How to Get a Building Permit in Los Angeles: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Why Building Permits Matter in Los Angeles

Every year, thousands of Los Angeles homeowners skip the permit process — and many of them pay dearly for it. Unpermitted work creates serious problems when you sell your home, can void your homeowner's insurance, and may require you to tear out and redo work at your own expense. Beyond the legal risk, permits protect you: the inspection process ensures that structural, electrical, and plumbing work meets California's safety standards.

At Archimod, we pull every permit required for every project we build. In this guide, we walk you through exactly how the building permit process works in Los Angeles.

Does Your Project Require a Permit?

Not every home improvement project requires a permit. In Los Angeles, permits are generally required for:

Any structural work (adding walls, removing bearing walls, adding rooms or stories)
Electrical work beyond simple fixture swaps
Plumbing modifications (adding, moving, or replacing supply or drain lines)
HVAC system changes or additions
ADU construction or conversion
New construction
Roofing (in most cases)
Window replacements that change the opening size

Projects that typically do NOT require permits include painting, flooring replacement, cabinet replacement (without structural changes), countertop replacement, and minor fixture swaps.

Which Department Issues Building Permits in Los Angeles?

Most unincorporated and city-of-LA properties go through the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). However, Los Angeles County contains 88 cities, each with its own building department. If you're in Pasadena, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, or another incorporated city, you'll work with that city's department — not LADBS.

Archimod identifies the correct jurisdiction for every project during our pre-design feasibility review.

Step 1: Determine What Permits You Need

Work with your architect or design-build firm to identify all permit types required for your project. Common permit types in LA include:

Building permit: Required for structural work and new construction.
Electrical permit: Required for panel upgrades, new circuits, and service changes.
Plumbing permit: Required for supply/drain modifications.
Mechanical permit: Required for HVAC systems.
Grading permit: Required for significant earthwork on sloped lots.

Step 2: Prepare Permit-Ready Plans

For most structural projects, you'll need stamped architectural and structural engineering plans. These typically include a site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections, structural details, and a Title 24 energy compliance report. Plan preparation takes 4–8 weeks for a typical residential project.

Tip: If your project qualifies, use LADBS's pre-approved ADU plan program to significantly speed up this step for ADU projects.

Step 3: Submit Your Application

LADBS accepts permit applications online through LADBS e-Permit for simple projects, and through an in-person or appointment-based plan check for more complex work. You'll submit your plans, application form, and pay applicable fees at this stage.

Step 4: Plan Check

LADBS plan checkers review your drawings for code compliance. For ADU projects, under 2026 law LADBS must make a completeness determination within 15 business days. For general building projects, plan check typically takes 6–14 weeks (standard) or 3–6 weeks (expedited review, available for an additional fee).

Plan checkers may issue a correction list — items that must be revised before the permit is issued. Your design team responds to corrections and resubmits until the plans are approved.

Step 5: Permit Issuance

Once plans are approved and fees paid, LADBS issues your building permit. Construction can legally begin. Your permit must be posted at the job site and be available for inspection at all times.

Step 6: Inspections During Construction

As construction progresses, LADBS inspectors visit the site to verify that work complies with approved plans and code. Required inspections typically include:

Foundation/slab inspection
Framing inspection
Rough electrical, plumbing, and mechanical inspections
Insulation inspection
Drywall nailing inspection
Final inspection

Work cannot be covered (e.g., drywall installed over framing) until the relevant rough inspection is approved.

Step 7: Certificate of Occupancy / Final Sign-Off

After the final inspection passes, LADBS issues a Certificate of Occupancy (for new construction or additions) or a final sign-off on the permit. Your project is officially complete and legal.

Let Archimod Handle the Permit Process for You

The permitting process in Los Angeles can feel daunting — but it's fully manageable with the right team. Archimod handles the entire permit process on your behalf, from preparing permit-ready drawings to responding to correction lists to scheduling inspections. Contact us at edward@archimod.co and let's take the stress out of your next project.