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Where we build ADUs around Modesto
State law is the same everywhere, and the free plans are shared, but each city keeps its own permit desk. Here is how they differ.
What should Modesto owners know first?
Your parcel's jurisdiction, then the plan options. As of October 2026, these Modesto points matter most:
- An updated code. After a 2023 HCD review, the City Council adopted ADU zoning changes in late 2024 to match state law.
- Free plans. Modesto is a partner in the county's pre-drawn detached ADU plans.
- A loan fund. The city announced an ADU revolving loan fund with Valley First Credit Union in March 2025; see our loan guide.
- County islands. Some Modesto addresses lie in unincorporated Stanislaus County, which runs its own permits.
Which nearby cities do we serve?
Ceres
Directly south of Modesto. The city lists five named pre-drawn plans and hands them out with a building permit application.ADUs in CeresTurlock
Home to Stanislaus State. Its building page spells out what a pre-drawn plan lets you skip.ADUs in TurlockRiverbank
Northeast of Modesto by the Stanislaus River, and a founding partner in the free plans.ADUs in RiverbankOakdale
Further east along the river, also part of the regional plan set since the start.ADUs in OakdaleFind out what your lot allows
Share an address in any of the five cities. We check that city's process against your parcel.