Prefab ADUs in Oakland
Oakland homeowners add about 200 ADUs a year, and rents are climbing again — up 10% in the last year. We deliver an all-in prefab ADU from our factory in Lathrop, about 60 miles away — permits, foundation, delivery and installation included — at one fixed price.
Free lot check · zoning, Hills fire zone, parking · reply with a fixed price
Licensed builder · Our own factory in Lathrop, CA
Real homes we build, start to finish
Quick answer
ADUs in Oakland — key facts for 2026
Most Oakland homeowners can add a detached ADU of up to 850–1,000 sq ft, and the City offers free pre-approved plans. ADUs under 750 sq ft pay no impact fees, and Bay Modular delivers a factory-built ADU all-in for $124,900–$271,900 — the same price anywhere in California.
- Can I build an ADU in Oakland?
- Yes, on most single-family lots: a detached ADU up to 850 sq ft (1,000 sq ft with 2+ bedrooms), up to 20 ft tall, 4 ft from side and rear lines.
- How many units can I add?
- Up to three: a conversion ADU, a new ADU and a JADU. In the Oakland Hills S-9 fire zone, only one ADU or JADU per lot.
- What fees does Oakland charge?
- State law exempts ADUs under 750 sq ft from impact fees. OUSD's school fee ($5.17 per sq ft) applies only to ADUs over 500 sq ft.
- How much does a prefab ADU cost in Oakland?
- Bay Modular: $124,900–$271,900 all-in, the same price as anywhere in California, permits and installation included.
- Is a new Oakland ADU under rent control?
- Oakland's rent-increase limits don't apply to units built after 1983, but just-cause eviction rules can. Renting requires a business license.
- What does an ADU rent for in Oakland?
- Average asking rent in Oakland was $2,735 a month in August 2026 (Zillow); HUD's 2027 fair rent for a 2-bedroom here is $2,805.
Sources: HCD APR 2025, Oakland Single-Family ADU Zoning Criteria Checklist (Jul 2026), Oakland RAP coverage flyer (Jan 2026), Zillow ZORI Aug 2026. Last reviewed October 2026.
Oakland in numbers
ADUs are a steady part of how Oakland adds homes
About 200 ADU permits every year — and in 2025 more than a quarter of all new homes permitted in the city.
ADU permits issued in the City of Oakland
Source: California HCD Annual Progress Report data (Table A2), City of Oakland, permits issued per year. Percent = ADUs among all housing units permitted in the city that year.
average Oakland asking rent in one year (Aug 2025 $2,484 → Aug 2026 $2,735)
Zillow Observed Rent Index, City of Oakland, Aug 2026ADU permits in Oakland from 2021 to 2025
HCD APR data, 2021–2025Can I build in Oakland?
Most Oakland lots with a house can add an ADU
Oakland’s ADU rules are generous in the flats; the Hills fire zone is stricter. Here is what matters for most homeowners:
Up to 850 sq ft for a studio or 1-bedroom, 1,000 sq ft with 2+ bedrooms. An 850 sq ft, 18 ft ADU is always allowed.
4 ft from side and rear lot lines (never under 3 ft), 6 ft from other homes; up to 20 ft tall.
None in the City's mapped no-parking area or near transit; otherwise one space (tandem is fine).
Up to three on a single-family lot: a conversion ADU, a new ADU and a JADU.
Only one ADU or JADU per lot; a new detached ADU needs an extra parking space or a Reasonable Accommodation.
Oakland offers pre-approved studio, 1- and 2-bedroom plans with faster, cheaper building permits.
Based on Oakland’s Single-Family ADU Zoning Criteria Checklist (updated Jul 21, 2026) and the City ADU pages (Oct 2026). Not legal advice — rules depend on your exact lot. More in our Oakland ADU guide.
New in 2027: under AB 956 (Chapter 791, Statutes of 2026), from January 1, 2027 state law lets you build two detached ADUs on a lot with a single-family home, and HOA rules can’t block an ADU on a lot zoned to allow one.
Costs & fees in Oakland
What an ADU costs in Oakland
Same all-in price as anywhere in California. Our models are all under 750 sq ft, so none pays impact fees under state law — and four of five pay no school fee.
| Model | All-in price | School fees | City impact fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backyard Studio120 sq ft · home office or guest studio, not a rentable ADU | $75,900 | $0 | $0 |
| Small Studio256 sq ft | $124,900 | $0 | $0 |
| Large Studio ADU320 sq ft | $154,900 | $0 | $0 |
| 1 Bedroom ADU480 sq ft | $214,900 | $0 | $0 |
| 2 Bedroom ADU640 sq ft | $271,900 | $3,309 | $0 |
Sources: Oakland Impact Fees page and rate sheet (Ord. 13853, Sep 2025); OUSD fee via City of Oakland; Gov. Code §66311.5. Launch pricing runs through December 31, 2026. Comparison is general — every project differs.
Renting in Oakland
Renting out an ADU in Oakland
average asking rent for all homes in Oakland — up 10% in one year. HUD's 2027 fair rent for a 2-bedroom here is $2,805.
Zillow Observed Rent Index, City of Oakland, Aug 2026 · HUD FY2027 FMR ADU for rental incomeOakland ADUs must be rented for more than 30 days, and renting requires a City business license.
