Choose Express Permit or ePlanLA, Clear Zoning Holds and Pass LADBS Inspections
Los Angeles does not use one permit route for every project. Simple work that needs no plan check may qualify for an online Express Permit. Remodels, additions, ADUs, commercial improvements, structural work and new buildings normally move through ePlanLA.
This guide helps you confirm City jurisdiction, research the parcel, choose the right filing path, prepare local clearance documents, calculate fees, find the correct Development Services Center and close every inspection without leaving an open permit.
Choose the Exact Los Angeles Building Task
City of Los Angeles or Los Angeles County?
Property is inside Los Angeles city limits
Use LADBS for building permits, plan review, inspection and City building records. Use Los Angeles City Planning for zoning and entitlement work.
Property is in unincorporated Los Angeles County
Use Los Angeles County Public Works Building and Safety and the EPIC-LA permit system instead of LADBS.
LADBS Phone Numbers, Metro Address and Service Centers
Development Services Center |
Address |
Main services |
Published office pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
Metro |
201 and 221 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 |
Permits, records, all plan-check types, inspections, enforcement, case management and trade licensing |
Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 7:30–4:30; Wed 9:00–4:30 |
Van Nuys |
6262 Van Nuys Blvd., 2nd Floor, Room 251, Van Nuys, CA 91401 |
Permits, records, counter/expanded/regular plan check and inspection |
Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 7:30–4:30; Wed 9:00–4:30 |
West Los Angeles |
1828 Sawtelle Blvd., 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90025 |
Express permit, counter/expanded/regular plan check and plan submittal |
Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM |
South Los Angeles |
8475 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90044 |
Express permit, counter plan check, plan submittal and code enforcement |
Published service days include Tuesday and Thursday, with midday closure |
San Pedro |
638 S. Beacon St., Room 276, San Pedro, CA 90731 |
Express permit, counter plan check, plan submittal, inspection and enforcement |
Tuesday/Thursday 7:30–12:00 and 1:00–4:00 |
Express Permit, Counter Plan Check or Regular Plan Check?
Express Permit
For qualifying simple projects that do not require plan review. Eligible work may be permitted online or at a Development Services Center.
Possible examples: Certain reroofs, trade replacements and limited repair work.
Counter Plan Check
For modest projects that can be reviewed at a counter. Small-to-medium projects may use Metro, Van Nuys or West LA when they meet counter qualifications.
Bring: Complete plans, calculations, application data and clearance information.
Regular Plan Check
For large, complex, structural, commercial or multidisciplinary projects. Regular reviews are assigned to plan-check engineers and completed electronically.
Do not rely on a fixed timeline: Review depends on workload, complexity and corrections.
Simple electrical, plumbing or HVAC replacement
Check whether it qualifies for an online Express Permit. A new system, changed capacity, new service, complex distribution, engineering or multiple work types may require plan review.
Check Express Permit qualificationsInterior remodel with no change of use
Prepare existing and proposed floor plans, structural details and each trade scope. Verify whether the work qualifies for counter review or must be submitted through regular ePlanLA review.
Addition, ADU or garage conversion
Use ePlanLA. Confirm zoning, setbacks, lot coverage, parking, utility, address, grading, fire-access, energy and site-specific standard-plan requirements before final plans.
Open LADBS ADU resourcesCommercial tenant improvement or new business
Verify the proposed use first. Prepare an accessibility and exiting plan, occupancy information, energy documents, trade plans and required Planning, Fire, Health, Housing or Public Works clearances.
Hillside, grading, retaining wall or wildfire-area project
Expect site-specific grading, soils, drainage, haul-route, fire-hazard, access, protected-tree or hillside construction requirements. Use ZIMAS and Atlas before commissioning final engineering.
Old permit, unpermitted work or Order to Comply
Search the permit and inspection history, obtain available approved plans, identify the exact Order to Comply and ask a qualified design professional whether the work can be legalized or must be removed.
How to Apply for a Los Angeles Building Permit Through ePlanLA
Research the property before drawing the project
Use Atlas, the Permit and Inspection Report and ZIMAS to review building records, zoning, overlays, fault zones, methane areas, hillside conditions, planning cases and Certificates of Occupancy.
Confirm the legal use and exact project scope
State whether the project is a repair, remodel, addition, conversion, ADU, new building, demolition, grading or change of use.
Choose Express Permit, counter review or ePlanLA
Use the Express route only when the project qualifies and does not require plan check. Plan-review projects are submitted electronically through ePlanLA.
Prepare the complete electronic plan set
Combine drawing sheets into the required plan PDF. Upload calculations, reports, certificates and other supporting material as separate properly labeled documents.
Pass application screening
LADBS first checks whether the application and files are complete enough to assign for plan review.
Respond to every plan-check correction
Prepare a numbered response letter, revise the affected sheets and submit one coordinated replacement set.
