City of Long Beach Building Department: Permits, Inspections, Plan Review and Official Contact
Building in Long Beach can involve the Permit Center, Building & Safety Bureau, Planning, Fire, Public Works, Health, online permitting, plan review, inspections, permit records and fee payment. A simple water heater, window replacement or re-roof may follow a different path than an ADU, tenant improvement, new construction project, structural remodel or commercial change of use. This guide brings the official City of Long Beach resources together in simple language so homeowners, contractors, architects, business owners and property buyers can avoid missed approvals, wrong permit routes and inspection delays.
Office
Building & Safety Permit Center, 411 W. Ocean Blvd., 2nd Floor, Long Beach, CA 90802.
Building phone
Call 562.570.PMIT (7648) for Long Beach building permit services.
Counter hours
Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 8–4, Wed 9–4. Closed daily Noon–1 PM.
Inspections
Building inspection requests must be scheduled online, not by phone.
Official City of Long Beach Building & Safety Links and Resources
Building & Safety Permit Center: 411 W. Ocean Blvd., 2nd Floor, Long Beach, CA 90802. Community Development Department footer address: 411 West Ocean Blvd., 3rd Floor, Long Beach, CA 90802. General LBCD phone: 562.570.LBCD (5223).
What the City of Long Beach Building & Safety Bureau Handles
The Building & Safety Bureau helps ensure buildings are designed and constructed to safeguard occupants and the public. It enforces regulations for fire prevention, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, accessibility, structural safety, natural hazards, energy efficiency and related building-code compliance.
The Building counter at the Permit Center issues and processes permits and plans for building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical construction on private property. Depending on your project, you may also need Planning, Fire, Health, Public Works, Utilities, Business License or Code Enforcement counter review.
Building permits
Used for construction, remodeling, structural changes, additions, ADUs, tenant improvements and other building-related work.
Trade permits
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are processed through Building & Safety routes when they apply to private property construction.
Plan review
Projects that are larger or more complex than express work generally require plan review before permit issuance.
Long Beach Permit Center Services and Counter Contacts
The Permit Center offers multiple counter services in one location so applicants can receive the approvals needed for construction and development projects.
Counter service | What it helps with | Official contact or next step |
|---|---|---|
Building | Building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits and plans on private property. | Call 562.570.PMIT (7648). |
Planning | Zoning rules, allowed uses, minimum development standards and planning questions. | Call 562.570.6194. |
Fire | Fire-related plan review and fire code construction permits. | Call 562.570.6208. |
Health | Food facility, public pool, cannabis construction/operation plans and health permits. | Call Environmental Health at 562.570.4132. |
Public Works / Utilities | Road excavation, curb installations, right-of-way work and sewer connection permits. | Call Public Works Services at 562.570.6784. |
Cashier | Permit, plan review and agency fee payments. | Call 562.570.PAID (7243) for fee payment questions. |
Code Enforcement | Substandard buildings, property maintenance, inoperative vehicles, weed abatement and land-use violations. | Call 562.570.CODE (2633). |
Business License | Business license and regulatory permit applications under the Long Beach Municipal Code. | Email LBBIZ@longbeach.gov or call 562.570.6211. |
Long Beach Online Permitting, Express Permits and Registered Contractor PINs
Long Beach online permitting is not a universal route for every project. The city explains that online permitting is available for certain registered licensed California contractors with a pre-authorized PIN and for minor/simple projects that do not require plan review.
Online permit topic | Official meaning | Practical step |
|---|---|---|
Registered contractor PIN | Online permitting is available to registered licensed California contractors with a pre-authorized PIN issued by the department. | Contractors without a PIN should review the registration instructions before relying on online permits. |
Building online permit | Used for eligible simple work such as window replacements and re-roofs where allowed. | Confirm the project does not require plan review before using the online route. |
Electrical permit | Used for eligible electrical upgrades. | Check whether the scope is simple enough for online processing. |
Mechanical permit | Online mechanical permitting is listed for residential units only. | For HVAC permits, the city notes to submit plot plan and CF1R to DV.permits@longbeach.gov. |
Plumbing permit | Used for eligible water heater or re-piping work. | Keep manufacturer, location and contractor information ready. |
Online payment and email permit | After approval, payment can be made online and the permit will be emailed. | Check email and spam folders after payment. |
Long Beach Plan Review, Project Submittals and Code Questions
Projects that do not qualify for simple permitting may require plan review. Long Beach Plan Review Service resources help applicants understand over-the-counter review, submitted plan review, building code questions and fire code questions.
