Building permits in the City of Los Angeles are issued by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). A LADBS permit is required for essentially any private-property construction, alteration, or repair, and the city runs a fully online process: ePlanLA for plan-check projects and PermitLA for express (no-plan-check) permits.
This Los Angeles building permit guide covers what requires a permit, how fees work, the ePlanLA/PermitLA submission process, trade permits, and inspections — so your LA project starts clean.
This guide covers the City of Los Angeles. LADBS permits only work within city limits; LA County's unincorporated areas and the 80+ other cities in the county (Long Beach, Glendale, Santa Monica, Pasadena and more) have their own building departments. Many LA projects also need sign-offs from City Planning (zoning), LAFD, Public Works, and LADWP.
What requires a building permit in Los Angeles?
Under the Los Angeles Municipal Code and the LA Building Code (based on the California Building Standards Code, Title 24), a permit from LADBS is required for most construction, alteration, and repair. Common triggers include:
Permit required
- New construction, additions, and tenant improvements
- Structural / load-bearing alterations and demolition
- Reroofing, window and door replacement, and exterior work
- Electrical service changes and most wiring alterations
- Mechanical / HVAC installations and changeouts
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, and water heaters
- Swimming pools, spas, retaining walls, and decks
- Solar PV, ADUs, and seismic retrofits
Typically exempt
- Painting, wallpaper, floor finishes, and cosmetic work
- Like-for-like minor repairs not altering structure or systems
- Certain low non-structural fences (confirm limits)
- Routine maintenance not extending or rerouting systems
Exemptions are narrow and scope-specific. When unsure, confirm with the building department before starting — see the penalty note below.
Get the permit issued before starting work. Work done without a permit triggers investigation fees and can require exposing finished work for inspection. Apply first through ePlanLA or PermitLA.
Who handles permitting in Los Angeles?
Permitting is administered by LADBS through its Construction Services Centers and online systems. Plan check ranges from Express Permits (no plan check) to Counter Plan Check (simple) to Regular Plan Check; California seismic standards apply throughout.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Construction Services Centers | Metro: 201 N. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (plus Van Nuys & West LA) |
| Phone | 311 (within LA County) / (213) 482-0000 outside; hours 7 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Online portals | ePlanLA (plan-check projects) + PermitLA (express permits) — Angeleno account |
| Plan review tracks | Express Permit · Counter Plan Check · Regular Plan Check |
| Other agencies | City Planning, LAFD, Public Works, LADWP, County Health as applicable |
| Enforced code | LA Building Code (California Building Standards Code / Title 24) |
Apply online with an Angeleno account. Use PermitLA for express permits that don't need plan check, and ePlanLA for projects that require electronic plan review — submittal, review, and issuance all happen online. In-person help is available at Construction Services Centers by appointment.
Los Angeles building permit cost
Los Angeles permit fees are calculated automatically by the LADBS e-Permit system based on the scope and valuation of work, with itemized fees shown before you pay. A plan-check fee is typically due at submission for projects requiring review.
Additional fees and clearances may apply from other city agencies (Planning, LAFD, Public Works, LADWP) and school-district fees on new construction. Confirm the calculated total in ePlanLA/PermitLA before budgeting.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building / construction fee | Auto-calculated by the e-Permit system from scope and valuation |
| Plan check fee | Due at submission for projects requiring plan review |
| Trade permits (E / P / M) | Charged separately per trade unless rolled into a combination permit |
| Other agency fees | Planning, LAFD, Public Works, LADWP, and school fees as applicable |
| Systems development / DWP | Utility and development fees on qualifying projects |
| Work-without-permit | Investigation fee plus possible exposure of finished work |
Want a precise number for a specific Los Angeles project? Send us the scope and valuation and we'll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
Los Angeles trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work generally needs its own permit and licensed contractor, each filed against the building permit.
Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, solar PV, and most wiring alterations. LA enforces the California Electrical Code (Title 24, Part 3).
Plumbing permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, water heater changeouts, fixtures, and gas piping. Fees are calculated by the e-Permit system with a per-permit minimum.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC changeouts, ductwork, and refrigeration. Specialized systems are permitted and inspected separately.
Miscellaneous & specialty
Reroofs, pools and spas, retaining walls, ADUs, and solar are permitted separately. As a high-seismic region, Los Angeles enforces strict structural and soft-story/seismic-retrofit requirements, and hillside and coastal properties have added rules.
Verify your contractor's license. California requires a licensed contractor for most work valued at $500 or more — confirm the license with the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) at (800) 321-2752 before signing. The property owner is responsible for ensuring a permit is obtained.
How to get a building permit in Los Angeles
Confirm scope & jurisdiction
Verify the work needs a permit and confirm the parcel is inside City of Los Angeles limits — not unincorporated LA County or a neighboring city. Check zoning and any hillside/coastal overlays.
Prepare your documents
Assemble the application, valuation, signed plans (with structural/seismic calcs where required), Title 24 energy compliance, and a survey for applicable projects.
Apply via PermitLA or ePlanLA
Use PermitLA for express permits, or ePlanLA for plan-check projects, signing in with your Angeleno account.
Plan check & corrections
For plan-check projects, LADBS reviews and issues correction items; resolve them and resubmit electronically. Coordinate other-agency clearances as needed.
Pay fees & issue the permit
Pay the e-Permit-calculated fees; the permit issues online. Post the permit and approved plans at the job site.
Schedule inspections through close-out
Request inspections through LADBS. Clear all required inspections to obtain final sign-off or a Certificate of Occupancy.
Inspections in Los Angeles
Request inspections through LADBS online or by phone using your permit number. Typical checkpoints include foundation, rough-in MEP, framing, insulation, and final; deputy/special inspectors may be required for certain structural work.
Keep the permit and approved plans on site. A re-inspection fee applies to failed inspections and must be cleared before final approval or a Certificate of Occupancy.
Official Los Angeles permitting resources
- 🏛️ Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety
- 💻 ePlanLA / PermitLA
- 💵 Building permit fees
- 📘 Building permits & codes
- 🪪 California Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
- 🗺️ Los Angeles City Planning (zoning)
Simplify Los Angeles permitting with Alliance Permitting
Los Angeles's three plan-check tracks, seismic requirements, and multi-agency clearances reward applicants who submit clean, correctly-routed packages. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for Los Angeles — our permit expediting services pair AI-driven document review with experts who know ePlanLA, PermitLA, and the LADBS process, so your LA submissions move faster.
Trusted by leading builders and brands — including Dream Finders Homes, Tesla, Verizon, Hyatt, and Sunnova.
Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Los Angeles because we deliver:
- Local expertise — we know LADBS, ePlanLA/PermitLA, seismic review, and other-agency clearances.
- Complete oversight — track every permit and inspection across all your jobs in one place.
- Error-free submissions — AI pre-checks plus expert review catch issues before they become correction cycles.
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the building department through issuance — including preparing private-provider documentation where that option is available. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your team and the jurisdiction.
Ready to break ground in Los Angeles sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Los Angeles permits while you stay focused on building. Get a free, no-obligation quote today.
More California permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of June 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety before filing. This is not legal advice.