How the ADU Permit Process Works

The permit process feels like a black box from outside. From inside, it's a predictable pipeline with five stations. Let's walk it end to end — everything else in this module zooms into one station or another.

Station 1: Submission. Your complete plan set (Module 9) goes to the city — almost always through an online portal now. You'll pay plan-check fees at this point (a portion of the total fees from Module 6.5). What you submit is what gets reviewed: quality in, speed out.

Station 2: Completeness check. Before reviewing content, the city confirms nothing's missing — and state law gives them 15 business days to tell you, with an itemized list of any gaps (Module 5.10). Incomplete submissions bounce here; complete ones enter review.

Station 3: Plan check. The heart of the process (lesson 10.2). Reviewers — often several departments in parallel (lesson 10.6) — check your plans against every applicable code. The state's 60-day clock runs on this stage. Two exits: approval, or…

Station 4: The corrections loop. Most first submissions receive a correction letter — a numbered list of items to fix or clarify (lesson 10.3). Your design team revises and resubmits; the city rechecks. Each city round is bounded by the review clock; your team's response speed sets the rest of the pace. One to two rounds is normal (lesson 10.4); zero is a coordinated team's badge of honor.

Station 5: Ready to Issue → permit. When every reviewer signs off, your project goes RTI (lesson 10.8): you pay the remaining fees, and the city issues the building permit — the physical (or digital) card that legally authorizes construction. Post it on site; construction and its inspections (Module 12) can begin.

The two numbers to hold onto: the city's time is bounded by law (15 business days + 60-day rounds); your team's time between rounds is unbounded and is where most calendar time is actually won or lost. A permit that takes five months usually spent three of them waiting on resubmissions, not on the city. Choose responsiveness (Module 11) and the pipeline moves.