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GoldenStateADU

Timeline reality · San Francisco · San Francisco DBI (Department of Building Inspection)

San Francisco ADU timeline — phase-by-phase, no fairy tales

Most San Francisco ADU contractors quote 6–8 months. Most San Francisco ADUs take 11–15 months from first call to keys. Here is the realistic schedule — feasibility, design, San Francisco DBI (Department of Building Inspection) plan-check, construction, and finals — with the specific points where projects slip and how we keep ours on track.

City-specific deep dives

Phase 1 — Feasibility (1–2 weeks)

Survey, APN pull, zoning confirmation, overlay check, utility scoping, rough budget. In San Francisco this is where we catch the deal-breakers: hillside overlays, easements, undersized panels, sewer issues. Two weeks is realistic; one week is possible on a clean lot.

Phase 2 — Design & engineering (8–12 weeks)

Schematic design, design development, construction documents, Title 24, structural engineering, MEP coordination. San Francisco parcels with overlays or unusual geometry push toward the 12-week end. Weekly homeowner reviews keep this from drifting into 4-month territory.

Phase 3 — San Francisco DBI (Department of Building Inspection) plan-check (12–20 weeks)

Submittal, first-pass review, comment response, second-pass approval, permit issuance. A clean first submittal in San Francisco is the single biggest schedule lever — it cuts plan-check from 5 months to 3. Overlays and resubmits drive the variance.

Phase 4 — Construction (20–28 weeks)

Foundation, framing, MEP rough-in, inspections, drywall, finishes, fixtures, final inspections. San Francisco construction time is steady; long-pole items are utility upgrades (panel, sewer lateral) and finish lead times. Pre-ordering long-lead items at permit issuance protects this phase.

Phase 5 — Finals, C of O, walk-through (2–4 weeks)

Final building inspection, final MEP inspections, fire clearance, San Francisco Certificate of Occupancy, homeowner walk-through, punch-list, keys. We don't call a project done until C of O is in hand and the homeowner has signed the walk.

San Francisco · Timeline reality

Questions San Francisco homeowners ask about timeline

Direct answers, San Francisco-specific.

  1. Can I build a detached ADU in San Francisco?
    Rarely — SF's small lots and rear-yard rules usually push ADU work toward ground-floor conversion of garage or storage space. We confirm options at feasibility.
  2. What's the SF soft-story retrofit list?
    A city list of multi-unit wood-frame buildings with a soft ground floor that must be retrofitted for seismic. If your building is on it, retrofit must be addressed alongside any ADU work.
  3. Does San Francisco have unique requirements that affect timeline?
    Yes — San Francisco DBI (Department of Building Inspection) sets the local rules, and San Francisco has its own plan-check rhythm. The realistic numbers above reflect 2026 San Francisco conditions, not statewide averages.

Continue researching San Francisco

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