Rancho Cucamonga adopts reduced fees for preapproved model‑home and ADU permits

Rancho Cucamonga's City Council on April 22 adopted Resolution No. 2026‑24 to reduce user fees for preapproved model‑home permits and preapproved accessory dwelling unit (ADU) plans, a change staff said aligns local practice with recent state law.

Building and Safety Director Zach Neighbors told the council the proposal responds to Assembly Bill 130, which limits when cities may impose new residential building‑standard amendments, and AB 1332, which requires jurisdictions to implement a preapproved ADU program. Neighbors said preapproved plans require less site‑specific review because the core plan review was completed at initial approval.

"This reflects the limited staff time required to verify site‑specific compliance since the primary plan review has already been completed," Neighbors said. In his presentation he cited current and proposed fees in the staff report: a model‑home plan review fee currently listed at $2,732 would be reduced to $1,698, and the staff presentation listed the preapproved ADU fee as changing from $2,063 to $13.63 as stated in the record.

Council members asked whether AB 130 would prevent local fire‑hardening requirements; Neighbors said the statute includes an exemption for home hardening and fire‑safety measures. When asked whether the reduced fees would cover city costs, staff said the proposal was designed to be cost‑neutral because the initial, more time‑intensive review had already been paid for and subsequent reviews require fewer staff hours.

Staff recommended adoption of the resolution, which the council approved; staff said the new fees would become effective on June 15, 2026 (60 days after adoption). The council's vote is recorded in the meeting minutes as "motion carries unanimously;" the transcript does not provide a numeric roll‑call tally.

The action implements the city's commitment to reduce barriers for ADU production by lowering permitting costs for developments using preapproved plans and to remain consistent with recent state housing legislation. Planning staff said preapproved detached ADU plans will continue to be limited to a maximum of 1,200 square feet under the city's rules.

Resolution No. 2026‑24 amends the city's master fee schedule to add the reduced fees for preapproved model homes and preapproved ADUs and directs staff to post the changes consistent with the adopted schedule.