ADU Rules in San Joaquin County, California

We track 3 cities in San Joaquin County. Each city writes its own ADU ordinance on top of California law, so size limits, fees, and design rules differ from one city to the next. Among the cities we track, Stockton has the lowest starting permit fees ($3,500 – $9,000).

Cities

Max Detached Size

1,000–1,200 sq ft

Build Costs From

$90,000

Pre-approved Plans

3 of 3 cities

San Joaquin County Cities Compared

City	Max detached	Height	Permit fees	Build cost
Stockton	1,200 sq ft	16 ft (one-story detached) or 25 ft (two-story detached)	$3,500 – $9,000	$90,000 – $200,000
Tracy	1,200 sq ft	16 ft	$5,000 – $10,000	$130,000 – $265,000
Lodi	1,000 sq ft	16 ft	$4,500 – $9,000	$120,000 – $245,000

Stockton ADU rules

Stockton is one of the few cities that allows a two-story detached ADU up to 25 ft, and detached units can reach 1,200 sq ft. The city publishes free pre-approved studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom plans, but they cannot be used on lots in a FEMA flood hazard area. Many Stockton lots are large enough for a detached unit.

Tracy ADU rules

Tracy offers six free pre-approved ADU plans that can be downloaded from the city's ADU page, which cuts design costs and review time. Solar is required on all newly built ADUs, and fire sprinklers are required only if the main home has them. The city recently replaced its ADU code to match state law, and newer tracts with 6,000 to 8,000 sq ft lots leave room for a detached unit.

Lodi ADU rules

Lodi caps attached and detached ADUs at 1,000 sq ft for units with more than one bedroom, with a smaller cap for one-bedroom units. The city gives away four pre-approved ADU plans (375 to 908 sq ft) after you sign a hold harmless agreement. Generous Central Valley lots and post-war homes with attached garages make both detached units and conversions practical.

Rules that apply in every California city are summarized in our California ADU law guide. See all California cities or compare every city side by side.