San José ADU permit requirements
Last reviewed: June 20, 2026
Quick answer
Permitting an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in San José, California means pulling a building permit from the local authority that issues it. ArchPermit tracks 17 source-cited requirements (12 required, the rest conditional) for this jurisdiction. Submittals go through SJePlans (ProjectDox) via SJPermits.org. These requirements were last reviewed June 20, 2026; confirm the exact forms and fees with the local permitting authority.
A source-cited checklist of what an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) permit package needs in City of San José. Every item links to its authoritative source; items that vary are flagged to confirm locally.
ADU is a ministerial building permit with plan review (no separate discretionary entitlement for a code-compliant unit); zoning is checked inside the building review. A Preapproved (master-plan) ADU track offers same-day issuance for eligible lots.
- A-1 Cover Sheetrequired
Preparer info; project name/address/APN + owner; scope of work; occupancy group + construction type; gross area per floor + building height; drawing index + scale; applicable codes & editions (CBC, CRC, CEC, CMC, CPC, energy).
source · reviewed 2026-06-20 - A-2 Site Plan (to scale)required
Full parcel + lot dimensions + property lines + street names; primary-dwelling + proposed ADU footprints with dimensions to property lines; easements; utilities/meters; 3-ft clear path & front-PL distance (CFC 503.1.1); vicinity map with nearest-hydrant distance (CFC 507.5.1); WUI/sprinkler notes as applicable.
source · reviewed 2026-06-20 - A-3 Architectural & Structural Plansrequired
Foundation & structural framing; existing + new floor plans; demolition plan (if any); exterior elevations (+ flood data in flood zones); structural specs/details; typical cross-sections each direction; shear-wall & holdown plan with schedule.
source · reviewed 2026-06-20 - A-4 Roof Framing & Truss Plansrequired
Roof framing/truss layout; truss plan stamped by the responsible design professional with calcs/details. Required except for conversions. No deferred submittal of truss calcs/drawings allowed.
source · reviewed 2026-06-20 - A-5 Mechanical / Plumbing / Electricalrequired
HVAC equipment + BTU/HR; plumbing fixtures + dimensions; outlets, fixtures, switches, smoke detectors, sub/main panels.
source · reviewed 2026-06-20 - CalGreen Checklistrequired
CalGreen (Chapter 4) checklist shown on the plans.
source · reviewed 2026-06-20 - Form 302: Address Assignment Requestrequired
Owner-signed address assignment for the new unit (CFC 505 requires the ADU have its own approved unit number).
source · reviewed 2026-06-20 - Form 310: Building Permit Applicationrequired
City Building Permit Application form; the city recommends the contractor signs.
source · reviewed 2026-06-20 - Form 312: ADU Property Owner Declarationrequired
Owner-signed ADU declaration. For a JADU, this is instead Form 313: JADU Deed Restriction Agreement (wet signature, recorded).
source · reviewed 2026-06-20 - Foundation / Soils Design Sheetrequired
Footing depth/width, stem-wall dimensions, capillary break, anchor specs; site-specific soils report or presumptive-value design.
source · reviewed 2026-06-20 - Title 24 Energy Calculations (CF1R) + Mandatory Measuresrequired
Residential energy compliance (CF1R Certificate of Compliance) plus the Mandatory Measures checklist, incorporated into the plan set.
source · reviewed 2026-06-20 - Water Company Flow Letter (≥ 1,000 gpm @ 20 psi)required
Hydrant flow letter from the water company, submitted WITH the application. The city flags this as a top cause of delays, so obtain it early.
source · reviewed 2026-06-20 - A-6 Grading Planconditional
As applicable: 5%-away-from-foundation slope ≥ 10 ft; foundation-top elevation requirements.
source · reviewed 2026-06-20 - A-7 Detail Sheetsconditional
As applicable: window schedule (egress, safety glazing, skylights) and door schedule.
source · reviewed 2026-06-20 - Detached ADU Fire Separation Distance (Building Division Directive)conditionalverify locally
Detached-ADU fire-separation requirements per a Building Division Directive. SOURCE CONTRADICTION: the ADU Service page cites Directive #B-007 while the ADU Project Process page cites #B-002 for the same topic; confirm the current directive number before relying on it.
source · reviewed 2026-06-20 - Form 311: Owner-Builder Acknowledgementconditional
Owner-Builder Acknowledgement & Verification of Information. Required only for owner-builder projects.
source · reviewed 2026-06-20 - Geotechnical / Soils Reportconditional
As applicable: geohazard, nonbuildable area (e.g., demolished pool), or non-presumptive foundation design.
source · reviewed 2026-06-20
San José ADU permit questions
- Do I need a permit to build an ADU in San José?
- Yes. An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in San José requires a building permit. ArchPermit tracks 17 cited requirements for this jurisdiction (12 required, the rest conditional). Always confirm the exact forms, fees, and code edition with the local permitting authority that issues the permit.
- What does an ADU permit package require in San José?
- Core required items include: A-1 Cover Sheet; A-2 Site Plan (to scale); A-3 Architectural & Structural Plans; A-4 Roof Framing & Truss Plans; A-5 Mechanical / Plumbing / Electrical; CalGreen Checklist, plus 6 more. Each requirement links to its authoritative source, and nothing is permit-ready until an independent licensed professional reviews and seals it.
- How are ADU permits submitted in San José?
- San José accepts permit submittals via SJePlans (ProjectDox) via SJPermits.org. ArchPermit prepares a draft package you can submit there after a licensed architect reviews and seals it.