Module 5 · Lesson 10
How Long Does the City Have to Review an ADU?
California puts deadlines on ADU review: completeness in 15 business days, decisions in 60 days, and faster tracks for pre-approved plans.
Cities used to be able to sit on second-unit applications indefinitely. Now the law puts them on a clock.
The 60-day rule. Once your application is complete, the city must approve or deny it within 60 days. A denial must be in writing, listing exactly what's deficient and how to fix it — no vague "resubmit and see."
The completeness check. Cities also can't stall by slow-walking the word "complete." Under current law they must tell you within 15 business days whether your application is complete, with an itemized list of anything missing. Silence works in your favor, not theirs.
The fast lane. Using a city pre-approved ADU plan (Module 13) can cut the review window to roughly 30 days — the plans were already checked; the city is mostly reviewing your site.
What the clock doesn't cover. The 60 days measure the city's time per round. If they issue corrections and your team takes six weeks to respond, that's your time. Total permitting duration = city rounds + your response speed — which is why responsive design teams matter (Module 10 goes deep on this).
If a city blows the deadline: document it, ask (in writing) for the status citing the 60-day requirement, and escalate to a supervisor. HCD also accepts complaints about non-compliant practices. Most delays dissolve the moment someone shows they know the rules.
Key takeaways
- Complete applications must be approved or denied within 60 days — denials must be written and specific.
- Cities have 15 business days to tell you if anything's missing from your application.
- Pre-approved plans can shrink review to ~30 days.
- The clock measures the city's time; your team's response speed controls the rest.