How long does a California building permit take?

There is no statewide number. State law sets review deadlines for only some permits, notably housing; otherwise it's your city's queue plus the correction rounds. AB 1621 tightens the housing rules on January 1, 2027.

The clocks that exist today

Housing permits: Gov. Code §65913.3

For a development intended to be at least two-thirds residential, "postentitlement phase permits" include the nondiscretionary permits and reviews needed after entitlements to begin construction, such as building permits and the reviews behind them, demolition permits, and permits for minor or standard offsite improvements or minor or standard excavation and grading. The definition also includes all building permits issued under Title 24 or a local building code for the construction, demolition, or alteration of buildings (§65913.3(k)(3)(A)). Permits from the Coastal Commission, a special district, or a utility not owned and operated by a local agency are excluded (§65913.3(k)(3)(C)).

A "housing development project" (§65913.3(k)(1)) is a residential-only project, mixed use that is generally at least two-thirds residential, transitional or supportive housing, or farmworker housing (§65589.5(h)(2)), and includes a single new dwelling unit (§65905.5(b)(3)(C)).

• Completeness: 15 business days for a postentitlement phase permit, with missing items limited to the city's posted checklist. If the city misses it, an application that says it is for a postentitlement phase permit is deemed complete (§65913.3(b)).
• Review: 30 business days after completeness for housing development projects of 25 units or fewer, or 60 for 26 or more, ending in an approval or a full set of comments (§65913.3(c)(1)–(2)). The limits don't apply if the city timely finds, on substantial evidence, that the permit might have a specific, adverse impact on public health or safety and needs more time; you and the city can also agree to an extension (§65913.3(c)(4), (j)).

Entitlements: the Permit Streamlining Act

The Permit Streamlining Act (Gov. Code §65920 et seq.) covers entitlements such as use permits and variances: 30 calendar days to decide completeness, with a new 30 days after each resubmittal (§65943(a)), then approval deadlines tied to environmental review, for example 60 days after a CEQA exemption or negative declaration (§65950(a)).

It doesn't cover ordinary building permits. "Development project" excludes ministerial projects (other than housing that needs an entitlement) and postentitlement phase permits (§65928(b)).

What AB 1621 changes on January 1, 2027

AB 1621 (Chapter 780, Statutes of 2026) was approved by the Governor on September 29, 2026 and amends Gov. Code §§65589.5 and 65913.3. With no urgency clause, it takes effect January 1, 2027 (Cal. Const., art. IV, §8(c)(1)). Under the amended §65913.3:

• Two plan check rounds. A city may not "require or request more than two plan check and specification reviews" for a building permit application (§65913.3(c)(1)(C)(i) and (c)(2)(C)(i)).
• Then a denial, or more rounds if you ask. After two reviews, the city may deny an application that still doesn't comply, and you may request additional submittals (clauses (ii) and (iii)). After a denial you can fix and resubmit, on new-application timelines (§65913.3(d)(3)–(4)).
• Building permits only. The limit doesn't affect how many submittals a city may require for grading, offsite improvement, or other postentitlement permits (clause (iv)).
• No new demands at inspection. After an inspection, the city can't request or require changes that deviate from the approved plans unless it makes written findings, based on substantial evidence, that no reasonable person could read those plans as compliant, or that the change is needed to address a specific, adverse impact on public health or safety (§65913.3(d)(5)).
• Fewer pauses. Today any outside review the city requires stops the clock. From 2027, only a review by an independent public agency that federal or state law requires before the city can act does; the city must still notify you within three business days of each stop and restart (§65913.3(c)(5)).
• Faster appeals. The governing body must decide an appeal within 30 business days (25 units or fewer) or 45 (26 or more), down from 60 and 90. If it denies, misses the deadline, or offers no appeal, you can seek a writ of mandate to compel approval (§65913.3(e)).
• Enforcement. A city or county that violates any of subdivisions (b) through (e), not just the deadlines, violates the Housing Accountability Act (§65913.3(f); §65589.5(h)(6)(C)).

Within those rounds, the statute doesn't limit how much feedback or how many revisions a city asks for (§65913.3(h)).

Does it apply to your permit?

The review clock and the two-round limit sit in subdivision (c), which is written for housing development projects; the statute's own examples are ADUs, duplexes, multifamily, mixed use, and townhomes (§65913.3(a)(2)). An office tenant improvement isn't on either. The statute doesn't name individual trade permits, so for work on an existing home, like a water heater swap or a panel upgrade, ask the building department before counting on these rules.

ADU impact fees: SB 1117

SB 1117 (Chapter 809, Statutes of 2026, approved September 29, 2026, effective January 1, 2027) amends Gov. Code §66311.5. Today no impact fee may be charged on an ADU with 750 square feet of interior livable space or less, and fees on a larger ADU must be proportional to the primary home's square footage. For up to two ADUs on a lot, SB 1117 limits that fee to the area above 750 square feet (§66311.5(c)(1)).

Which code your plans are checked against

The 2025 California Building Standards Code (Title 24) applies to building permit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026; applications received on or before December 31, 2025 stay under the 2022 code (California Building Standards Commission, Information Bulletin 25-01, citing Health and Safety Code §18938.5).

What this means for your timeline

Anything missing from the city's posted checklist or out of line with the code can send the plans back for another round. For real processing times, ask the building department; the city guides link each one.

Where getPermit fits

getPermit doesn't file or expedite permits. It's a pre-launch AI permit coordinator for California contractors, aimed at the step before filing: what a city will expect, with a human coordinator reviewing every assessment. Today you can join the waitlist.