California Utility Feasibility Directory
Research sewer, water, electric, gas, septic, well, propane, and utility connection questions before buying land or planning an ADU, tiny home, manufactured home, garage conversion, or vacant land project.
Why utilities can decide project feasibility
The structure is often not the hardest part. Sewer, septic, water, electric capacity, fire access, and service provider rules can determine whether a project is straightforward, expensive, delayed, or impractical.
Choose a utility topic
Sewer Availability
Research sewer providers, service areas, sewer GIS maps, connection questions, fees, laterals, and sewer-vs-septic feasibility.
Water Service
Research public water providers, meters, water districts, pressure, fire flow, connection fees, and well alternatives.
Electric Service
Research electric providers, service availability, panel upgrades, meters, rural line extensions, trenching, and off-grid limitations.
Natural Gas
Research gas provider identification, meter questions, gas line extensions, and all-electric alternatives.
Septic Feasibility
Research septic feasibility, perc tests, soils, groundwater, reserve area, setbacks, and Environmental Health questions.
Well Water
Research private well records, yield, water quality, pump needs, septic setbacks, drought reliability, and shared well questions.
Propane
Research rural propane use, tank placement, delivery access, fire clearance, permits, and propane-vs-electric choices.
Internet / Telecom
Research cable, fiber, fixed wireless, satellite, cellular signal, trenching, and rural work-from-home considerations.
Utility questions by project type
| Project type | Utility questions to ask |
|---|---|
| ADU | Can existing sewer, water, and electric capacity support an additional dwelling? Are meter, lateral, panel, or capacity fees expected? |
| Garage conversion | Can existing plumbing, sewer, water, gas, and electric service support habitable space? Will panel, fire separation, or fixture changes trigger review? |
| Tiny home on foundation | Can permanent sewer/septic, water/well, electric, and fire access be verified for the site and structure category? |
| Tiny home on wheels | Will local officials recognize utility connections and occupancy for the unit classification? |
| Manufactured home | Can the site support permanent utility hookups, foundation or installation review, access, and inspections? |
| Vacant land home | Is there public service nearby, or will the parcel need septic, well, propane, line extensions, easements, and fire access review? |
| SB9 split / duplex | Can each resulting unit or parcel be served by sewer, water, electric, access, and fire response without unresolved capacity issues? |
Start by location
city
Los Angeles
Provider may vary by parcel, especially near city edges or special districts.
city
San Diego
Provider may vary by parcel, especially near city edges or special districts.
city
Riverside
Provider may vary by parcel, especially near city edges or special districts.
county
Orange County
Confirm whether the parcel is inside a city or unincorporated county territory first.
county
San Bernardino County
Confirm whether the parcel is inside a city or unincorporated county territory first.
county
Ventura County
Confirm whether the parcel is inside a city or unincorporated county territory first.
city
Sacramento
Provider may vary by parcel, especially near city edges or special districts.
city
Fresno
Provider may vary by parcel, especially near city edges or special districts.
county
Kern County
Confirm whether the parcel is inside a city or unincorporated county territory first.
county
San Joaquin County
Confirm whether the parcel is inside a city or unincorporated county territory first.
Documents to collect
- APN
- Parcel map
- Utility bills if an existing structure is present
- Sewer connection records
- Septic records
- Well records
- Water provider confirmation
- Electric meter or panel information
- Gas meter information
- Utility easements
- Prior permit records
- GIS map screenshots or links
Questions before buying land
- Which providers serve this APN or address?
- Is the parcel inside each service boundary?
- Are sewer, water, electric, gas, septic, well, or propane assumptions documented?
- Are line extensions, laterals, meters, easements, trenching, or capacity fees expected?
- Can the provider or department give written confirmation?
Related guides
Need help organizing utility questions?
Use the property review form to organize utility, septic, well, provider, and document questions before spending money.
TinyHomeNavigator provides educational information only. Rules vary by parcel, zoning district, city, county, overlay, utility provider, fire authority, and environmental health department. Always confirm directly with the local planning department, building department, environmental health department, fire authority, and utility providers before buying land, designing, permitting, placing, or building any structure.