What Are California Impact Fees?
California impact fees — usually called development impact fees (DIFs) — are one-time charges imposed on new development under the Mitigation Fee Act (Government Code §§ 66000 et seq.). Cities, counties, and special districts use them to fund water, sewer, traffic, parks, libraries, public safety, and school facilities needed to serve new growth. School fees are governed separately under Education Code § 17620.
California has some of the highest impact fees in the country. In parts of the Bay Area and coastal Southern California, total fees on a single-family home can exceed $75,000–$150,000 once water, sewer, traffic, park, affordable-housing, and school fees are combined.
Major Counties Covered
Our calculator works statewide. The most active counties include:
Click any county to open the calculator pre-loaded with that jurisdiction.
Major California Markets
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Los Angeles / Los Angeles
Sewer, transportation, and affordable-housing linkage fees are significant.
San Diego / San Diego
Water, sewer capacity, and DIFs vary by community plan area.
San Francisco / San Francisco
Among the highest fees in the state, including TIDF and inclusionary housing.
San Jose / Santa Clara
Traffic, parks, and construction tax are major cost drivers.
Sacramento / Sacramento
Water, sewer, and SAFCA fees apply to most new residential.
Oakland / Alameda
Capital improvements and affordable-housing impact fees apply.
Fresno / Fresno
Water, sewer, and UGM fees fund growth-related infrastructure.
Irvine / Orange
Traffic, parks, and school fees are substantial for new neighborhoods.
How the Calculator Works
- Search or pin your site — Enter an address or drop a pin anywhere in California.
- We identify the jurisdiction — City, county, and state are resolved automatically.
- Pick your development type — Single-family, multi-family, townhome, or commercial.
- Get instant estimates — Water, sewer, traffic, park, and school fees broken down by jurisdiction.