Guides
California ADU permit guides
Step-by-step explanations of the permit process, written for the point where applications tend to stall.
- GuideHow long an ADU permit takes in CaliforniaState law doesn't promise a fast permit, but it does put the city on a clock at three points. Knowing which clock is running tells you whether you're waiting on the city or the city is waiting on you.Reviewed November 10, 2026
- GuideYour ADU application was marked incomplete. What now?An incomplete notice feels like a rejection. It isn't one. It is a list, and since 2026 the city is held to that list.Reviewed November 10, 2026