California Development Impact Fees by City (2026)
Across 15 tracked California jurisdictions, the median single-family home pays about $53,182 in total development impact and connection fees, ranging from $27,638 in Fresno to $70,887 in Elk Grove — all normalized per dwelling unit so you can compare them directly.
California jurisdictions ranked by fee burden
Total fees per single-family detached home, highest first.
| # | Jurisdiction | Per single-family home | Total / home | / MF unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elk Grove Sacramento County | $70,887 | ||
| 2 | Temecula Riverside County | $66,254 | ||
| 3 | Rocklin Placer County | $65,146 | ||
| 4 | Clovis Fresno County | $62,992 | ||
| 5 | Menifee Riverside County | $62,025 | ||
| 6 | Chula Vista San Diego County | $60,369 | ||
| 7 | Sacramento Sacramento County | $56,214 | ||
| 8 | Lincoln Placer County | $53,182 | ||
| 9 | Roseville Placer County | $50,059 | ||
| 10 | Santa Clarita Los Angeles County | $43,353 | ||
| 11 | Riverside Riverside County | $36,209 | ||
| 12 | Irvine Orange County | $35,499 | ||
| 13 | Bakersfield Kern County | $31,234 | ||
| 14 | Folsom Sacramento County | $29,948 | ||
| 15 | Fresno Fresno County | $27,638 |
How development impact fees work in California
California impact fees are governed by the Mitigation Fee Act (the AB 1600 framework), which requires a city or county to show a reasonable nexus between each fee and the development it is charged against. AB 602 (2022) further standardized how nexus studies are prepared and published.
Two California-specific items drive totals: school districts levy a separate per-square-foot school facilities fee (so a larger home pays more), and ADUs under 750 sq ft are generally exempt from impact fees under SB 13. California has the highest development fees in the nation, frequently $20k–$70k+ per single-family home.
California impact fees — FAQ
- Which California city has the highest development impact fees?
- Elk Grove currently has the highest total at about $70,887 per single-family home among the California jurisdictions in ImpactFeeAtlas.
- What's the typical impact fee for a home in California?
- The median total across tracked California jurisdictions is about $53,182 per single-family home (impact + water/sewer connection fees).