Resources
Bay Area building permit times, city by city
How long plan review takes in 33 Bay Area cities, taken from each city’s own published schedule rather than from a rule of thumb. Where a city publishes nothing, this says so instead of guessing.
- 33 cities, each linked to its source
- 15 with an over-the-counter path, 2 that publish they have none
- 4 running pre-approved ADU plan programs
A note on reading these. Cities publish in different units, and the difference matters: some state business days, some calendar weeks, some a maximum, some a minimum, and a few describe time to get a permit rather than plan review alone. Each entry below keeps the city’s own wording rather than converting everything to one scale, because the conversion is where the meaning usually gets lost. Nearly every clock starts when your application is deemed complete, not when you submit it.
Building an ADU? The timelines here describe general remodels and additions. ADU review runs on a separate statutory clock, covered in our garage conversion ADU guide and our permit guide.
Contra Costa County
CityPublished plan reviewOver the counterSource
ConcordIn-house, with concurrent Building, Engineering, Planning and Transportation reviewPublished in business days: 15 first review for a residential addition, 10 for an alteration, 5 for a minor remodel such as a tub or shower.Not publishedPre-approved ADU plans: Yes. Concord offers free pre-approved ADU plans, and permits may be issued within five working days when the site-specific plan set is complete.City of Concord plan review turnaround scheduleChecked 2026-07-28
LafayetteTwo desks: the city handles planning and design review, Contra Costa County handles building plan check and inspection.Neither the city nor the county publishes a plan-check turnaround; budget extra calendar time for the two-desk process.Not publishedCity of Lafayette building permitsChecked 2026-07-28
OrindaTwo desks: the city handles planning entitlements, Contra Costa County issues the building permit.No published turnaround. The city asks that you allow at least two weeks before requesting a status update.In-person plan check by appointment only; submittals are online.Town of Orinda building permitsChecked 2026-07-28
Pleasant HillThe city's FAQ puts a typical plan check for a residential addition at 2 to 3 weeks.Pleasant Hill publishes no turnaround matrix by project type.No walk-in counter; the city runs an online service centre, with appointments including Thursday evenings by request.City of Pleasant Hill permit FAQChecked 2026-07-28
Walnut CreekIn-housePolicy Bulletin PB-031 sets maximums in business days: 18 for a residential addition, 13 for an alteration.The city labels these as maximums, not typical times.No walk-in counter. Applications are online only; the city lists 3 to 7 days for its quickest review tier.City of Walnut Creek plan-review turnaround timesChecked 2026-07-28
Alameda County
CityPublished plan reviewOver the counterSource
AlamedaThe city publishes no plan-check turnaround for projects that need review. New submittals are processed for completeness within two business days.Express Building Permits cover work needing no plan review; anything with new or modified framing is excluded.City of Alameda Permit CenterChecked 2026-07-28
BerkeleyIn-houseThe city publishes 1 to 6 weeks, with residential additions and major remodels at about 3 weeks (15 working days) for the initial review.A project needing a zoning entitlement is a separate track measured in months.Yes. Many kitchen and bathroom remodels can be approved over the counter in about 30 minutes during an appointment. Walk-ins until 11:30am for limited services.City of Berkeley plan checkChecked 2026-07-28
FremontOne-stop with Zoning, Planning, Permitting, Engineering and Building Inspection on sitePublished per cycle in business days: 15 then 10 for an interior remodel or single-story addition under 750 sq ft, 20 then 15 for a larger or second-story addition, 8 then 6 for an ADU.Fremont's own pages differ slightly on ADU review time; the January 2025 timeline is the more granular source.Not publishedPre-approved ADU plans: Yes. Pre-approved ADU plans review faster than a standard ADU submittal.City of Fremont building permit plan review timelineChecked 2026-07-28
LivermoreIn-houseEstimated initial review, in days excluding weekends and holidays: 7 for a kitchen or bathroom remodel, 15 for a remodel with no structural calculations, 25 for an addition, ADU or structural remodel.Times assume entitlements are already approved and move with workload.Not publishedCity of Livermore permit review timesChecked 2026-07-28
OaklandIn-houseAverage processing in business days: 21 for a residential addition or alteration, 10 for a kitchen or bath remodel.Kitchen and bath remodels with no wall, window or exterior change need no plan check and can clear same day.City of Oakland average permit processing turnaround timesChecked 2026-07-28
PiedmontIn-houseThe city publishes an initial completeness check within 3 business days, then about 2 to 4 weeks to review a small permit and 4 to 6 weeks for a larger, more complex project.Not publishedCity of Piedmont permit turnaround timesChecked 2026-07-28
Santa Clara County
CityPublished plan reviewOver the counterSource
Los AltosNo plan-check turnaround is published. Submittals are processed within 2 to 4 business days and completeness verified within about 5.Not publishedCity of Los Altos buildingChecked 2026-07-28
Los GatosNo plan-check turnaround is published.Not publishedTown of Los Gatos buildingChecked 2026-07-28
Mountain ViewIn-houseTypical review after an application is deemed complete: 3 weeks initial and 2 weeks on resubmittal for additions and whole-house remodels, 2 and 2 for a new or converted ADU.Not publishedPre-approved ADU plans: Yes. Pre-approved ADU plans run about 2 weeks initial and 1 week on resubmittal.City of Mountain View permit timelinesChecked 2026-07-28
Palo AltoPalo Alto publishes no plan-check turnaround. You should receive a first response on completeness within 2 to 3 business days.Not publishedCity of Palo Alto building divisionChecked 2026-07-28
San JoseIn-housePublished in working days: about 10 for a single-story addition or non-structural alteration, 15 for a two-story addition, 20 business days for the first ADU round.The city currently asks applicants to add 2 to 3 weeks because of application volume.Yes. Walk-in over-the-counter issuance for qualifying single-family and duplex projects, plus a virtual Residential Express service.City of San José plan review time framesChecked 2026-07-28
