Ventura County · Timeline

How long an ADU really takes in Ventura County

Total elapsed schedule from the first site walk to the final inspection. Plan check is rarely the long pole — utility coordination and trade scheduling usually are.

Stage by stage

Survey + design: 3–5 — Standard suburban lots.
City plan check: 4–6 — Ministerial under state law.
HOA review (where applicable): 4–8 — Conejo Valley HOAs add a layer.
Construction: 14–20 — Detached new-build on flat lot.

Permit clock vs total schedule

Ministerial permit: 6–10 weeks
Discretionary review (when triggered): 14–24 weeks

What slips schedules in this area

State ADU law sets the floor — every city in the county runs ministerial review under it.
Coastal Zone parcels (Ventura, Oxnard waterfront) may add a CDP review.
VHFHSZ on the foothills (Ventura backcountry, Conejo Valley north) → Chapter 7A assemblies.

Reference

Terms and guides for this page

Glossary terms

Ministerial Review
Permit review based purely on objective standards — no public hearing, no discretion.
Coastal Development Permit (CDP)
Permit required for construction inside California's Coastal Zone, issued by the city or the California Coastal Commission.
Title 24
California's energy efficiency code — required for all new construction and most additions.
AB 2221
2022 amendment that closed loopholes in AB 68 — clarified setbacks, height, and the 60-day clock.
ePlan
LADBS's fully electronic plan-check portal for residential and commercial permits.
LADBS (LA Department of Building and Safety)
The City of Los Angeles agency that issues building permits and conducts inspections.

Field guides

The Los Angeles ADU permit process, step by step
Permitting an ADU inside the City of Los Angeles takes about 8–11 weeks of plan check (LADBS) plus 2–4 weeks of pre-submittal prep. State law caps ministerial review at 60 days from a complete submittal. Total city + utility fees for a 700 sqft detached ADU typically run $13,000–$26,000.