Permits & Process
ADU Permit Timeline in California: What to Expect in 2026
In California, cities are required by state law to approve or deny a complete ADU permit application within 60 days. In practice, the full path, from submitting plans to holding an approved permit, usually runs 60 to 90 days, depending on how complete your submission is and how busy the local planning department is.
The good news: California has spent the last several years writing laws specifically to make ADU permitting faster and more predictable. The key is submitting a complete, code-compliant application the first time, so you don’t lose weeks to resubmittals.
The short version: Expect roughly 60 to 90 days for ADU permitting in California. The state’s 60-day rule protects you, but only if your application is complete. A clean submission is the difference between one round and three.
What state law guarantees you
California ADU law (Government Code §65852.2) sets statewide minimums that local cities can’t override:
- 60-day review. The city must act on a complete application within 60 days.
- Ministerial approval. Eligible ADUs are approved over-the-counter style, no discretionary hearings, no neighbor sign-off.
- Up to 1,200 sq ft for a detached new-construction ADU.
- 4-foot side and rear setbacks, no more.
- No added parking if you’re within a half-mile of public transit (which covers most of our service area).
These rules mean a straightforward detached ADU on a typical lot is a predictable, by-right project, not a fight with the city.
The typical timeline, start to finish
| Phase | Time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Property analysis + design | 1 to 2 weeks | Confirm the lot qualifies, lock the model and placement |
| Plan preparation | 2 to 3 weeks | Site plan, Title 24, structural |
| City permit review | 60 to 90 days | Plan check; the state’s 60-day clock applies |
| Foundation + factory build | 8 to 16 weeks | Runs in parallel, see below |
| Delivery + final inspection | 1 day + sign-off | Crane set, hookups, final inspection |
How factory building saves months
Here’s the part most homeowners don’t realize: a site-built ADU usually waits for the permit, then starts construction. With a factory-built home, we build the unit while the foundation and permitting move in parallel. By the time your foundation is ready, your home is largely finished in the factory, so delivery is a single crane day, not another six months of on-site work.
That’s how a Framework First ADU can be delivered in as little as 4 months total on our smallest model, versus 16 to 24 months for typical site builds. See how the 7-step process works.
Who handles the permits?
We do. Every project price carries a permitting budget built in, and we prepare the plans, submit to your city, and manage plan check on your behalf. Your exact permit fees are set by your city and confirmed in your feasibility study, so nothing about them is a guessing game once you sign. Because we’ve been through plan check across the Monterey Bay and Silicon Valley many times, we draft plans the way local departments want them, which keeps you in the single-round lane.
City-specific details
Exact fees and review speed vary by city. Your feasibility study itemizes the expected permit fees and timeline for your specific address, and our city guides cover the local picture where we build.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a city legally have to decide?
60 days from a complete application, under state law. Ministerial review means no hearings and no discretionary delays; completeness is what starts the clock.
What delays ADU permits most often?
Incomplete applications that trigger resubmittals, followed by utility upgrades discovered late. Both are preventable with plans drafted the way your local department expects them.
Who handles the permit process?
We do. Plans, submission, and corrections are ours to handle, and a permitting budget is built into every project price. Your exact city fees are confirmed in your feasibility study, so the permit counter stays our errand, not yours.
Curious whether your lot is a clean, by-right ADU project? Get a free property analysis and we’ll tell you what the permit path looks like for your address.