permits related faq

Can I as a homeowner apply for a construction permit?
A homeowner can obtain a permit and do the construction, alteration or repair on his/her house and accessory buildings or facilities thereto if the owner resides or will reside in the dwelling.

Do I need a permit to build a fence around my property?
A permit is not required for any type of fence under 3'6" in height.

A permit is required for a masonry or concrete fence over 3'6" in height, and for a fence of any other material over 10'0" in height. Please note that eventhough a permit may not be required, all fences must comply with the requirements of the L.A. Zoning Code.

How much is a building permit and what is it based on?
Building permit fees are calculated based on the valuation of the project. Please refer to the Los Angeles City Building Code section 91.107, or call our Customer Call Center for assistance.

I want to enlarge my house. How do I apply for a building permit?
A complete set of plans showing the proposed work is brought into the Department. A permit is issued after the plan are reviewed and approved by our plan check engineers. A complete set of plans includes:

		Site Plan
		Floor Plan
		Roof Plan
		Elevation of the building
		Section of the building
		Framing Plan
		Foundation Plan
		Architectural and Structural Details Plan

Can a homeowner prepare the drawings, obtain my building permit, and construct my own house or addition without consulting an architect/engineer/contractor?
Yes, if the house is one story, and will be built from plans based on the Department standard "TYPE V" sheet.

Is a plumbing permit required to replace my residential garbage disposer?
No.

Do I need a permit to change to a low-consumption toilet in my house?
No, when done as part of the City's "Water Conservation Retrofit Program" pursuant to the City's Water Conservation regulations. A non owner occupied single familly dwelling requires a permit obtained by a licensed plumbing contractor.

Is a plumbing permit required to replace my gas water heater in my single family dwelling?
Yes, unless the work is performened by a contractor that holds a valid Certificate of Registration from LADBS as a Certified Licensed Contractor (CLC). The CLC is limited to the replacement of a water heater of equivalent capacity in gallons, BTU rating, and vent capacity.

Is a permit required to install a domestic cooking range, broiler unit or domestic-type clothes dryer in my single family dwelling?
No.

When is a plumbing permit required for natural gas piping?
A plumbing permit is required for the installation of any gas piping except piping less than 6 feet in length between an existing gas outlet and a gas appliance in the same room.

How long do I have to obtain a plumbing permit once work has commenced in order to avoid any LADBS fines?
You have until 12:00 noon of the third day that the office of LADBS is open for public business.

Is a permit required for installing any portable ventilating, comfort-cooling or evaporative cooler equipment?
No.

How are changes to approved plans during construction handled by the Department?
Generally speaking, any changes to Departmentapproved plans shall be approved by the plan check engineer who reviewed and issued the permit. Sometimes, the changes can be handled over the counter on the some day it is brought in; other times, the changes may need to be resubmitted for further review with an additional plan check fee. In either case, it is always a good idea to first call the plan check engineer who issued the permit and ask for his/her help.

How long is a plan check application good for?
Plan check expires 18 months after the plan check fees are paid. However, within 30 days of its expiration, an extension of time to extend a permit application may be filed with the Department using a Request for Modification of Building Ordinances. The request may be filed with any Plan Check office, preferably with the office where the plan was checked. A fee of $100 shall accompany each request.

How long is a permit good for?
A permit expires, a) in two years from the date of its issuance, b) if no work has been started within six months from its issuance, or c) work has started but stopped for over six months.

However, within 30 days of its expiration, an extension of time to extend a permit may be filed with the Department using either modification Form 41 or Form 42. The request shall be filed with any Plan Check office if no work has been started, and with the inspection supervisor for the office where the project is located if work has been started. A fee of $100 shall accompany each request. An additional $65 fee is required if an inspection needs to be made pertaining to the request.

How many sets of plans do I need a) at the time of filing for plan check and b) at permit issuance?
For single family or duplex submittal, one set if the job is not in a hillside area, and two sets if it is.

For apartment or commercial project submittal, two sets of plans are required. If it is a Title 19 project, a third set is required for Fire Department review.

For residential project permit issuance, two sets of plans if the job is not in a hillside area, and three sets if it is.

For commercial project permit issuance, two sets of plans are required.

What is the current status of my plan check review?
Contact our Customer Call Center.

Why aren't the phone numbers of different Building and Safety office locations not listed on the web site?
"One Call to City Hall" -- City of Los Angeles established the 3-1-1 Call Center to serve as a single point-of-entry into the City for our telephonic customers. Call volumes are recorded and can be monitored by supervisors for quality control. Once a call is transferred to the appropriate Building and Safety office or staff member, the caller is free to get that number and call it directly the next time if they choose. Otherwise, you are encouraged to dial 3-1-1 or (866) 4LA-CITY/(866) 452-2489 for inside Los Angeles County or 213-473-3231 for outside Los Angeles County.