PERMIT DRAWINGS · SAN JOSE, CA
Permit drawings in San Jose, CA, at a fixed price
San Jose sits in Seismic Design Category D, so most new structures here need engineered shear walls on top of the architectural set. We draw the set to what the Planning, Building & Code Enforcement reviews, coordinate with your engineer, and quote it all in writing within 2 working hours.
- ✓ Plan check here: about 5 weeks
- ✓ Energy forms for climate zone 3C
- ✓ SDC D: engineer coordination included
- ✓ Corrections answered free
What permit drawings cost in San Jose
A permit set for a project in San Jose, CA costs $1 per square foot of drawn floor area, with a $1,200 minimum, or $195 per sheet for new construction under 1,200 sq ft. That's our drawing fee only. San Jose's own permit and impact fees for a new ADU ran about $10,000 to $24,500 in our research (July 2026), paid to the city.
Residential permits here are reviewed by the Planning, Building & Code Enforcement, phone (408) 535-3500. Plan check takes about 5 weeks for a typical residential submittal, so from ordering drawings to first comments, plan on roughly 7 weeks.
| Project | Drawn area | Fixed fee | What sets the fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage conversionProject minimum | 400 sq ft | $1,200 | Project minimum |
| New ADU at San Jose's 1,200 sq ft cap$1 per sq ft | 1,200 sq ft | $1,200 | $1 per sq ft |
| Addition with existing rooms shown$1 per sq ft | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 | $1 per sq ft |
Local data last checked .
What makes a San Jose permit set different
California's energy code is stricter than the national model code, and climate zone 3C sets the insulation, window and HVAC targets your drawings have to show in San Jose.
Seismic Design Category D means new structures and large openings in bearing walls usually need engineered shear walls, hold-downs and a structural engineer's calculations, so plan for an engineer on anything beyond interior work.
For ADUs, San Jose allows up to 1,200 sq ft and 25 ft in height, per our research. An ADU at that cap is billed at $1 per sq ft, so $1,200 for the drawings.
Properties in historic districts go through design review on top of the building permit, which adds a step before plan check.
The full sheet list, and what our fee does and doesn't cover, is on the permit sets page. In San Jose, the sheets that change are the site plan, the Title 24 forms for climate zone 3C and the structural sheets your engineer seals.
Submitting in San Jose
You (or your contractor) submit through San Jose's permit portal. We deliver print-ready PDFs set up for electronic submittal, plus native DWG files.
When the reviewers send comments, forward the correction letter. We revise free, as many rounds as it takes, within the scope you approved.
Questions people ask before they order
How much do permit drawings cost in San Jose?
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At ArchWorkPro, $1 per sq ft of drawn area with a $1,200 minimum, or $195 per sheet for new construction under 1,200 sq ft. City permit and impact fees for a new ADU here ran about $10,000 to $24,500 in our research, paid separately to the city.
How long does plan check take in San Jose?
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About 5 weeks for a typical residential submittal, per our research in July 2026. Confirm with the Planning, Building & Code Enforcement at (408) 535-3500, since workloads change.
Do I need an engineer in San Jose?
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For most new structures, yes. Seismic Design Category D means engineered lateral design for new buildings and large openings in bearing walls. You hire the engineer; we draft to their design.
Which energy forms does San Jose want with the drawings?
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Title 24 compliance forms (CF1R) for climate zone 3C, under the California Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6). We prepare them with the set.
How big can an ADU be in San Jose?
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Up to 1,200 sq ft, 25 ft tall, per our research. Confirm current limits with the city before you design; we check them when we quote.
Related: What is in a permit set · For owner-builders · ADU plans · Visalia, CA · Los Angeles, CA · Fresno, CA · Irvine, CA · Chula Vista, CA · Stamp rules in California · All cities
Get your San Jose permit set quoted
Send the address, a sketch and rough dimensions. Within 2 working hours you get a fixed fee, the sheet list and a delivery date.
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