You pick a design the city has already reviewed, then submit a site-specific plan showing where it goes. As of November 2026, San Jose lists 46 preapproved plans from 23 vendors. When the site plan and documents are complete and accurate, the permit can be issued the same day as the plan review meeting.
Is my lot eligible?
- Zoned residential, with an existing single-family home or duplex.
- Not in a geohazard, landslide, flood or wildland-urban interface zone (see the city's ADU Universal Checklist).
- No fire variance needed.
- No open code enforcement violation.
When is it slower?
Plans that defer a site-specific structural submittal, such as some larger or factory-built designs, need plan review and take longer than same-day issuance.
Who pulls the permit?
The city recommends the vendor or contractor, so liability sits with the professional.
Sources, as of November 2026: City of San Jose, "Preapproved ADUs" (sanjoseca.gov). General information, not legal advice.
Updated November 2026