Building code questions
Long Beach offers in-person appointment options for building code questions. Applicants are asked to provide the project address, brief project description and the type of code questions.
Fire code questions
Fire code appointments are available for fire code questions. For fire plan review contacts, the city lists the Fire counter and fire plan review resources.
Project-specific appointment
In-person appointments are generally available Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., excluding holidays.
USB/PDF submittals
The Building & Safety page says applications and materials are accepted as digital PDF files on a USB device for customer convenience.
How Long Beach Building Inspections Work
Long Beach certified inspectors verify residential and commercial projects for electrical, plumbing, mechanical and building safety compliance. The official inspection page is clear that phone requests for building inspections are not accepted.
Inspection item | Official guidance | Practical step |
|---|---|---|
Building inspection request | Building inspections must be scheduled online using the official form. | Do not call to request a building inspection; use the online scheduling route. |
Cancel inspection | Email DV-CancelInspections@longbeach.gov with name, project number and project address. | Cancellation email must be received by 8 a.m. on the inspection day. |
Health inspection | For Health inspections, contact 562.570.4132. | Food, public pool and regulated facility projects may need Health review/inspection. |
Fire inspection | For Fire inspections, call the Fire Inspector directly as indicated on the job/permit notice card. | Keep the job card available and call the correct Fire Inspector. |
Find inspector | The inspection page provides an address-based tool to locate the assigned inspector. | Use the project address to identify your assigned inspector. |
C&D debris recycling | Certain projects may require a waste diversion deposit that can be returned after proof of recycling. | Keep recycling receipts and diversion documentation organized. |
Long Beach Permit Status, Plan Review Status, Permit History and Records
Long Beach provides several official tools for checking plan review status, permit status, permit history and permit records. These are useful for owners, buyers, sellers, architects, contractors and real estate due diligence.
Record tool | What it provides | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
Plan Review Status | Basic information regarding the status of a project submitted to Building & Safety for plan check. | Use the project number provided when the application was screened and routed. |
Permit Status / Permit History | Basic information regarding projects created in the city system, including new applications and issued permit history. | Check project number, project description and inspection final dates. |
Permit Records | Historical or archival construction document records, such as certificates of occupancy, plot plans and reports where available. | Use project address to query available records. |
PRA request | Public Records Act request route for documents that cannot be found through online search. | Use when online records do not show what you need. |
Resource Center / Laserfiche | Architecturally drawn plans are not available online; the city directs users to the Permit Center Resource Center to view Laserfiche records. | Visit 411 W. Ocean Blvd., 2nd Floor to view certain plan records where available. |
Long Beach Building Permit, Plan Check, Inspection and Agency Fees
The official Fee Schedules page explains that the City Council approves biannual citywide changes to the Master Fees and Charges Schedule. For many construction projects, Long Beach says applicants could expect to spend about 2% of building costs on plan checks, permits, inspections and other agency fees.
Fee area | Why it matters | Practical step |
|---|---|---|
Building permit fees | Basic permit issuance and construction scope fees may apply. | Use the current official Building Permit & Plan Check Fees schedule. |
Plan check fees | Projects requiring plan review may include separate plan check fees. | Budget plan review costs before submitting complex projects. |
Inspection fees | Inspections are part of construction compliance and may be tied to the permit fee structure. | Avoid failed inspections by requesting inspection only when work is ready. |
Development impact fees | Certain projects may trigger impact or agency fees beyond simple permit costs. | Review development impact fee resources when project size or use changes. |
Payment questions | The Permit Center lists Cashier payment help. | Call 562.570.PAID (7243) for fee payment questions. |
Long Beach Building Standards Code and 2025 California Code Update
Long Beach enforces state and local building standards, including California Building Standards Code requirements and Long Beach Municipal Code provisions. The city’s Building Standards Code page explains that effective January 1, 2026, all projects must comply with the 2025 Edition of the California Building Standards Code and the Long Beach Municipal Code to receive approval.
