Dublin Zoning and ADU Guide for Homeowners

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team.

Dublin’s Planning Division answers zoning and ADU questions, the Building & Safety Division handles the building permit, and the city waives ADU permit fees in some cases. This guide covers what Dublin’s own pages say about accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior ADUs (JADUs): where to start, what a submittal includes, which fees are waived and what to check before you sell a home with a backyard unit or garage conversion.

The city’s ADU page does not publish size or setback numbers in a form we could read, so those come from state law and are labeled that way.

Dublin ADUs at a glance

Planning Division	(925) 833-6610, for ADU rules and regulations
Building permit	Building & Safety Division, (925) 833-6620, through the online portal
Utility meters	Detached ADUs need separate gas (if applicable) and electric meters (DMC section 7.34.070(c))
Permit fee waiver	Waived for ADUs under 750 square feet, and for ADUs of 750 square feet or more deed-restricted as lower-income for 55 years
Not waived	The city’s fee schedule says some other fees, such as school or enforcement fees, are not part of the waiver
New detached ADUs	Must include a solar photovoltaic system under California Energy Code section 150.1(c)14
New construction	All-electric requirement under DMC sections 7.94.050 and 7.94.070

What Dublin’s ADU page tells owners

The city’s Accessory Dwelling Units page tells owners who want to apply for a building permit to use the City’s Building Permit webpage or contact the Building and Safety Division at (925) 833-6620.

The ADU submittal checklist adds that the Planning Division, at (925) 833-6610, is the contact for rules and regulations about ADUs. In practice, plan to talk to Planning first about whether your lot and design qualify, then to Building & Safety about the permit.

Fee waivers in Dublin

Dublin has a fee waiver for ADUs. Its ADU Fees & Waivers page says permit fees are waived for ADUs less than 750 square feet and for ADUs of 750 square feet or larger that are deed-restricted as lower-income units for a period of 55 years.

The city’s fee schedule adds that ADU and enforcement fees are not eligible for the waiver. A separate supplemental application form is part of the submittal checklist (the “ADU Permit/Plan Check Fee Waiver Form”).

Fees owed to other agencies, such as the school district for units of 750 square feet or more and the water and sewer district, are separate, so ask each office for a written estimate.

What the city asks for in an ADU or JADU submittal

• A completed permit application worksheet and the contractor’s current City of Dublin business license.
• Architectural and structural plans. For wood-frame buildings of no more than two stories, plans can be prepared by anyone; irregular designs need a California licensed architect or engineer.
• Title 24 energy reports, and a Waste Management Plan if the project valuation is $100,000 or more.
• A soils report if the unit is 750 square feet or larger, or if it is smaller and the city has no original soils report on file.
• For attached units, a foundation design similar to the existing one, or a current geotechnical report if a new foundation system is proposed.
• Compliance with construction requirements in the Fire Hazard Severity Zone, where it applies.

The checklist says to allow 10 business days for each plan review.

Utility and energy rules that affect an ADU

Excluding JADUs, ADUs must have gas (if applicable) and electric meters separate from the main residence’s meters under Dublin Municipal Code section 7.34.070(c). New detached units need a solar photovoltaic system, while attached units and garage conversions do not.

Newly built buildings are to be all-electric, and detached new construction needs electric vehicle service equipment under section 7.94.060. If an unpermitted unit shares a meter with the main house, that is a likely issue for a legalization permit.

State ADU law and Dublin

California’s ADU statute, Government Code section 66314 and following, sets a floor that every city must follow, and local ordinances fill in the details.

The state requires ministerial review within 60 days of a complete application, bars a city from requiring more than a limited set of standards, and generally allows an ADU or conversion inside existing space without added setbacks.

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) publishes a handbook and keeps a list of the state requirements. Because state law changes often, treat the city’s current ordinance and handout as the final word on size, height, parking and fees for your lot.

