ENRUES

ADU permits 2025–2026: where backyard homes are being built

We counted every accessory dwelling unit (ADU, granny flat) building permit in the city permit records we use, from Jan 1, 2025 to Nov 8, 2026. Total: 2,160 permits.

Coverage: the cities whose permit data we use — Sacramento, San Jose, San Francisco, Marin County, Elk Grove. Permits in other cities are not counted.

ADU permits by city

CityADU permits
Sacramento759
San Jose665
San Francisco559
Marin County105
Elk Grove72

Top neighborhoods (by ZIP)

  1. 95820 · Tahoe Park / Fruitridge — 108
  2. 95817 · Oak Park / Elmhurst — 94
  3. 95818 · Land Park / Curtis Park — 80
  4. 95822 · South Land Park / Hollywood Park — 78
  5. 94112 · Excelsior / Outer Mission — 74
  6. 95838 · Del Paso Heights / Robla — 72
  7. 95815 · North Sacramento — 71
  8. 95819 · East Sacramento — 71
  9. 95125 · San Jose — 70
  10. 95816 · Midtown / East Sac — 67
  11. 94110 · Mission / Bernal Heights — 64
  12. 95112 · San Jose — 64
  13. 94122 · Sunset/Parkside / Inner Sunset — 57
  14. 94118 · Inner Richmond / Presidio Heights — 50
  15. 94124 · Bayview Hunters Point — 46

What an ADU permit is valued at

The median permit valuation for an ADU was $126,634 (half of the permits between $74,928 and $198,804), based on 2,079 permits with a stated value. The median listed size was 608 sq ft. Permit valuation is the construction value written on the permit, not the final price.

Contractors with the most ADU permits

How we count: a permit is classified as an ADU from its type and description. Permit records come from each city's open data; contractor licenses from CSLB. Methodology. You may quote these numbers with a link to this page.