Enhanced ADU & Building Permit Applications Now Online!
Published on October 01, 2025
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Planning & Building's Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) online permit application — a major milestone in our journey toward a more streamlined, user-friendly digital permitting experience!
This enhanced application empowers ADU applicants to:
- Obtain GIS integrated site conditions identification (Creeks, Supplemental Zoning, Base Zone, Location to Major Transit corridors)
- Answer essential project questions
- Fill out the Planning Basic Application project specific questions online
- Automatically populate Accela data for faster staff review
Designed with both efficiency and innovation in mind, this new tool not only simplifies the ADU permitting process — it also lays the groundwork for a unified City of Oakland ADU application that will eventually integrate building-related questions and workflows into a single, seamless experience.
In addition, we’re excited to announce the launch of the online Building Permit application — specifically designed for new construction projects including apartment buildings, mixed-use developments, commercial spaces, and other non-residential structures. This marks a major step forward in our commitment to delivering a more streamlined, intuitive, and accessible digital permitting experience for Oakland’s development community.
Key highlights of the new Building Permit application include:
- Elimination of the Building Worksheet (BW) requirement for new construction permit submissions
- Seamless completion of building application information
- Automatic population of Accela data for faster review and processing
Apply for your project today using our new Building Permit application:
These releases are a cornerstone of our broader digital transformation initiative aimed at:
- Bringing more permitting services online
- Reducing reliance on email communication
- Accelerating review turnaround times
- Making the permitting process more transparent and user-friendly
We’re proud to offer these new resources to developers, architects, and property owners across Oakland — and we’re just getting started. In the coming months, we’ll be rolling out direct online permit applications for alterations, repairs, and additions to existing buildings — further expanding our digital services and simplifying the path to project approval.
Stay tuned for more updates and thank you for helping us build a more connected Oakland!