ADUs, garage conversions and selling a Dublin house

Many older homes have a converted garage or a backyard unit built without permits. Buyers and lenders ask about them, and California sellers generally disclose known unpermitted work. Our guide to selling as-is with unpermitted work explains the rules, and our Prop 13 guide explains how new construction can affect property tax. Before you list:

• Check city records for permits on any ADU, conversion or addition.
• Ask Planning whether the structure could qualify under current rules.
• Estimate plans, fees and corrections needed to legalize it.
• Compare that with selling as-is and letting a cash buyer take on the legalization.

Questions to ask Planning before you design

• Does my lot and zone allow an ADU, a junior ADU, or both?
• Is a pre-approved or pre-reviewed ADU plan available?
• What are the current impact, utility and school fees for the size I am considering?
• Can my existing garage or accessory structure be converted without changing its footprint?
• Are there fire, slope, easement or utility constraints on my lot?

Junior ADUs and garage conversions in more detail

State law treats a junior ADU as a unit of up to 500 square feet created inside the walls of an existing or proposed single-family home, with an efficiency kitchen and a recorded restriction that keeps it from being sold apart from the house.

A garage conversion is a different path: the unit replaces the garage, and state law generally does not require the city to demand replacement parking. Both are common sources of unpermitted space in older Dublin neighborhoods, which is why buyers’ agents and appraisers ask for the permit record.

If a conversion was done without a permit, the usual fix is to submit as-built drawings, pay the fees and pass inspection, which can take months and cost real money.

Fees, utilities and property tax

State law limits the impact fees a city can charge on smaller ADUs and on conversions of existing space, and it limits when a separate utility connection can be required.

Larger new units can still carry impact fees, school fees and water or sewer connection charges, so ask for an itemized estimate before you commit to plans. New construction is generally reassessed for property tax under Prop 13, which means an ADU can raise the bill for the whole property. Our Prop 13 guide explains how reassessment works.

Why ADUs matter for resale

A permitted ADU can add rental income and appeal for some buyers, but an unpermitted one can complicate financing and appraisal. Lenders typically want permitted living area, and an appraiser may not count unpermitted space.

Because an ADU generally cannot be sold separately from the main home, its value comes through the sale of the whole property.

If you inherited a house with an old backyard unit, or bought one with a converted garage, check what the city has on file before you decide how to sell. Our probate home sale guide covers inherited property.

How to sell a house in Dublin

1. Ask the city for the permit or case record on your address.
2. Collect permits, final inspection records and any city notices.
3. Request a no-obligation cash offer for the house as it stands.
4. Choose your closing date.
5. Close with no repairs, permit cleanup or showings required.

See also our Dublin page and the Alameda County hub.

Frequently asked questions

Who do I call about an ADU in Dublin?

Planning at (925) 833-6610 for rules and regulations, and Building & Safety at (925) 833-6620 for the building permit.

Does Dublin waive ADU permit fees?

The city waives permit fees for ADUs under 750 square feet, and for ADUs of 750 square feet or larger that are deed-restricted as lower-income for 55 years. Some other fees are not waived.

Does a detached ADU need its own utility meters?

Yes, excluding JADUs, separate gas (if applicable) and electric meters are required for detached units under DMC section 7.34.070(c).

Does a new detached ADU need solar?

Per the city’s checklist, yes under California Energy Code section 150.1(c)14. Attached units and garage conversions are not subject to this requirement.

How long does ADU plan check take?

The city’s checklist says to allow 10 business days for each review.

Can I sell a Dublin home with an unpermitted ADU or garage conversion?

Yes. You can disclose it and sell as-is, including to a cash buyer. Our statewide guide explains the disclosure rules.

More guides

• We Buy Houses in Dublin
• We Buy Houses in Alameda County
• Alameda County Property Tax Guide
• Dublin Building Permits Guide
• Dublin Code Enforcement Guide
• All California Guides

Sources

• City of Dublin: Accessory Dwelling Units
• City of Dublin: ADU Fees & Waivers
• City of Dublin: ADU and JADU Submittal Checklist
• California HCD: Accessory Dwelling Units

This guide is general information from public sources, not legal advice. Confirm current rules, fees and hours with the city.