Residential Second Dwellings ("Granny Flats")
How to Obtain a Building Permit

• APPOINTMENTS ARE AVAILABLE to submit an application, issue a permit, and Building Department related activities. Contact Us for an appointment.

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  ALL CONSTRUCTION SHALL COMPLY WITH CURRENT CODES AND ORDINANCES

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  NOTE: FEES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE Obtaining a Building Permit
• Residential Building Plan Requirements
• Fees
• County Fees
• California State SMIP
• Fire Districts
• Community Services Districts
• Water Districts
• Schools
• Other Agencies
• How Long do I have?

Obtaining a Building Permit

"Granny Flat", "In-Laws Quarters" or any residence that is in addition to an existing residence on a parcel is a the Second Dwelling. General requirements are the same as the construction of a primary residence with only a few exceptions.

A Second Dwelling is limited to 1200 square feet of living space. A garage or storage space may be attached to the dwelling and not considered part of the 1200 square feet maximum.

If a manufactured home is used as a second dwelling, please go to our manufactured home page for additional requirements.

1. Building Services permit application requires the following:
   
   
   • Complete the three part application and sign where applicable (signature must be verified by office personnel). If you are applying as owner-builder, you must be the owner of record and complete part four of the multi part application. If property ownership was recently changed a copy of the grant deed may be required at time of application.
   • When other than the owner or licensed contractor is applying for the permit, the second half of part four of the form must be completed, giving authority to sign as the owner's agent.
   • An owner or their agent must sign a Deed Restriction Certificate declaring conformance with any applicable deed restrictions and/or CC&R's for subject property.
   • If the property is within the architecturally controlled area of El Dorado Hills Community Services District or Cameron Park Community Services District, architectural approval of the plans from the district prior to permit issuance is a requirement. Failure to obtain approval may delay issuance of your permit.
   • Check with your individual association for any restrictions that may affect your construction even though Building Services does not enforce these restrictions.
   • Contractors acting as agent for the owner must have a current active California state contractors license, worker's compensation coverage, and a current El Dorado County Business License.  
     
2. When served by a public water/sewer district other than El Dorado Irrigation District, you must submit proof of service from the district prior to permit issuance. When serviced by EID, they will review your project and approve electronically.
   
   
3. The Georgetown Public Utility District will require the review of the second dwelling. 
   
   
4. When not served by public water/sewer, you must submit the perc test, septic design and well production report to the Environmental Management. This may only be submitted with or after building permit application.
   
   
5. If your parcel is located at or above the 4000 foot elevation, a bear resistant garbage enclosure will be required. Contact Environmental Management for additional information.
   
   
6. An Encroachment permit is needed if you are connecting your new driveway to a County-maintained road. See the county Fire Safe Regulations for driveway information.
   
   
7. Contact Planning Services for additional information concerning a second dwelling. 

Residential Second Dwelling Plan Review Guidelines

Building Services will not accept an Application for a Residential Building Permit unless the Minimum Criteria listed below are met. Use the following as a guideline for your submittal.

Submit two complete sets of plans that include the following, PLUS one additional floor plan:

1. PLOT PLAN (minimum scale I "=20')
   • This plan must show the entire parcel and indicate and identify actual distances from all property lines and/or easements to structures, existing and proposed. Indicate all easements on the plan
   • The plot plan shall also indicate distances between structures.
   • Locate septic system(s), propane tank(s) and any other buildings.
   • Indicate slope of lot.
   • Contour lines (@ 1 ',2' or 5' vertical increments) must be shown for the building site and/or disturbed area and extend 20 feet beyond or to the property line, whichever is less.
   • Similar contour lines must also be shown for the full length of a new driveway, if applicable.
   • A profile for any new driveway on site. Also, public road to driveway improvements shown and dimensioned. Indicate the finished floor elevations for garage floor and first floor .
   • The proposed method of compliance with State Fire Safe regulations regarding driveway slope, width, surface, turnouts and fuel modification shall be shown on these plans.
   • Any proposed grading is to be delineated in conformance with the County Design and Improvement Standards Manual. If the plot plan, drawn as required above, is too large to fit on a 24" x 36" sheet of paper, a SITE PLAN, drawn to a small scale, shall be provided which locates the area covered by the PLOT PLAN on the parcel.
2. TITLE BLOCK giving: owner's name and mailing address, job site address, and assessor's parcel number. Include a summary of square footage identifying each proposed occupancy.
3. FOUNDATION PLAN with details.
4. FLOOR PLAN (fully dimensioned) illustrating proposed sizes and uses of rooms. Show braced wall panel locations or engineered shear walls (if applicable).
5. FLOOR FRAMING PLAN with details (include deck framing if applicable).
6. ROOF FRAMING PLAN. (Include the truss manufacturers specifications if a roof truss system is used. Must be reviewed and also signed by project engineer if applicable)
7. ELEVATIONS including front, rear, and both sides.
8. ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL PLAN. This may be illustrated on the Floor Plan. Include a gas piping plan (if applicable.)
9. CALIFORNIA CEC TITLE 24 Energy Loss Report. Includes Form CF-1R and “Mandatory Measure Checklist”.
10. Name and wet-signature (original) of the person responsible for preparing plans. (Plans requiring design by a California-Registered Architect or Engineer must have seal and signature and the license number with current expiration date.)

Please note: one additional floor plan is needed for the county Assessor's Office before permit issuance.

An application missing any items will be deemed incomplete and the plan check will not be scheduled until all the items indicated are received by Building Services. This may affect application fees and codes since the operative date of application will be the date on which a complete application is received.

CHECK OUR PLAN REVIEW GUIDELINES FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE PLAN CHECK PROCESS. The guideline, while not all-inclusive, is intended to help you prepare residential plans that are essentially "complete".

