Sometimes. As of October 2026, San Antonio may waive development and permitting fees, along with SAWS water and wastewater impact fees, when the main home or the ADU is rented to a household earning at or below 80% of area median income, with rent no more than 30% of the renter's monthly income. The restriction lasts five years from the certificate of occupancy.
Who qualifies?
- A tenant household at or below 80% of area median income (AMI).
- Rent at or below 30% of that household's monthly income.
- The commitment held for five years after the certificate of occupancy.
The rental can be either the ADU or the main home, since the owner lives in one of them.
Which fees can be waived?
The city's ADU page lists development and permitting fees and SAWS water and wastewater impact fees. It does not list dollar amounts, so the value of a waiver depends on your project. Ask the city to confirm eligibility before you apply.
Is it worth it?
It depends on your plans. Compare the fees saved against the rent you would give up under the cap for five years. For context, average San Antonio apartment rents as of October 2026 are about $907 for a studio and $1,056 for a one-bedroom; see ADU rent in San Antonio.
What about permit fees if I do not qualify?
You pay the plan review fee when you submit and the permit fees after approval. A published estimate puts San Antonio ADU permits at roughly $3,000, but treat that as a rough guide; the city calculates the real figure. Utility impact and connection costs are separate.
Do the suburbs offer this?
We did not find similar ADU fee waivers in New Braunfels, Schertz, Boerne or Alamo Heights as of October 2026.
Sources, as of October 2026:
- City of San Antonio Development Services, Accessory Dwelling Unit Permits page, for fee-waiver terms.
- Apartments.com, San Antonio rent market trends, updated October 2026.
- CostToBuildHouse.com, "2026 Texas ADU Cost Guide," for the San Antonio permit estimate.