ADU PERMITS &
APPROVAL PROCESS —
THE GREATER BAY AREA
ADU permits are procedural. The steps are defined. The forms are known. What determines approval speed is documentation quality. An accessory dwelling unit must be submitted with complete architectural drawings, structural engineering, energy compliance documentation, and accurate site measurements.
When submissions are organized and coordinated, the review process moves predictably. Preparation is not optional — it is the primary advantage.
Full permit management from zoning verification through final inspection sign-off.
HOW ADU
PERMITTING WORKS
Zoning review. Before any drawings are produced, the property must be verified against local zoning requirements. Setbacks, lot coverage, height limits, and allowable ADU size vary by jurisdiction. Even under California’s statewide ADU framework, cities across the Peninsula and East Bay interpret and enforce standards differently.
Plan check. Once submitted, architectural and structural drawings are reviewed by the city’s building department. This includes floor plans, elevations, structural calculations, and site plans. Incomplete or inconsistent documents trigger correction requests that add weeks to the timeline.
Structural review. Foundation design, lateral bracing, hold-downs, and load paths are evaluated for code compliance. For attached ADUs, tie-in details between new and existing framing are scrutinized closely.
Energy Compliance
Title 24 documentation is required for every ADU. Insulation, HVAC, lighting, and window specs must meet California energy code.
Corrections & Revisions
Plan check comments are common. Speed of response determines whether a correction adds days or weeks to the timeline.
Final Approval
Once all corrections are resolved and fees are paid, the building permit is issued. Construction can begin with scheduled inspections.
WHAT TYPICALLY
TRIGGERS PERMIT
DELAYS
Most ADU permit delays are documentation problems, not city problems. Missing calculations, inaccurate measurements, and inconsistent drawings are the most common causes of correction cycles. These are preventable with upfront coordination.
The cities aren’t slow for the sake of being slow. They’re responding to what’s in front of them. When the submittal is complete and consistent, the review moves.
Common Delay Causes
- Incomplete structural calculations — missing load paths, shear wall details, or foundation specs trigger immediate correction requests
- Incorrect setback measurements — errors in site plan dimensions require resurvey and resubmission
- Missing Title 24 documentation — energy compliance must be included at initial submission, not added later
- Utility routing conflicts — sewer, electrical, or gas routing that conflicts with existing infrastructure
- Fire access issues — insufficient clearance or missing fire-rated assemblies for attached or garage conversion units
- Inconsistent drawings — dimensions, labels, or details that don’t match across architectural and structural sheets
CITY-LEVEL
DIFFERENCES
California’s state ADU law establishes the framework, but enforcement happens at the city level. Each jurisdiction across the greater San Francisco area applies its own interpretation to setbacks, design review, fire access, and plan check processes.
Some cities have streamlined ADU review tracks. Others require additional design review or neighborhood compatibility findings. Submittal formats, fee structures, and correction response windows vary across Peninsula, South Bay, and East Bay jurisdictions.
Familiarity with a city’s review tendencies matters. It doesn’t guarantee faster approval, but it reduces the likelihood of preventable correction cycles.
What Varies by City
- Setback interpretation and measurement standards
- Design review requirements (some cities, not all)
- Plan check turnaround times
- Correction response windows
- Fire access and separation standards
- Fee structures and impact fees
- Utility connection requirements
HOW WE MANAGE
ADU PERMITs
Permit management is not a handoff. We coordinate zoning verification, engineering, and submission as one integrated sequence — not separate tasks assigned to separate parties.
Pre-Design Zoning Verification
Setbacks, lot coverage, height limits, and ADU eligibility are verified against city-specific standards before any design work begins.Measurements are field-verified, not assumed from assessor records.
Coordinated Engineering
Architectural plans, structural calculations, and Title 24 documentation are produced together — not sequentially patched after the floor plan is done.
Complete Submission
Every required document is included at initial submission. Site plan, floor plans, elevations, structural details, energy compliance, and utility routing.Incomplete submittals are the #1 cause of avoidable delays.
Organized Revision Response
When plan check comments come back, we respond promptly with organized corrections. Each comment is addressed specifically and documented clearly.
MOST DELAYS
HAPPEN BEFORE
THE FIRST INSPECTION
The permit phase sets the pace for everything that follows. When zoning, engineering, and documentation are aligned before submission, the construction phase proceeds on schedule. When they aren’t, delays compound.
“Most ADU delays I see don’t happen during construction. They happen during permitting. And most of those are preventable.”
— Dan Mendez, Owner
ADU PERMITTING
ACROSS THE
PENINSULA &
EAST BAY
Every city has its own review pace, correction format, and interpretation of state ADU law. We manage permits across multiple jurisdictions with familiarity in each city’s process.
ADU TYPES
WE PERMIT & BUILD
Permitting requirements vary by ADU type. Each has different structural documentation, site plan details, and code compliance paths.
Detached ADU
Independent structure with its own foundation. Requires full site plan, setback verification, and separate utility documentation.
Detached ADU DetailsJADU
Integrated into the existing home. Requires structural tie-in documentation, fire-rated assembly details, and foundation alignment.
JADU DetailsGarage Conversion
Existing footprint converted to habitable space. Requires slab evaluation, insulation upgrades, and fire separation documentation.
Garage Conversion DetailsSCHEDULE AN
ADU FEASIBILITY
CONSULTATION
Before permit submission, zoning eligibility and infrastructure capacity must be verified. We review your property’s setbacks, lot coverage, and utility conditions to determine what’s required before design begins.
Verify first · Document thoroughly · Submit completely
Serving Palo Alto · Mountain View · San Mateo
Walnut Creek · Redwood City · the Bay