Home / Areas
Where we build ADUs around Fresno
California sets the baseline for every city, but each one keeps its own counter, plans and paperwork. Here is what differs.
What should Fresno homeowners check first?
Confirm who issues your permit. A Fresno mailing address does not always mean the parcel is inside city limits. As of October 2026, four Fresno points come up most:
- Free plans. The city offers five pre-approved ADU plans for property in Fresno city limits.
- One permit step. ADU plans no longer need a Zone Clearance before the building permit.
- Design near historic areas. A unit visible from the street in an architecturally or historically significant area must look similar to the main house.
- Cost tools. The city publishes a pre-approved ADU cost estimator and a list of local designers and contractors, without endorsing any of them.
Which nearby cities do we serve?
Clovis
Fresno's neighbor to the northeast. Its Cottage Home Program started in 2017 with free plans for alley lots in Old Town, and the city also lists pre-approved ADU plans.
ADUs in ClovisSanger
A separate city southeast of Fresno with its own planning review. Fresno's free plans do not apply there.
ADUs in SangerSelma
South of Fresno along Highway 99. The city posts four pre-approved ADU plans from 375 to 908 sq ft.
ADUs in SelmaMadera
The Madera County seat, across the San Joaquin River. The county's free plans cover unincorporated land, not city lots.
ADUs in MaderaFind out what fits on your lot
Send an address in any of these five cities. We check that agency's rules against your lot.