Guide · schedules checked Nov 8, 2026
California impact fees by county
As of Nov 9, 2026, Groundwork has the published fee schedule for 3 jurisdictions in California, each from the jurisdiction's own document. For one new single-family home, the 3 impact fee schedules in force run from $2,476.34 to $35,195.88, both ends in one schedule: Sacramento County (unincorporated), by fee district (per-square-foot fees at a 2,000 sq ft home). California counties and cities charge development impact fees under the Mitigation Fee Act (Government Code 66000 and following); a county's fees apply in its unincorporated area, and cities, school districts and regional agencies charge their own.
Fees on one new single-family home
Status on Nov 9, 2026. A per-square-foot tax is shown with its total for a 2,000 sq ft home.
| Who charges it | One new home | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside County (unincorporated)Impact fee | $1.64–$1.99 per sq ft by area plan ($3,280–$3,980 for a 2,000 sq ft home) | Feb 2025 rate; updated each July 1 | Source |
| Sacramento County (unincorporated)Impact fee | $2,476.34–$35,195.88 by fee district | Since Apr 13, 2026Adjusted every year | Source |
| San Diego County (unincorporated)Impact fee | $3,695.88–$6,820.88 by planning area | Since Jul 1, 2026Adjusted every year | SourceSource 2 |
A county or city not named on this page is not tracked yet, which does not mean it charges nothing.
What each figure covers
- Riverside County (unincorporated): Development Impact Fee (Ordinance No. 659.14), residential per sq ft by area plan: $1.64 (e.g. Sun City / Menifee Valley, San Jacinto Valley) to $1.99 (Eastern Coachella Valley); criminal justice, library, fire, traffic, signals, parks, trails, flood control (3 area plans), library books, multi-service centers; cities, the regional TUMF and MSHCP fees and school fees are separate. Commercial: Commercial $3.22 per sq ft in Coachella - Western (AP 2).
- Sacramento County (unincorporated): Sacramento County Transportation Development Fee + Transit Impact Fee + administration, single-family home of 1,200 to 2,499 sq ft, by fee district: $2,476.34 (Mather) to $35,195.88 (District 3); the separate countywide Measure A (SCTMFP) fee, other county fees, cities and school fees are not included. Commercial: General commercial under 175,000 sq ft $17.01 to $38.36 per sq ft in Districts 1-6.
- San Diego County (unincorporated): Transportation Impact Fee plus the SANDAG regional (RTCIP) fee of $3,109.88, single-family detached, by community planning area: $3,695.88 (village areas of the East region such as Julian, Desert and Central Mountain) to $6,820.88 (Bonsall, non-village); the county publishes separate village and non-village rate sheets; cities and school fees are separate. Sources: County of San Diego TIF Program: Fee Rates for Non-Village Areas (Effective July 1, 2026); County of San Diego TIF Program: Fee Rates for Village Areas (Effective July 1, 2026).
The law
California counties and cities charge development impact fees under the Mitigation Fee Act (Government Code 66000 and following); a county's fees apply in its unincorporated area, and cities, school districts and regional agencies charge their own.
Every figure is the jurisdiction's own published schedule, linked in its row; confirm with the jurisdiction before you rely on it. Florida: Florida impact fees by county.
Questions
Does California charge impact fees on a new home?
California counties and cities charge development impact fees under the Mitigation Fee Act (Government Code 66000 and following); a county's fees apply in its unincorporated area, and cities, school districts and regional agencies charge their own. Whether a home pays, and how much, depends on the county, city or utility; the table lists each schedule Groundwork has checked.
Which California jurisdiction in the table charges the most?
Of the 3 impact fee schedules in force on Nov 9, 2026, Sacramento County (unincorporated) is highest, at up to $35,195.88 for one new single-family home (per-square-foot fees at a 2,000 sq ft home); source: Sacramento County Transportation Development Fee (SCTDF) & Transit Impact Fee (TIF) Program, Effective Date April 13, 2026.
Do I pay these fees when I buy vacant land?
No. They are due while a new home is built: at the building permit in most places, before the certificate of occupancy in some, and a utility fee when the home connects to water and sewer. They belong in the cost of building, not the land price.
Does a county missing from the table charge nothing?
Not necessarily. A county or city that is not listed has not been checked yet; ask its building or planning department.