Long Beach, California Building Permit Guide

The Building and Safety Bureau of Long Beach Community Development staffs the Permit Center at City Hall, 411 West Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802, where permits and plans for building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work on private property are issued; call 562.570.PMIT (7648), or the department at 562.570.LBCD (5223). The fee schedule and the web pages give different floors for the Bureau, so check the floor before visiting.

This guide covers the Long Beach Permit Center and its stations, the permit tracks, the fees effective Oct. 1, 2026 and building inspections.

What requires a building permit in Long Beach?

Long Beach has three permit tracks:

• Express Permits, no plans: window replacements, bathroom repairs, kitchen remodels and more.
• Over-The-Counter Plan Review: accessory dwelling units, residential patios, minor storefront alterations and more.
• Submitted Plan Review: new construction, additions and alterations to buildings.

Local building rules are in Title 18 of the Municipal Code, including Chapter 18.67 Construction and Demolition Recycling, Chapter 18.76 expedited EV charging station permits and Chapter 18.77 expedited solar photovoltaic permits. Certain projects pay a Construction and Demolition (C&D) recycling waste diversion deposit at permit issuance, returned on completion with proof of recycling.

California builds on one statewide code, Title 24, whose 2025 edition took effect on 1 January 2026; the editions in effect when the application is submitted apply, and cities and counties may adopt local amendments only with findings filed with the state (new residential amendments are largely frozen until June 2031). Title 24 and local amendments

Who handles permitting in Long Beach?

Permit Center hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Wednesday, closed daily for lunch from Noon to 1 p.m. Walk-ins are not accepted from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. or after 3:30 p.m., so book an appointment online.

Long Beach permit costs and fees

The new Master Fee and Charges Schedule fees took effect Oct. 1, 2026.

• Surcharges: a 6% Technology Surcharge and a 6% General Plan Surcharge on applicable fees, plus a $119.00 processing fee on each plan check and permit application.
• Plan review: standard review is 85% of the building permit fee, but not less than $154; expedited review, in half the turnaround time, is 2x the standard fee; miscellaneous plan review is $292 / hour.
• Flood review: work under the Chapter 18.73 flood damage prevention rules pays $297 per plan check.

How to get a building permit in Long Beach

A building permit carries a validity period and can expire if work does not start or stalls between inspections; confirm the expiry with the Long Beach Permit Center on phased or delayed work. Permit validity in California

Inspections in Long Beach

Building inspections must be scheduled online; phone requests are not accepted. Daily schedules are posted by 8 a.m., and cancellations must be emailed to DV-CancelInspections@longbeach.gov with name, project number and address by 8 a.m. on the inspection day. Inspection staff work 6:30 AM to 3:30 PM Monday to Friday and take calls from 3:00 to 3:30 p.m. If inspectors cannot safely reach the required areas, including with working ladders, the inspection is rescheduled. Health inspections are booked at 562.570.4132; for fire inspections, call the Fire Inspector directly.

Official Long Beach permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Long Beach Building and Safety
• Long Beach Permit Center
• Long Beach building inspections
• Long Beach Community Development fee schedules
• Long Beach building codes (Title 18)

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for a Long Beach building permit online?

Only registered licensed California contractors with a pre-authorized PIN, for minor projects. Others apply at the Permit Center, which accepts PDF files on a USB device.

How do I cancel a building inspection in Long Beach?

Email DV-CancelInspections@longbeach.gov with your name, project number and project address by 8 a.m. on the inspection day.

Does an ADU need submitted plans in Long Beach?

Accessory dwelling units are on the Over-The-Counter Plan Review track, where plans are reviewed at the counter.

Simplify Long Beach permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Work out which city counters and outside agencies the project has to go through
• Prepare and upload the application, plans and forms in the city’s portal
• Book the inspections and follow the permit through to final

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in California. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Long Beach permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.