Schedule questions · 448 answers · 2688 total in the reference desk
Timeline & Phases
What influences sequencing from early study through closeout.
Four separate things decide the timeline
State baseline reviewed September 26, 2026. Local procedures, exceptions and parcel conditions still apply.
The statutory review clock
After an ADU application is submitted, the local agency must say in writing within 15 business days whether it is complete, and generally approve or deny a complete application within 60 days (Gov. Code § 66317). The clock measures agency review of a complete application — not design, corrections, utility work or construction.
If the agency finds the application incomplete or issues corrections, the time the applicant's team spends revising drawings and resubmitting is outside the agency's clock. Complete, coordinated drawings are the part of the schedule the owner's team controls most.
Water, sewer, electric and gas connections are reviewed and scheduled by the utility or agency that owns each system, sometimes on separate applications. Their timing is not set by the ADU review clock; ask each provider what it needs and when.
Once a permit is issued, duration depends on scope, site conditions, material lead times, inspections and any correction notices in the field. No general duration applies to every property; a schedule should be built from the actual scope.
Yes. California requires a local agency to approve or deny a complete ADU permit application within 60 days (Gov. Code §66317). The clock starts only when the application is complete; correction rounds, utility work and inspections are outside it.
Can monthly permit counts predict my approval time?
No. Census and city reports record authorizations issued, not how long each took. RSA shows those counts for context and asks you to enter your own week estimates per stage, labelled as your scenario.
It can affect concrete pours, roofing and excavation. The planning timeline flags days with rain chance of 40%+, wind of 20 mph+ or heat of 90°F+ as questions to ask your builder — not as a guaranteed work window.
061How long can a seismic retrofit take in Santa Monica?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
062How should a Santa Monica seismic retrofit schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
063How long can a hillside project take in Santa Monica?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
064How should a Santa Monica hillside project schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
065How long can a ADU take in Pasadena?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
066How should a Pasadena ADU schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
067How long can a garage conversion take in Pasadena?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
068How should a Pasadena garage conversion schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
069How long can a JADU take in Pasadena?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
070How should a Pasadena JADU schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
071How long can a home addition take in Pasadena?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
072How should a Pasadena home addition schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
073How long can a kitchen remodel take in Pasadena?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
074How should a Pasadena kitchen remodel schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
075How long can a bathroom remodel take in Pasadena?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
076How should a Pasadena bathroom remodel schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
077How long can a whole-home remodel take in Pasadena?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
078How should a Pasadena whole-home remodel schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
079How long can a roofing project take in Pasadena?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
080How should a Pasadena roofing project schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
081How long can a siding project take in Pasadena?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
082How should a Pasadena siding project schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
083How long can a deck project take in Pasadena?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
084How should a Pasadena deck project schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
085How long can a concrete project take in Pasadena?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
086How should a Pasadena concrete project schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
087How long can a window and door project take in Pasadena?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
088How should a Pasadena window and door project schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
089How long can a foundation work take in Pasadena?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
090How should a Pasadena foundation work schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
091How long can a framing scope take in Pasadena?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
092How should a Pasadena framing scope schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
093How long can a seismic retrofit take in Pasadena?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
094How should a Pasadena seismic retrofit schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
095How long can a hillside project take in Pasadena?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
096How should a Pasadena hillside project schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
097How long can a ADU take in Long Beach?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
098How should a Long Beach ADU schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
099How long can a garage conversion take in Long Beach?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
100How should a Long Beach garage conversion schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
101How long can a JADU take in Long Beach?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
102How should a Long Beach JADU schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
103How long can a home addition take in Long Beach?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
104How should a Long Beach home addition schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
105How long can a kitchen remodel take in Long Beach?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
106How should a Long Beach kitchen remodel schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
107How long can a bathroom remodel take in Long Beach?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
108How should a Long Beach bathroom remodel schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
109How long can a whole-home remodel take in Long Beach?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
110How should a Long Beach whole-home remodel schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
111How long can a roofing project take in Long Beach?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
112How should a Long Beach roofing project schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
113How long can a siding project take in Long Beach?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
114How should a Long Beach siding project schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
115How long can a deck project take in Long Beach?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
116How should a Long Beach deck project schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
117How long can a concrete project take in Long Beach?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
118How should a Long Beach concrete project schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
119How long can a window and door project take in Long Beach?+
There is no responsible citywide duration. Design decisions, consultant coordination, agency review, procurement, site conditions and construction scope all affect timing.
120How should a Long Beach window and door project schedule be planned?+
Build the schedule around documented milestones, agency dependencies, owner decisions and material lead times, then update it as project information becomes more certain.
City timeline guides — the deep dive
Every FAQ above is anchored in real jurisdiction data. For full line-item breakdowns, plan-check timelines, and city-specific schedules, open the timeline guide for the city you're building in.
