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 — 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