Code topic | Official meaning | Practical step |
|---|---|---|
2025 California Building Standards Code | Effective January 1, 2026, projects must comply with the 2025 edition and LBMC. | Make sure plans reference the current code edition at time of submittal. |
Building, residential and existing building codes | California code parts cover building, residential and existing buildings. | Choose the correct code basis for new work, residential work or existing-building alteration. |
Electrical, mechanical and plumbing | California code parts include electrical, mechanical and plumbing requirements. | Coordinate trade drawings and permits with the main permit route. |
Energy and CALGreen | California code parts include energy and green building standards. | Include energy and green building documents where required. |
Local amendments | Long Beach also maintains local amendments and municipal code provisions. | Do not rely only on state code; check Long Beach local requirements too. |
Why Long Beach Building Permits Get Delayed
Most Long Beach permit delays happen because applicants choose the wrong permit route, miss Planning or Fire review, submit incomplete PDFs, use an old code cycle, forget contractor business-license requirements or schedule inspections before work is ready.
Common delay | What it usually means | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
Wrong permit route | Applicant used online/express route for work needing plan review. | Read Building Permits, Online Permitting and Plan Review pages before applying. |
Contractor issue | Contractor lacks valid CSLB license, Long Beach Business License or required workers’ comp proof. | Verify contractor documents before permit issuance. |
Planning missed | Use, zoning, setbacks, ADU, parking or development standards need Planning review. | Contact Planning counter early for use and zoning questions. |
Fire or Health missed | Fire protection, food facility, public pool, cannabis or regulated operations need separate review. | Check Fire and Health counters before submitting commercial projects. |
Old code reference | Plans were prepared under a code edition that is no longer current. | Use the Building Standards Code page before final plan submittal. |
Inspection not ready | Work was covered, incomplete, inaccessible or not matching approved plans. | Schedule online only when work is ready and approved documents are available. |
Long Beach Homeowner Building Permit Checklist
Homeowners in Long Beach should be especially careful with ADUs, remodels, re-roofs, window replacements, electrical upgrades, water heaters, seismic/structural work and tenant improvements for mixed-use or rental properties.
Homeowner project | What to check | Practical step |
|---|---|---|
Window replacement or re-roof | May qualify for online/express route if simple and eligible. | Confirm online permitting eligibility before starting. |
Water heater or re-piping | Plumbing permit route, contractor qualifications and inspection needs. | Use official online or permit-center resources depending on eligibility. |
Electrical service upgrade | Electrical permit, utility coordination, plan review needs and inspection. | Do not energize or cover work before required inspection approval. |
ADU or garage conversion | Building code, Planning/Zoning, parking, utilities, fire/life safety and plan review. | Use Building & Safety and Planning resources early, not after drawings are finished. |
Buying or selling property | Permit history, final inspection dates, certificate of occupancy and open records. | Use permit status/records tools and PRA route if records are not online. |
Contractor Tips for Faster Long Beach Permit Review and Inspections
Contractors can reduce delays by confirming Long Beach Business License status, workers’ compensation documentation, online PIN eligibility, plan review requirements and inspection readiness before submission.
Verify license documents
Long Beach permit issuance requires a valid California State Contractor’s License and active Long Beach Business License for contractors.
Use online permits only when eligible
Online permits are limited to registered licensed California contractors with a pre-authorized PIN and eligible simple projects.
Submit clean PDFs
Use clear digital PDFs on USB or required submission routes. Label sheets and plan files clearly.
Schedule inspections online
Long Beach does not accept phone requests for building inspections, so use the online scheduling form.
City of Long Beach Building Department Phone Number, Address and Map
Use the official City of Long Beach contact details below for building permits, plan review, inspections, permit status, records, code questions, appointments and fee payment routing.
Building & Safety contact
Building services: 562.570.PMIT (7648)
General LBCD: 562.570.LBCD (5223)
Fee payment questions: 562.570.PAID (7243)
Code Enforcement: 562.570.CODE (2633)
Permit Center address and hours
Building & Safety Permit Center
411 W. Ocean Blvd., 2nd Floor
Long Beach, CA 90802
Hours: Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM; Wed 9:00 AM–4:00 PM.
Lunch closure: Noon to 1:00 PM daily.
Map shows 411 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802. Building & Safety Permit Center services are on the 2nd Floor. Confirm appointment needs and current service hours before visiting.
City of Long Beach Building Department FAQs
These FAQs focus on the most common user searches around Long Beach building permits, inspections, online permitting, plan review, permit status, records, fees and official contact details.
QHow do I contact the City of Long Beach Building Department?
Call Building & Safety at 562.570.PMIT (7648). The Building & Safety Permit Center counter is located at 411 W. Ocean Blvd., 2nd Floor, Long Beach, CA 90802.
QWhat are Long Beach Building & Safety Permit Center hours?
Official Building & Safety hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Permit Center is closed daily for lunch from Noon to 1:00 PM.
