Permits are required in the City of Oakland either to operate a business or perform construction on buildings or structures. The permitting process will vary based on your project. For detailed information on the permitting process, please visit the Planning and Building Permits webpage.
Please note that each of the following durations from permit application submittal to permit issuance presumes complete information in the permit application.
Planning / Zoning Counter:
- Design Review Exemptions (DRX) require up to 8 weeks
- Small Project Design Review (DS) requires up to 16 weeks
- Determination Letters (DET) require up to 4 weeks
- Zoning Clearance (ZC) reviews require up to 3 days
- Creek Protection Applications require up to 16 weeks
- Development-Related Tree Removal Permit review requires up to 16 weeks
- Building Permit Revisions that require Planning review require up to 4 weeks
Planning/Zoning Division & Development Planning Division:
- Administrative Case Reviews, including Minor Conditional Use Permits (CUPs), Design Review, and Minor Variances take 8-12 months
- Administrative Case Reviews, including Minor Subdivisions take 9-12 months
- Planning Commission Cases, including Major CUPs, Major Variances, and Major Subdivisions (TTMs) take 9-12 months
- Development Planning Projects, including PUDs, rezonings, and complex CEQA documents take 12-36 months
Building:
- Mechanical, Electrical or Plumbing Permits (MEPs) are now same-day, with complete application and fees paid (EXCEPT MEPs for Cannabis manufacturing or high-rise projects, which are processed within the timeframe of the overall project application -- see Rapid Permits for details)
- SolarAPP+ Energy Systems are same-day, with complete application and fees paid
- Non-SolarAPP+ Energy Systems take up to 2 weeks for review
- OTC (Over the Counter) Permits take up to 4 weeks
- OTC Permits requiring Plan Check take up to 7 weeks
- Permits requiring assigned Plan Check take up to 7 weeks for creation and submittal review
- Windows, Kitchen/Bath remodels with NO wall change, water heater replacement, and no Plan Check required (requires no appointments) take up to 2 weeks for review
- Review of assigned Plan Checks take up to 5 weeks
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) requiring assigned Plan Checks take up to 5 weeks for creation and assignment
- Final Plan Check (after Plan Check approval) takes up to 5 weeks
- Issuance of permits: once payment is received, Final Plan Check is completed, signed declarations have been returned, fire and construction and recycling is completed, takes up to 5 days
How to Obtain Status on Your Permit:
- Watch our Check Your Permit Status Online video for instructions on how to find the latest status of your permit application through our Online Permit Center (for selected permit types only)
