San Jose Permit Timelines: Kitchen, Bath & ADU

Permits rarely stop a project — waiting on permits does. Knowing which path your project takes tells you whether you're waiting days or months before demo starts.

Straightforward work with no structural or layout change often qualifies for an over-the-counter or online permit. Anything touching walls, windows, egress, or square footage goes into plan check with a reviewer.

These are typical windows we plan around in San Jose. Your project can be faster or slower depending on submittal quality and current department load.

• Kitchen remodel, same layout (electrical/plumbing/mechanical): often same-day to 2 weeks.
• Kitchen remodel with wall removal: 4–8 weeks, longer if the wall is load-bearing and needs structural calcs.
• Bathroom remodel, like-for-like: same-day to 2 weeks.
• Bathroom with relocated fixtures or a new opening: 3–6 weeks.
• ADU (state-standard or preapproved plan): 60 days is the statutory review deadline once a complete application is submitted.
• Custom ADU or garage conversion with site complications: 2–4 months including revision cycles.

In our experience, almost every long permit is caused by one of four things — none of them are the city being slow for its own sake.

• Incomplete submittal: missing Title 24 energy compliance, structural calcs, or a site plan.
• Unpermitted prior work discovered during review, which must be legalized first.
• Revision cycles: each round of comments restarts a review queue.
• Utility or fire-department review triggered by panel upgrades or sprinkler requirements.

Expect rough inspections for framing, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical before insulation and drywall, then a final. Scheduling is usually next-business-day availability, but a failed rough can cost a week of momentum, so we don't cover work until it passes.

We prepare and submit the permit package, respond to plan-check comments, and coordinate every inspection. You get the timeline in writing as part of the estimate so the schedule isn't a surprise.