Process · 8 min read · May 26, 2026 · 179 words
Bay Area ADU permit timeline, jurisdiction by jurisdiction
What a realistic permit calendar looks like across SF, Oakland, San Jose, Berkeley, and the Peninsula — with the parts your contractor controls and the parts they don't.
Key takeaways
- San Jose (pre-approved plans): 3–5 weeks
- San Jose (custom): 10–16 weeks
- Oakland: 12–18 weeks
Answered in this guide
Jump straight to the question you came in with — every answer is on this page, with links onward to the deeper guide.
- How long does an ADU project take in Los Angeles?
- Can I move faster with a pre-approved standard plan?
- What slows projects down most often?
- What is the typical week-by-week breakdown?
- Are you licensed and insured?
- Do you use one crew or subcontractors?
More across the studio · the full FAQ map · the reference desk
Across the Bay Area, ADU permit timelines span from 4 weeks (San Jose pre-approved plans) to 9 months (San Francisco local pathway with discretionary review). Most projects land in the 12–22 week range. Knowing the distribution by jurisdiction helps you sequence financing and tenant search.
Median permit time by jurisdiction
- San Jose (pre-approved plans): 3–5 weeks
- San Jose (custom): 10–16 weeks
- Oakland: 12–18 weeks
- Berkeley: 14–20 weeks
- Peninsula cities (Palo Alto, Mountain View, Menlo Park): 14–22 weeks
- San Francisco (HCD-compliant pathway): 12–18 weeks
- San Francisco (local pathway with Pre-App): 22–36 weeks
What your contractor controls
Submission quality (clean drawings, complete energy calcs, structural details fully resolved) cuts plan-check rounds in half. A bad first submittal triggers a full re-review on round 2 instead of just addressing comments. See the LA permit timeline for the comparable SoCal calendar.
What no one controls
Section 311 neighbor notification in SF, PG&E meter scheduling, and any historic-resource flags on pre-1945 structures. Plan calendar buffers around all three.
Sources
- California HCD — ADU Handbook · California HCD
- SF Planning — ADU Program · San Francisco Planning Department
Next chapter · 01 of 03
Permitting · 9 min read
San Francisco ADU permitting: the 2026 rulebook
SF runs the longest permit calendar in the region — here is how to navigate it.
SF runs the most distinctive ADU process in California — Pre-App meetings, mandatory neighbor notification, and the HCD-compliant pathway. A working playbook.
FAQ · Process
Common questions on process
The questions readers send us most after this guide.
How long does an ADU project take in Los Angeles?
Most detached ADUs run 9–13 months from contract to certificate of occupancy. Garage conversions are typically 4–6 months. Permitting alone is usually 60–120 days at LADBS depending on whether we use a pre-approved standard plan or a custom design that needs full plan check.Can I move faster with a pre-approved standard plan?
Yes — meaningfully. LADBS Standard Plan ADUs skip the design review portion of plan check and often clear permitting in 30–60 days instead of 90–120. We carry a curated library of standard plans from 480 to 1,200 sq ft.What slows projects down most often?
Three things, in order: (1) utility upgrades — LADWP service upgrades can add 8–14 weeks; (2) sewer capacity studies in older neighborhoods; (3) owner-driven design changes after permit submittal. We flag all three at the feasibility call.What is the typical week-by-week breakdown?
Weeks 1–3: feasibility, survey, schematic design. Weeks 4–8: construction documents and Title 24. Weeks 9–20: plan check at LADBS or your local department. Weeks 21–24: site mobilization and foundation. Weeks 25–40: framing, MEP rough-in, drywall, finishes, and inspections. Final two weeks are punch list and closeout.Are you licensed and insured?
Yes — CSLB #1098432, fully bonded, $2M general liability, and workers' comp on every site. BBB A+ accredited, member of NAHB and the LA chapter of AIA.Do you use one crew or subcontractors?
We carry our own foreman, framers, and finish carpenters in-house. Specialized trades — MEP, roofing, glazing, solar — are long-standing subcontract relationships, the same crews on every project. You will know every face on your site by week three.
Reference desk · Process
More answers from the California reference desk
City-specific questions pulled from our 5,000-answer FAQ corpus — every link opens a deeper desk page.
How long does a ADU take in San Francisco from start to finish?
End-to-end for a ADU in San Francisco: feasibility + design 6–10 weeks, City of San Francisco Planning & Building plan check 150–240 days, construction 16–22 weeks, inspections + closeout 2–3 weeks. Realistic total: 9–14 months with a competent team and clean submittals. Add 6–12 weeks for pg&e service upgrades on pre-1980 panels add 6–10 wks..What is the actual construction schedule for a ADU in San Francisco?
Once permits issue in San Francisco, a ADU runs roughly: mobilization 1 wk, foundation 2–3 wks, framing + dry-in 3–4 wks, MEP rough 3 wks, drywall + finish 5–7 wks, inspections + punch 2 wks. The largest single source of slippage is inspector scheduling; the second is finish-material lead time (60–90 days on premium tile, 8–12 weeks on imported windows).Is there a fast-track path for a ADU in San Francisco?