QWhere do I apply for a Long Beach building permit?
Start with the official Building Permits page, Online Permitting page or Permit Center appointment page. The correct route depends on whether your project qualifies as online, express, over-the-counter or plan-review work.
QCan I schedule a Long Beach building inspection by phone?
No. The official Building Inspection page says Long Beach does not accept phone requests for building inspections. Building inspections must be scheduled online.
QHow do I cancel a Long Beach building inspection?
Email DV-CancelInspections@longbeach.gov with your name, project number and project address. The cancellation email must be received by 8:00 AM on the day of inspection.
QWho can obtain a Long Beach building permit?
Long Beach states that permits may be issued to a licensed contractor with a valid California State Contractor’s License and active Long Beach Business License, or to an eligible homeowner of a one- or two-family dwelling and related accessory building or structure.
QWhen does a Long Beach building permit become void?
The official Building Permits page states that permits become null and void if work is not commenced within 90 days of issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 90 days after work begins.
QWhere can I check Long Beach permit status?
Use the official Permit Status / Records page or Permit Status Inquiry page. Long Beach provides tools for plan review status, permit status/history and permit records, but not every address or record may be available online.
QAre architecturally drawn plans available online in Long Beach?
No. The official Permit Status / Records page states that architecturally drawn plans are not available online. Users should visit the Resource Center at the Permit Center, 411 W. Ocean Blvd., 2nd Floor, to search the Laserfiche database to view records where available.
QHow much should I budget for Long Beach building permit fees?
The Fee Schedules page says that for most construction projects, applicants could expect to spend about 2% of building costs on plan checks, permits, inspections and other agency fees. Always confirm with the current fee schedule.
QWhat code edition applies to Long Beach projects in 2026?
The official Building Standards Code page says that effective January 1, 2026, all projects must comply with the 2025 Edition of the California Building Standards Code and the Long Beach Municipal Code to receive approval.
QIs Building-Department.org the official City of Long Beach website?
No. Building-Department.org is an independent guide. Official permit applications, inspections, payments, approvals, records and code decisions must be handled through the City of Long Beach or its official systems.
Khushboo Bobade is a public records researcher and editorial writer specializing in government service documentation and construction permit systems.
Her research focuses on explaining building permits, inspection procedures, zoning regulations, and public permit records maintained by local government building departments across the United States.
Professional profile: View LinkedIn Profile
Check Permit Type, Estimate Fees, Prepare Inspections and Find Official Building Department Links
Use this free tool before applying for a building permit, booking an inspection, checking zoning rules, or searching permit records. It helps homeowners, contractors, landlords, buyers, and business owners understand the next step before visiting the official building department portal.
What building department task do you need help with?
Choose your goal. The tool will suggest the right next step, what to prepare, and which official page to check.
Before starting work, check whether your project needs building, zoning, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, right-of-way, or HOA approval.
Many portals require contractor registration, license details, insurance, plans, owner authorization, and inspection scheduling access.
Building Permit Type Finder
Select the project type to understand which permits or reviews are commonly required. Always confirm with the official local building department.
Permit Fee Estimate Calculator
Estimate a rough permit fee using project value and common percentage-based review assumptions. Local minimum fees, technology fees, impact fees, reinspection fees, and trade fees can change the final amount.
Inspection Readiness Checklist
Use this before scheduling framing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, roofing, final, or certificate-related inspections.
Zoning and Setback Pre-check
Use this before applying for a permit when your project may affect land use, setbacks, lot coverage, height, parking, signs, fences, accessory structures, or business use.
Plan Review Timeline Estimator
Estimate how complex your review may be. Local staffing, incomplete plans, corrections, holidays, fire review, zoning review, and outside agency review can change timing.
Permit Records Search Helper
Use this if you are trying to find old permits, inspection history, certificate of occupancy details, open permits, or code-related records.
Official Building Department Resource Finder
Enter city/county and state to create safe searches for official permit portals, inspection scheduling, building codes, zoning maps, forms, fees, and contact pages.
Building Department vs Planning/Zoning
- Building Department: permits, plan review, inspections, code compliance, certificates.
- Planning/Zoning: land use, setbacks, height, lot coverage, signs, parking, variances.
Best sitewide placement
Place this tool after the first main guide section or before FAQs. It turns a normal article into a practical permit-preparation page.
Important note
This tool gives educational guidance only. Final permit requirements, fees, inspections, forms, and deadlines must be confirmed with the official local building department.