What 1970s Citrus Heights Garages Are Made Of
The construction is consistent enough that we can scope most garage demos from a curb visit and a few photos. The variables that matter are slab thickness, tree proximity, and access.
- CMU block construction (most pre-1975 detached garages): 8-inch concrete masonry units, mortared, often with grouted vertical cells at corners and around openings
- Stick-frame construction (late-1970s and early-1980s): 2×4 stud walls on slab, T1-11 or hardboard lap siding, stucco on some — straightforward to demo
- Roof framing: 2×4 or 2×6 rafters on 24-inch centers, composition shingle roofing (often re-roofed over original)
- Slab foundation: 3.5–4 inch concrete slab, light steel rebar grid or wire mesh, thickened edge at perimeter
- Overhead doors: original 1970s wood or aluminum panel doors with torsion or extension springs — disconnect spring tension before demo
- Service door and windows: hollow-core wood door, single-pane aluminum window — no special handling
- Electrical service: usually a 60- or 100-amp subpanel fed from the main house — requires SMUD-coordinated disconnect
- Concrete driveway apron and approach: 4-inch slab, often a separate scope decision (demo with the garage or leave in place)
Permits Even for Accessory Structure Demolition
Citrus Heights requires permits for accessory structure demolition the same way it does for primary residence demolition. Garage demos are not exempt — and the city's hazmat protocols apply to pre-1981 garages just like houses.
- Demolition permit: Citrus Heights Building & Safety, 6360 Fountain Square Drive — 916-727-4760
- Online submittal: citizen.citrusheights.permitcity.com
- SMAQMD Notification of Demolition (Form 401): required for any structure with floor area, including detached garages — $145 fee, 10 working days lead time
- Asbestos survey: required for pre-1981 garage structures; common ACMs in older garages include exterior stucco coat, vinyl floor tile if finished interior, and HVAC duct insulation if conditioned
- Lead-paint considerations: original painted trim and overhead door panels from pre-1978 likely contain lead paint — controlled work practices required during demo
- Electrical disconnect: SMUD shuts off the garage subpanel feed and tags the disconnect before demo
- Permit fees: typically $200–$450 for detached garage demolition
- Inspection: pre-demo and final grade typical; slab removal verification when next-use is structural
Tree Clearance and Citrus Heights Municipal Code Ch. 106.39
The city's tree preservation ordinance is a real constraint on garage demos, especially in older lots where mature valley oaks have grown over the years. Knowing what's regulated before mobilizing avoids stop-work conditions.
- Citrus Heights Municipal Code Chapter 106.39 — Tree Preservation: separate ordinance from Sacramento County's 19.12, with its own thresholds and procedures
- Regulated trees: native oaks 6 inches diameter or greater (valley oak is the most prevalent species citywide per the 2014 inventory — over 27,000 trees), and any mature tree 19 inches diameter or greater on lots ≥ 10,000 sf
- Tree Protection Zone: canopy radius plus 1 foot — no grading, equipment staging, or material storage allowed inside that zone without a permit
- Impact on garage demo: if a mature valley oak overhangs or sits within 1 foot of the garage canopy projection, we may need to use smaller equipment, hand-deconstruct part of the structure, or coordinate a tree permit before demo
- Branch removal: trimming back canopy to clear equipment access requires a tree permit if cuts exceed thresholds — we coordinate with a certified arborist when needed
- Stumps from previously removed trees: not regulated under Ch. 106.39 directly, but grinding within the drip line of a remaining protected tree may be
- We assess tree constraints at every Citrus Heights garage estimate and flag any Ch. 106.39 issues before quoting a schedule
When the Garage Is Coming Down for an ADU
The garage-to-ADU swap is one of the most common Citrus Heights demo scenarios. Sequencing the demo, slab removal, soil verification, and ADU permit submittal saves time and avoids inspection delays.
- Full slab removal is required when the ADU footprint overlaps the existing garage slab — partial overlap may be okay, but the engineer designing the ADU foundation typically wants undisturbed or properly compacted native soil
- Soil verification: if any imported fill is placed in the slab void, compaction testing by a third-party engineer is required for habitable structure permits
- Setbacks: Citrus Heights ADU rules follow state law — 4-foot side and rear setbacks for new construction; we confirm the demo footprint and the ADU buildable envelope at the estimate
- Utility separation: the garage's electrical subpanel feed becomes the rough-in for the ADU's electrical service in many cases — keep the conduit and feed if the new ADU will sit roughly over the old garage footprint
- Driveway and walkway: existing concrete driveway can stay if it serves the ADU access; demo or modification scope is a separate decision
- Tree coordination: same Ch. 106.39 rules apply to the new ADU as to the demo; if mature oaks are nearby, the ADU site plan must accommodate the Tree Protection Zone
What Garage Demolition Costs in Citrus Heights
Garage demos are typically smaller and faster than full house teardowns, but the permit and hazmat sequence is similar. Pricing reflects size, construction type, and disposal scope.
