is within the Residential Bonus Unit Boundary and thus eligible for a bonus unit. If you would like to utilize a bonus unit for your ADU, indicate that in your application and you will be awarded a bonus unit during the permitting process.

See the income limits beginning on page 2 of the Residential Bonus Unit Factsheet.

A Park Model Home that can comply with local residential development codes for permanent occupancy and has facilities for living, cooking, sleeping, and eating, including an attachment to the ground through a sewer connection can be permitted under the single-family or multi-family primary use categories. The home must obtain a residential unit of use or a Bonus Unit and must meet all other TRPA requirements such as coverage, height, Best Management Practices (BMPs), and scenic standards.

Yes. All Best Management Practices (BMPs) are required on both the primary home and the ADU. All stormwater must be infiltrated on site, and temporary BMPs must be installed during construction.

In order to build a new, detached ADU, you must have the necessary amount of coverage available to accommodate an ADU on your property. To determine how much coverage exists on your property and how much could be added, apply for a site assessment. Note that over-the-garage ADUs and re-purposing existing space that is already using legally verified coverage do not require additional coverage.

Use the ADU Calculator Tool to estimate your overall costs and return on investment for building an ADU in the Tahoe region. Note, this tool should be used for rough estimates only and costs may vary by project and as construction costs fluctuate. Not all jurisdictions have provided cost estimates. The tool was last updated in May 2022.

TRPA Fees and other Associated Cost Requirements

Some TRPA fees or cost requirements are waived for projects that are deed-restricted affordable, moderate, or achievable. See the following list of fees and other associated costs for ADUs. Fees and costs with an asterisk* are waived for deed-restricted ADUs.

Fees and Costs effective January – December 2022:

*Application fee: $1.45 per sq. ft of floor area covered by roof ($727 minimum) + $140 BMP Fee +  $127 IT Surcharge
*Mobility Mitigation Fee – Depends on location, ranges between approximately $3,000 – $10,000.
Water Quality Mitigation Fee – $1.82 per square foot of base allowable coverage.
Excess Coverage Mitigation Fee and/or Coverage Transfer purchase price if applicant is building more coverage than the base allowable – Fees vary depending on hydrologic area.
Security – Varies between $2,000 – $3,000 depending on size of project (Refundable).
Security Administration Fee – $223.

*Residential Development Right – varies, consult with local jurisdiction or see Development Right Fact Sheet.

For the most up-to-date information on fees see the Fee Schedule section of the Applications and Forms page.

Homeowners with low- and moderate-income levels may be eligible for a pre-development grant from the California Housing Finance Agency for their ADU. Learn more at the CalHFA ADU grant page.

Email the TRPA housing team with your ADU questions at housing@trpa.gov.