Last updated: October 24, 2026Quick answer: most ADU permits are delayed by zoning and review comments, not by the drawings themselves. A simple conversion can sometimes move faster, while a detached build often takes longer because it adds new site and utility checks. If you want an approval path with fewer surprises, ADU permitting, approvals, and inspections need to be lined up in order from the start. An ADU usually gets delayed in permitting, not in design. If you want a garage conversion, backyard cottage, or basement apartment approved without months of avoidable back-and-forth, the real job is to line…
ADU permitting, approvals, and inspections ADU Permitting, Approvals, and Inspections — The Complete Guide