SaratogaThe city's plan submittal handout puts the initial review at approximately 4 to 6 weeks, with some projects routed to a third-party plan checker.That handout predates the city's move to online permitting, so confirm before relying on it.Not publishedCity of Saratoga building divisionChecked 2026-07-28
San Mateo County
CityPublished plan reviewOver the counterSource
AthertonContracted out: building review to a consultant, planning to a separate firm.The town publishes no plan-review turnaround.Not publishedTown of Atherton Permit CenterChecked 2026-07-28
BurlingamePublished as a floor in business days: a minimum of 15 for a residential alteration or addition, 20 for new construction, and 5 to 10 for electrical, mechanical or plumbing.These are stated as minimums, not typical times.Not publishedCity of Burlingame building divisionChecked 2026-07-28
HillsboroughThe town's permit application asks you to allow 4 to 5 weeks for initial plan review on a major project and 2 to 3 weeks on a minor one.Not publishedTown of Hillsborough building divisionChecked 2026-07-28
Menlo ParkNo plan-check turnaround is published for building permits.None. The city states it is not offering over-the-counter review at this time.City of Menlo Park building divisionChecked 2026-07-28
San CarlosThe city publishes no plan-check turnaround by project type.Not publishedCity of San Carlos building divisionChecked 2026-07-28
Marin County
CityPublished plan reviewOver the counterSource
LarkspurParallel review across Planning, Building, Public Works and Central Marin FirePublished tiers: small project review approximately 7 to 10 working days; large project initial review approximately 3 to 4 weeks, then 2 to 3 weeks on resubmittal. Clocks start at completeness.None. The city states there is no over-the-counter plan review or permit issuance.City of Larkspur permit processChecked 2026-07-28
Mill ValleyThe city posts tiered review times: Express permits 1 to 3 business days, minor permits 7 to 10 business days, and a 4 to 6 week minimum for residential plan check.Yes, via the Express permit tier.City of Mill Valley permit application processChecked 2026-07-28
RossThe town publishes about 4 to 6 weeks to get a permit, measured end to end after all departments including Fire have signed off.This is time to permit, not plan check alone.Yes for furnace replacement, reroofing and water heaters.Town of Ross permit servicesChecked 2026-07-28
San RafaelThe city says the initial review can take up to 3 weeks, with each round of corrections adding another cycle.Not publishedCity of San Rafael permits requiring plan reviewChecked 2026-07-28
SausalitoNo initial plan-review turnaround is published. Review does not begin until an application is deemed complete.A minimum of two weeks applies to reviewing revisions of already-approved plans.Not publishedPre-approved ADU plans: Yes. The city processes a pre-approved Master Plan ADU permit within 60 days of a complete application.City of Sausalito building divisionChecked 2026-07-28
TiburonNo plan-review turnaround is published.Expedited counter review for simple projects and plan revisions, Monday to Thursday 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.Town of Tiburon building divisionChecked 2026-07-28
San Francisco
CityPublished plan reviewOver the counterSource
Cole ValleyDepartment of Building Inspection, with land-use review by SF PlanningDBI separates over-the-counter work from full In-House review and publishes its own timing data, including how far back it is currently assigning projects to plan reviewers.Check the live assignment queue before you file rather than working from a rule of thumb.Yes via the QLess queue for simpler work; remodels altering gravity load-carrying members or triggering seismic upgrades do not qualify.San Francisco permit performance metricsChecked 2026-07-28
MarinaDepartment of Building Inspection, with land-use review by SF PlanningDBI separates over-the-counter work from full In-House review and publishes its own timing data, including how far back it is currently assigning projects to plan reviewers.Check the live assignment queue before you file rather than working from a rule of thumb.Yes via the QLess queue for simpler work; remodels altering gravity load-carrying members or triggering seismic upgrades do not qualify.San Francisco permit performance metricsChecked 2026-07-28
Noe ValleyDepartment of Building Inspection, with land-use review by SF PlanningDBI separates over-the-counter work from full In-House review and publishes its own timing data, including how far back it is currently assigning projects to plan reviewers.Check the live assignment queue before you file rather than working from a rule of thumb.Yes via the QLess queue for simpler work; remodels altering gravity load-carrying members or triggering seismic upgrades do not qualify.San Francisco permit performance metricsChecked 2026-07-28
Pacific HeightsDepartment of Building Inspection, with land-use review by SF PlanningDBI separates over-the-counter work from full In-House review and publishes its own timing data, including how far back it is currently assigning projects to plan reviewers.Check the live assignment queue before you file rather than working from a rule of thumb.Yes via the QLess queue for simpler work; remodels altering gravity load-carrying members or triggering seismic upgrades do not qualify.San Francisco permit performance metricsChecked 2026-07-28
Sea CliffDepartment of Building Inspection, with land-use review by SF PlanningDBI separates over-the-counter work from full In-House review and publishes its own timing data, including how far back it is currently assigning projects to plan reviewers.Check the live assignment queue before you file rather than working from a rule of thumb.Yes via the QLess queue for simpler work; remodels altering gravity load-carrying members or triggering seismic upgrades do not qualify.San Francisco permit performance metricsChecked 2026-07-28
Cities change these schedules, move them between pages, and occasionally move domains entirely, so treat every figure here as a starting point and confirm with the building department before you submit. If you find one that has drifted, tell us and we’ll re-check it.
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