Oakland's rent-increase limits don't apply to units built after 1983, but just-cause eviction rules can apply. Check the Rent Adjustment Program before renting.
A new ADU is exempt from California's statewide rent cap (AB 1482) for 15 years after its certificate of occupancy.
Same money, other options
Yearly income per dollar, before taxes and costs. An ADU wins because you already own the land. Full comparison →
Sources: City of Oakland ADU pages; Oakland Rent Adjustment Program coverage flyer (Jan 6, 2026); Civil Code §1947.12. Comparison: HUD FY2027 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent, Oakland-Fremont area ($2,805) × 12 ÷ $271,900; U.S. Treasury (Oct 6, 2026); FTSE Nareit (Sep 2026); Zillow ZORI ÷ ZHVI, San Francisco–Oakland metro (Aug 2026); FDIC (Sep 2026). Not legal or investment advice.
Permits in Oakland
How your Oakland permit works — we handle it
Free lot check
Zoning, S-9 fire zone, parking map, setbacks, sewer and power for your Oakland address.
Zoning approval
Our HCD-approved plans plus your site plan go through Oakland Planning first.
Building permit
Then the building permit through the Online Permit Center. We answer comments for you.
Decision in 60 days
State law requires a decision on a complete application within 60 days. Your ADU is built in our factory meanwhile.
Install & move in
Delivered from our Lathrop factory, installed in about a week, inspected, then your Certificate of Occupancy.
Based on City of Oakland single-family ADU and pre-approved plan pages (Oct 2026) and Gov. Code §66317.
Why now
Start your Oakland ADU with zero risk
Lock in launch pricing, see exactly what you get, and only decide once you have a fixed price for your lot.
All-in from $75,900 — everything included
- Backyard Studio (home office)$75,900All-in · fixed in writing
- Small Studio$124,900All-in · fixed in writing
- Large Studio ADU$154,900All-in · fixed in writing
- 1 Bedroom ADU$214,900All-in · fixed in writing
- 2 Bedroom ADU$271,900All-in · fixed in writing
Zero-risk start
- Free lot check & quoteNo obligation, no credit card.
- One fixed all-in priceDesign, permits, delivery and install — one number.
- HCD-approved plansState approval #1585366, financed and appraised like a home.
- 2-year warrantyOn materials and workmanship.
Visit our factory in Lathrop, CA and walk through a finished ADU.
Oakland ADU questions
Read the full Oakland ADU guide, see all of California, or call (209) 214-6845.
Can I build an ADU on my lot in Oakland?
Most Oakland single-family lots can add a detached ADU up to 850 sq ft (1,000 sq ft with 2+ bedrooms), plus a conversion ADU and a JADU. Lots in the Oakland Hills S-9 fire zone are limited to one ADU or JADU. We check your address for free.
How much does an ADU cost in Oakland?
Our all-in prices are the same as anywhere in California: from $124,900 for a Small Studio to $271,900 for a 2 Bedroom ADU, with launch pricing through December 31, 2026. ADUs under 750 sq ft pay no impact fees, and OUSD's school fee applies only above 500 sq ft.
How long does an ADU permit take in Oakland?
Oakland reviews zoning first, then the building permit; state law requires a decision on a complete application within 60 days. Your ADU is built in our factory at the same time, so most projects take 4–6 months from signing to keys.
Do I need parking for an ADU in Oakland?
Often no — not in the City's mapped no-parking area or near transit. Otherwise one space, and tandem parking is allowed.
Can I build an ADU in the Oakland Hills?
Usually one. In the S-9 Fire Safety zone only one ADU or JADU is allowed, and a new detached ADU needs an extra off-street parking space or an approved Reasonable Accommodation.
Can I rent my Oakland ADU on Airbnb?
No. Oakland ADUs must be rented for more than 30 days, with a City business license.
Is a new ADU in Oakland under rent control?
Oakland's rent-increase limits don't apply to units built after 1983, but just-cause eviction rules can apply depending on the property. Check with Oakland's Rent Adjustment Program.
Is an ADU a better investment than a rental property in Oakland?
For most homeowners with room on their lot, yes: you don't buy land. A 2 Bedroom ADU at HUD's 2027 fair rent for a 2-bedroom ($2,805) earns about 12.5% a year on its price before costs, vs. about 3.6% for a typical SF–Oakland-area rental home (Zillow, Aug 2026). Not investment advice.
Free · no obligation
Can you build an ADU on your Oakland lot?
Send your Oakland address. We'll check zoning, setbacks, easements and utilities, and send a fixed all-in price — permits included.
HCD-approved plans (#1585366) · 2-year warranty · factory in Lathrop, CA
Sources: California HCD Annual Progress Report data, Table A2 (City of Oakland, 2021–2025, updated Oct 2026); Zillow Observed Rent Index, City of Oakland (Aug 2026); HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents; Oakland Single-Family ADU Zoning Criteria Checklist (Jul 2026) and ADU pages; Oakland Impact Fee rate sheet (Ord. 13853); Oakland Rent Adjustment Program (Jan 2026); Civil Code §1947.12; Gov. Code §66311.5, §66317; HCD ADU Handbook (2026). General information, not legal or investment advice. Updated October 2026.