City of San Francisco Planning & Building doesn't run a paid fast-track for residential work, but submittal quality compresses the timeline the same way: a fully bound set with stamped structural, Title 24, and verified site plan typically clears in 150 days rather than the upper end. Express service exists at LADBS for certain scopes — confirm eligibility before paying the fee.Does weather affect ADU schedules in San Francisco?
Most San Francisco sites lose 5–10 working days a year to weather — Pacific atmospheric-river storms January–March, and red-flag wind days that pause crane work and roof tear-offs. Plan to dry-in (roof on, windows in) before December if the schedule allows; once the building is weather-tight, the finish trades run year-round.How many inspections are required for a ADU in San Francisco?
Expect 8–14 inspections from City of San Francisco Planning & Building on a ADU: foundation, underground plumbing, framing, rough electrical, rough plumbing, rough mechanical, insulation, drywall, energy/HERS testing where required, final building, final electrical, final plumbing. Add utility company inspections for the panel upgrade and meter set. Building inspectors prefer 48–72 hours notice; scheduling lag is the most common late-stage delay.How long does a garage conversion take in San Francisco from start to finish?
End-to-end for a garage conversion in San Francisco: feasibility + design 6–10 weeks, City of San Francisco Planning & Building plan check 150–240 days, construction 16–22 weeks, inspections + closeout 2–3 weeks. Realistic total: 9–14 months with a competent team and clean submittals. Add 6–12 weeks for pg&e service upgrades on pre-1980 panels add 6–10 wks..What is the actual construction schedule for a garage conversion in San Francisco?
Once permits issue in San Francisco, a garage conversion runs roughly: mobilization 1 wk, foundation 2–3 wks, framing + dry-in 3–4 wks, MEP rough 3 wks, drywall + finish 5–7 wks, inspections + punch 2 wks. The largest single source of slippage is inspector scheduling; the second is finish-material lead time (60–90 days on premium tile, 8–12 weeks on imported windows).Is there a fast-track path for a garage conversion in San Francisco?
City of San Francisco Planning & Building doesn't run a paid fast-track for residential work, but submittal quality compresses the timeline the same way: a fully bound set with stamped structural, Title 24, and verified site plan typically clears in 150 days rather than the upper end. Express service exists at LADBS for certain scopes — confirm eligibility before paying the fee.Does weather affect garage conversion schedules in San Francisco?
Most San Francisco sites lose 5–10 working days a year to weather — Pacific atmospheric-river storms January–March, and red-flag wind days that pause crane work and roof tear-offs. Plan to dry-in (roof on, windows in) before December if the schedule allows; once the building is weather-tight, the finish trades run year-round.How many inspections are required for a garage conversion in San Francisco?
Expect 8–14 inspections from City of San Francisco Planning & Building on a garage conversion: foundation, underground plumbing, framing, rough electrical, rough plumbing, rough mechanical, insulation, drywall, energy/HERS testing where required, final building, final electrical, final plumbing. Add utility company inspections for the panel upgrade and meter set. Building inspectors prefer 48–72 hours notice; scheduling lag is the most common late-stage delay.How long does a JADU take in San Francisco from start to finish?
End-to-end for a JADU in San Francisco: feasibility + design 6–10 weeks, City of San Francisco Planning & Building plan check 150–240 days, construction 16–22 weeks, inspections + closeout 2–3 weeks. Realistic total: 9–14 months with a competent team and clean submittals. Add 6–12 weeks for pg&e service upgrades on pre-1980 panels add 6–10 wks..What is the actual construction schedule for a JADU in San Francisco?
Once permits issue in San Francisco, a JADU runs roughly: mobilization 1 wk, foundation 2–3 wks, framing + dry-in 3–4 wks, MEP rough 3 wks, drywall + finish 5–7 wks, inspections + punch 2 wks. The largest single source of slippage is inspector scheduling; the second is finish-material lead time (60–90 days on premium tile, 8–12 weeks on imported windows).
Sources & further reading
- California Government Code §65852.2 — statewide ADU framework (ministerial review, 60-day clock).
- LADBS — Accessory Dwelling Unit information bulletins and current permit fee schedule.
- HCD — California Department of Housing & Community Development, ADU handbook (2024 update).
- Internal data: 120++ ADU projects delivered across Los Angeles County, 2018–2025.
Continue your read · the editorial path
We chained these chapters in the order LA homeowners actually need them. Each one picks up where the last one left a question open.
02 / 03
Permitting · 7 min
Oakland ADU permitting: rules, fees, and timeline
Oakland runs one of the more streamlined ADU programs in the Bay Area. What to expect on plan check, impact fees, and parking.
Read chapter →03 / 03
Permitting · 7 min
San Jose ADU permitting: the South Bay playbook
San Jose has one of the faster ADU plan-check timelines in California — and the most aggressive pre-approved plans program in the Bay Area.
Read chapter →
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