How long a project takes, and what changes it
National data on how long homes actually take, how long Salem takes to review plans, and the five factors that move a schedule.
Updated 23 August 2026 · AY Carpentry & Interiors, Salem, Oregon
Key takeaways
- Nationally, a single family home took 9.1 months on average from authorisation to completion in 2024: 1.4 months to get from permit to start, then 7.6 months of construction.
- Contractor built homes on the owner's land, the category most custom homes fall into, averaged about 12 months. In the Pacific division the average was 10.8 months.
- In Salem the normal residential plan review timeline is 10 working days, and review only starts once fees are paid and plans are uploaded.
- An Oregon building permit expires if work does not start within 180 days of issue.
That depends on the size of the project and how much of it is design, permitting and structural work. We will walk you through the construction process, the budget and the timeline for your specific project.
What the national data shows
The US Census Bureau's Survey of Construction tracks how long homes actually take, from the month a permit is issued to the month the house is finished. The 2024 figures are the most useful reference point a homeowner has, because they separate production builders from custom work.
| Category | Average months, permit to completion | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| All single family homes | 9.1 | 1.4 months from authorisation to start, then 7.6 months building |
| Built for sale | 7.6 | Production builders repeating a plan they have built before |
| Contractor built on owner's land | 12.0 | The closest match to a custom home |
| Built for rent | 12.5 | |
| Owner built | 15.1 | The homeowner acting as their own general contractor |
| Pacific division average | 10.8 | Oregon, Washington, California, Alaska, Hawaii |
Source: US Census Bureau, Survey of Construction 2024, as analysed by NAHB. These are national and divisional averages, not a schedule for your project.
The part before anything is built
Design decisions and permitting happen before construction, and they are part of the timeline even though nothing on site looks like it is moving. In Salem, the normal review timeline for residential permits is 10 working days, and the clock starts the next working day after fees are paid and plans are uploaded, not when you first make contact.
Once a permit is issued, Oregon gives you 180 days to start the work before the permit expires. That is one reason we do not pull permits before selections and drawings are settled.
What changes the number
| Factor | Effect on schedule |
|---|---|
| Size and scope of the project | A kitchen, a full house remodel, an addition and a new custom home are four different lengths of work |
| How much is structural | Structural modifications and challenging construction conditions add both work and review |
| Plan review cycles | Every correction and resubmission restarts a review clock |
| Selections | Trades cannot install what has not been chosen and ordered |
| Trade sequencing | Coordinating multiple subcontractors is what keeps phases from colliding |
Source: Factors from the problems AY Carpentry and Interiors solves; review timing from the City of Salem.
Where the months actually go
The Census figure of 9.1 months for the national average splits into two parts: about 1.4 months between the permit being authorised and construction starting, then about 7.6 months of building. For contractor built homes on an owner's land, the category most custom homes fall into, the total averaged about 12 months. None of that includes the design work that happens before a permit application exists.
What Salem publishes about review
| Stage | What the City of Salem states | Practical effect |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Plans uploaded and plan review fees paid | The review clock does not start until both are done |
| Residential plan review | Normal timeline of 10 working days | Two working weeks, not two calendar days |
| Corrections | Resubmission follows the same route | Every correction cycle is another wait |
| Permit issued | Oregon permit expires if work is not started within 180 days | One reason to permit once selections are settled |
| Inspections | Requested at each stage of the work | A missed inspection can mean opening finished work back up |
Source: City of Salem building permit guidance and Oregon Building Codes Division. Local review queues vary with volume.
Why schedules slip
Almost every delay we see traces back to one of five things, and four of them are decided before anyone picks up a hammer.
| Cause | When it is decided | What it does to the schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Incomplete drawings at submission | Design | Correction cycles, each one a fresh review wait |
| Selections not made | Design | Trades wait on materials that were never ordered |
| Scope added mid project | Construction | Work already finished is reopened |
| Existing conditions discovered | Construction | Structural repair that was not in the original plan |
| Trades arriving out of sequence | Construction | One trade blocks the next, and rescheduling a subcontractor is rarely immediate |
Source: Causes reflect the problems AY Carpentry and Interiors solves for homeowners, including coordinating multiple subcontractors and trades.
What a homeowner can do to protect the schedule
Three things, in order of how much they help. Settle the scope before the permit set is drawn. Make selections early, including the ones that feel far away, because cabinetry, tile and windows all have lead times. Then leave the sequencing to the contractor, because the order that looks inefficient from outside is usually the order that keeps two trades from standing in the same room.
Keeping it clear
Our goal is to make a complicated construction project feel organized, transparent, and manageable for the homeowner. That includes helping homeowners understand the construction process, the budget and the timeline for their own project, rather than a national average. Schedule a consultation and we will map yours.
Frequently asked
How long will my project take?
That depends on the size of the project and how much of it is design, permitting and structural work. We will walk you through the construction process, the budget and the timeline for your specific project.
How long does a custom home take on average?
In the 2024 Census Survey of Construction, single family homes averaged 9.1 months from authorisation to completion nationally. Contractor built homes on an owner's land, the closest category to a custom home, averaged about 12 months, and the Pacific division averaged 10.8 months.
How long does plan review take in Salem?
The City of Salem states a normal review timeline of 10 working days for residential permits, with the clock starting the next working day after plan review fees are paid and plans are uploaded.
How long is an Oregon building permit valid before work starts?
An Oregon building permit expires if work is not started within 180 days of its issue, according to the Building Codes Division.
How long does the design and permitting stage take?
It varies with the project, and it sits outside the construction figures. Nationally, the Census Survey of Construction recorded about 1.4 months between a permit being authorised and construction starting in 2024, on top of the design work that happens before an application exists.
What is the main cause of construction delays?
Incomplete drawings at submission, selections not made, scope added mid project, conditions discovered on site, and trades arriving out of sequence.
How long did construction itself take in 2024?
About 7.6 months on average from start to completion for a single family home, according to the US Census Survey of Construction, with 9.1 months from authorisation to completion.
Can I speed my project up?
The three things that help most are settling the scope before the permit set is drawn, making selections early because of lead times, and leaving trade sequencing to the contractor.
Sources
- US Census Bureau, Survey of Construction, length of time from start to completion, 2024. www.census.gov
- NAHB analysis of Census Survey of Construction data, 2024. eyeonhousing.org
- City of Salem, Building permit and land use fees. www.cityofsalem.net
- Oregon Building Codes Division, About Oregon residential building permits. www.oregon.gov
Contact us to discuss your upcoming project.
Custom home, whole-home remodel, major addition, or a high-end kitchen or bathroom renovation. Call, email or send us a message and we will schedule a consultation.