- Detached 1-car frame garage, 240–300 sf, slab on grade: $3,500–$5,000
- Detached 2-car frame garage, 400–520 sf, slab on grade: $5,000–$7,500
- Detached 2-car CMU block garage, 400–520 sf: $5,500–$8,000 — block is denser debris but breaks predictably
- Slab removal: included in base for garage-sized structures; standalone slab demo only on larger jobs
- Driveway apron demo if included: $400–$1,200 depending on length and thickness
- Asbestos survey: $300–$600 standalone (pre-1981 garages)
- Lead-safe work practices: $500–$1,500 added where painted trim or overhead door panels require
- Citrus Heights permit fees: $200–$450 pulled at cost
- SMAQMD Form 401: $145 fee passed through at cost
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to demolish my detached garage in Citrus Heights?
Yes. Citrus Heights Building & Safety requires a demolition permit for any structure with enclosed floor area, including detached garages. The submittal goes through the Citizen Access Portal at citizen.citrusheights.permitcity.com or in person at 6360 Fountain Square Drive (lobby M–F 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.). For pre-1981 garages, an asbestos survey is also required and the SMAQMD Notification of Demolition Form 401 must be filed at least 10 working days before demo starts. Permit fees run $200–$450 plus the $145 SMAQMD fee. We pull the permit and file the SMAQMD notification as part of standard scope.
How much does it cost to tear down a detached garage in Citrus Heights?
A standard 1-car detached frame garage runs $3,500–$5,000 and a 2-car detached frame or CMU block garage runs $5,000–$8,000 — including slab removal, debris haul to WPWMA in Lincoln, and final grade. CMU block construction is slightly more expensive on the high end because the broken block is denser to haul, but it breaks predictably with standard equipment. Add $300–$600 for the asbestos survey on pre-1981 garages, $500–$1,500 if lead-safe work practices are needed for painted trim and door panels, and $200–$450 for the Citrus Heights permit. Most garage demos in the city finish in the $4,500–$9,000 range all-in.
Will tearing down my garage affect the protected oak tree next to it?
It can — and this is where Citrus Heights Municipal Code Chapter 106.39 (Tree Preservation) matters. The ordinance regulates native oaks 6 inches diameter or greater and any tree 19 inches diameter or greater on lots ≥ 10,000 square feet. The Tree Protection Zone is the canopy radius plus 1 foot, and no grading, equipment staging, or material storage is allowed inside that zone without a permit. Valley oak is the most common protected species in Citrus Heights — over 27,000 trees citywide per the 2014 inventory. We assess tree proximity at the estimate. If a protected oak's canopy overlaps the garage, we may use smaller equipment, hand-deconstruct portions of the structure, or coordinate a tree permit and arborist before demo. We don't quote a price that assumes we can ignore the tree.
Can I demo my garage and build an ADU on the same footprint in Citrus Heights?
Yes, and it's one of the most common Citrus Heights infill scenarios. The garage demolition permit and the ADU building permit are separate applications — the demo typically completes first so the ADU foundation can be designed against verified soil conditions. If the ADU footprint overlaps the old slab, we remove the slab fully; the engineer designing the ADU foundation usually wants undisturbed native soil or properly compacted imported fill with third-party compaction testing. State ADU law (4-foot side and rear setbacks for new construction) applies, and we coordinate with your ADU designer at the estimate to confirm the demo scope matches the buildable envelope. The existing electrical subpanel feed from the house can often be reused for the ADU service, which saves trenching cost.
Where does the debris from a Citrus Heights garage demolition go?
Most of it goes to the Western Placer Waste Management Authority (WPWMA) Materials Recovery Facility at 3195 Athens Avenue in Lincoln, about 22–25 miles northeast of Citrus Heights. WPWMA accepts mixed Construction & Demolition loads — broken concrete from the slab, CMU block debris, framing lumber, drywall, roofing, and door panels. The dedicated C&D recycling facility opened in February 2024 and recycles concrete, wood, drywall, and asphalt streams. Clean rebar-free concrete from the slab can sometimes go to closer Sacramento-area recycled-aggregate yards (Teichert or Granite Construction sites) at lower tipping rates. We line-item haul cost in the estimate and pick the disposal site based on load type and current rates.