Ministerial Review
Permit review based purely on objective standards — no public hearing, no discretion.
Ministerial review means the city must approve a permit if the application meets every objective standard in the code. There is no public hearing, no neighbor notification, and no discretion for the planner to deny based on subjective concerns.
Under AB 68 and AB 2221, ADU permits inside California are ministerial and capped at 60 days from a complete submittal. By contrast, projects requiring variances, conditional use permits (CUPs), or design review are discretionary — they involve hearings and can be denied or modified.
Related terms
- AB 682020 California law that streamlined ADU permits — 60-day clock, parking exemptions, ministerial review.
- ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit)A self-contained second home on a residential lot, with its own kitchen, bath, and entrance.
- LADBS (LA Department of Building and Safety)The City of Los Angeles agency that issues building permits and conducts inspections.
People also ask
FAQ — Ministerial Review
What does "Ministerial Review" mean in plain English?
Permit review based purely on objective standards — no public hearing, no discretion.
Why does Ministerial Review matter for a California ADU or remodel?
Ministerial Review comes up in the permitting side of nearly every Greater LA and Bay Area project we touch. Ministerial review means the city must approve a permit if the application meets every objective standard in the code. Getting it right at design saves rework later — getting it wrong is one of the most common reasons permits stall.
Where will I see Ministerial Review on my own project?
Most owners run into Ministerial Review during the design or plan-check phase. Your project manager flags it on the schedule, walks you through what the city expects, and confirms documentation is in place before the inspection that depends on it.
Does Ministerial Review cost extra?
Sometimes — depends on whether it adds scope (a report, a structural detail, a fee) or just a paperwork step. Anything cost-impacting is itemized in your contract or change order, never buried in the invoice.
Who at Alpha Dream handles Ministerial Review?
The project architect owns design-level decisions; the permit runner owns city interactions; the project manager owns field execution. You always know who to ask.