County Department Fees

Multiple checks may be required at time of permit issuance depending on the type of permit: one for the Permit, one for the School Fee, one for the Air Quality fee, and one for DOT Encroachment Permits. Each check is made to the respective agency.

The Development Services Department DOES NOT ACCEPT ANY CREDIT CARD PURCHASES at this time. Personal or bank draft checks accepted as well as US currency. 

ONE-HALF OF THE BUILDING PERMIT FEE IS COLLECTED AT TIME OF PERMIT APPLICATION. The remainder of the building permit fee and other agency fees will be collected at the time of permit issuance.

 The minimum fee for any Building Services permit is $100.00. Other agency fees may apply.   

• BUILDING & PLANNING FEES
  • For all fees relating to Building Services see Resolution # 180-2007
  • For permits subject to the 2004 General Plan Traffic Impact Mitigation (TIM) Fee Program, fees shall be determined by the valuation shown on the Valuation Table as published annually in the August issue of Building Safety Journal with a fee of $.0106 per $1.00 valuation of the work proposed.  
  • For permits not subject to the 2004 General Plan Traffic Impact Mitigation (TIM) Fee Program, fees shall be determined by the valuation shown on the Valuation Table as published annually in the August issue of Building Safety Journal with a fee of $.0125 per $1.00 valuation of the work proposed.
  • If a new driveway encroachment to a County-maintained road is proposed, a $273.00 fee will be charged.
  • Projects necessitating a Grading Permit require a $435.00 permit fee. A review by the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and separate fee is required with each grading permit.
  • Some parcels in El Dorado County will be subject to Rare Plant Mitigation fees. Contact Planning Services for additional information. Please have your Assessor Parcel Number available.  
  • The Planning Division will charge a fee.  See Planning fee schedule.
    
    
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEES
  • All parcels in El Dorado County are subject to Traffic Impact Mitigation fees (TIM) and vary based on location. Contact the Department of Transportation (DOT) to determine if your permit meets the TIM fee criteria. Please have your Assessor Parcel Number available.
  • You also need to contact Department of Transportation (DOT) if your project requires an upgraded encroachment of if you install a new or additional driveway.
    
    
• ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FEES
  • Rural parcels may require a well and septic system. Residential additions and revisions are subject to a review fee if the property uses a septic system.  
  • Your parcel may be in an asbestos area. A review and associated fee will be required by Air Quality Management District (AQMD).
  • Please contact Environmental Management for information concerning permit requirements and fees. 
    
    
• COUNTY SURVEYORS OFFICE FEES
• Contact the Surveyors office if your project needs a street address. 

Calculating Estimated Permit Fees

To Calculate Building Services Fee:   

Also for calculating remodels, repairs and other projects not adding square footage, use contract price for valuation. See DOT for determination of TIM fee requirements. Generally remodels, repairs, additions and residential accessory buildings are not subject to TIM fees. 

California State SMIP Fees
Effective 4/1/91

The State of California requires a fee, established in 1972, to be collected for the California Seismic Instrumentation Program for the study of earthquakes.  

Fire Districts

Fire district fees are collected by Building Services for the districts. Please contact the Fire Department directly for the fee amount.  Click here to see which fire district the parel is in.  (Must have Assesor's Parcel Number (APN).)  Click here to find your parcel number.

• Cameron Park Fire Department
• Diamond Springs/El Dorado Fire Protection District
• El Dorado County Fire District
• El Dorado Hills Fire Department
• Garden Valley Fire Protection District
• Georgetown Fire Protection District
• Lake Valley Fire Protection District
• Latrobe Fire Protection District
• Meeks Bay Fire Protection District
• Mosquito Fire Protection District
• Pioneer Fire Protection District
• Rescue Fire Protection District

Community Services Districts

Contact the Districts for their fees and other building requirements.

• Cameron Park Community Services District
  
• El Dorado Hills Community Services District
  
• Georgetown Divide Rec District

Water Districts 

The following water districts may be involved in your permit process. Contact them directly for fees and other related information.

• El Dorado Irrigation District
  
• Georgetown Divide Public Utility District
  
• Grizzly Flats Community Services District
  
• South Tahoe Public Utility District

Schools

Please contact the school directly for their fees.

• El Dorado County Office of Education  
• Lake Tahoe Unified School District  
• Tahoe Truckee Unified School District

Other Agencies

• Construction Permit from the State Water Resources Control Board is required for projects that distrurb one or more acres of soil.

How Long do I have?

The Application
The permit application is valid for 365 days. You should keep track of the date to avoid problems as the expiration date approaches. Once expired, the permit application is not renewable; you simply start over. Extension of the application may only be granted if a delay is caused by a governmental agency and only for the amount of time the application was delayed by that agency. There may be fee building service credits for an reapplication if within 6 months and the first permit application was ready to issue. All plans and documents will be destroyed within 180 days from submittal date if not picked up from Development Services.


The Plan Review
We review plans in the order received. As a result, our turnaround time will vary. At the time of submittal, we ask you to review a checklist of required information and sign that all documentation is present. Having all of the necessary information at the time of plan review is a must for us and ensures that your application will experience no unnecessary delay in being reviewed. If the application is incomplete in any way, you will be notified by mail and your place in line forfeited. When we receive all of the required information, you will once again be included in the plan review order, but the operative date will be the date of the new submittal.

The Permit
The permit is valid for two years from the issuance date (three years in the Tahoe Basin). If you find you cannot finish your project within the prescribed time, you may renew your permit two times only for a period of one year each if construction has proceeded in a timely manner showing progress with approved inspections. There will be a renewal fee based on the percentage of progress that has occurred. If four years are not sufficient for construction, the permit may be reactivated with a new permit number and review of the projects progress.