Junior ADUs in Fresno
Turn a bedroom wing or an attached garage into a private suite of up to 500 sq ft. The smallest legal unit, and often the quickest. Licensed and insured.
What is a junior ADU?
A junior ADU, or JADU, is a small unit of up to 500 sq ft of interior living space created inside a single-family home, which can include an attached garage. It needs its own exterior entrance and an efficiency kitchen. It may have its own bathroom or share one with the main house.
Is owner occupancy required?
Only in one case. As of October 2026, Government Code §66333(b) requires the owner to live in the main home or the JADU when the JADU shares a bathroom with the house. If the JADU has its own bathroom, the state no longer requires owner occupancy.
Can I rent a junior ADU on Airbnb?
No. State law requires JADU rentals to run longer than 30 days, and it bars JADUs from short-term rental use, as of October 2026.
Can I have a junior ADU and a detached ADU?
Yes, on a single-family lot. California lets you combine a JADU with a converted ADU and a new detached ADU of up to 800 sq ft. Junior ADUs are not allowed on multifamily lots.
What fees apply?
A JADU of 500 sq ft or less is exempt from impact fees, and units under 500 sq ft are exempt from school fees (Government Code §66311.5). It is also not treated as a new residential use for utility connection charges. You will still pay for plan check and the building permit.
Is a junior ADU enough space?
It depends on who will use it. For one person, a caregiver or a college student, 500 sq ft with a kitchenette can work well. A couple or a family usually needs a full ADU. If your house has room for both, you can also add a detached ADU later.
How much does a junior ADU cost?
Block Renovation's 2026 Sacramento guide lists JADUs at $50,000 to $100,000, as of October 2026. A JADU that adds a full bathroom, or one in a garage that needs heavy work, will cost more.
Related
As of October 2026. Sources: HCD ADU Handbook (March 2026); California Government Code §§66311.5, 66323 and 66333; Block Renovation, Sacramento ADU Costs 2026.
Find out if a junior ADU fits
Tell us which part of the house you have in mind. We check the entrance, kitchen and bathroom options and what the conversion would take.