Clear outside agencies and City departments
A project may require Planning, Fire, Public Works, Transportation, Housing, LADWP, Cultural Affairs, Health, Air Quality, LAUSD, oil-and-gas or other approvals.
Complete Ready-to-Issue permit requirements
After plan approval, identify the owner, agent or contractor obtaining the permit, upload required license and insurance documents and pay final fees.
Documents to Prepare Before Opening ePlanLA
Property and ownership
- Exact City address
- Assessor parcel number
- Legal description
- Owner information
- Owner authorization
- Existing occupancy/use
Project and professionals
- Detailed scope of work
- Project valuation
- Architect/engineer details
- Contractor information
- Trade contractors
- Special inspectors
Technical package
- Plot or site plan
- Existing/proposed plans
- Structural calculations
- Energy documents
- Soils/grading reports
- Product approvals
Use ZIMAS Before Assuming the Project Is Allowed
Base zoning
Record the parcel’s zone, height district and General Plan land-use designation.
Overlays and special districts
Check Historic Preservation Overlay Zones, Specific Plans, Community Design Overlays and other supplemental controls.
Environmental and hazard layers
Use ZIMAS and Atlas to identify hillside, fault, methane, flood, fire-hazard and other mapped conditions.
Planning cases
Review prior entitlements, conditions, variances and case numbers attached to the parcel.
Coastal and historic review
Check whether Coastal Zone or historic-resource procedures affect demolition, additions or exterior changes.
Automatic zoning routing
Projects requiring Zoning Plan Check are routed from LADBS to City Planning through ePlanLA.
Search the exact address → open Planning and Zoning → record zone and height district → review overlays and special-plan links → inspect case history and hazard information → save the parcel report for the design team.
What Common Los Angeles Projects Need Before Plan Check
Project |
Likely route |
Local documents and dependencies |
|---|---|---|
Reroof |
Express or plan check |
Roof assembly, cool-roof compliance, structural conditions and fire-hazard requirements where applicable |
Windows or exterior doors |
Express or building review |
Opening details, safety glazing, energy compliance, emergency escape and historic/HPOZ review where applicable |
Interior remodel |
Counter or regular review |
Existing/proposed plans, structural scope, energy, smoke/CO alarms and all affected trades |
Room addition |
ePlanLA |
Plot plan, setbacks, lot coverage, structural calculations, energy, grading/drainage and utility clearances |
ADU or garage conversion |
ADU plan review |
Site adaptation, zoning, address, utilities, fire access, parking rules and standard-plan limitations |
Swimming pool or patio cover |
Standard plan or plan check |
Plot plan, setbacks, structural details, pool barrier and available pre-approved Standard Plans |
Hillside addition or retaining wall |
Grading/structural review |
Soils report, grading quantities, drainage, slope stability, fire access and hillside construction limits |
Commercial tenant improvement |
Commercial plan check |
Occupancy, accessibility, exiting, Fire, energy, plumbing fixtures, Health and possible change-of-use review |
New business in existing space |
Use and occupancy pre-check |
Certificate of Occupancy, zoning, parking, Fire, ADA and business-specific agency approvals |
Demolition |
Demolition filing |
Utilities, asbestos, sewer cap, protected trees, historic review, tenant/housing and site-security requirements |
How to Request and Pass an LADBS Inspection
Confirm the permit is issued
Construction may begin after permit issuance, but only within the approved permit scope.
Complete the correct construction stage
Do not request framing, rough trade, insulation, drywall or final inspection until every prerequisite shown on the inspection record is ready.
Request the inspection online or by phone
Use LADBS Online Services, dial 311 inside Los Angeles or call 213-473-3231 from outside the area.
Keep regulated work visible
Do not cover framing, structural connections, wiring, piping, ducts, waterproofing or other concealed work before acceptance.
Provide safe access
Unlock gates and units, provide required ladders or access systems and keep the work area clear enough for inspection.
Read every correction before rescheduling
Correct all items. A field change that differs from approved plans may require a formal plan revision rather than another inspection request.
Complete every final and sign-off
Confirm building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, grading, Fire, elevator, pressure-vessel and special-inspection sign-offs when applicable.
Virtual inspection
Eligible inspections may be completed remotely. Confirm that the inspection type and site technology meet LADBS requirements.
Off-hour inspection
Use the official request process when work requires inspection outside standard hours. Additional charges apply.
Cancel promptly
Cancel through online services, 311, 888-524-2845 or the assigned inspector when the work will not be ready.
How to Find Los Angeles Building Records
Atlas
Search parcels and buildings on a map and access permit, building and Certificate of Occupancy information.
Permit and Inspection Report
Search by property address to review permits and related inspections.
Search Online Building Records
Download available PDFs before requesting staff research or an in-person appointment.
Search all available online records first
LADBS Records generally produces documents that are not already available as downloadable PDFs.
Complete the Records Research Request Form
Identify the property, document type, approximate dates and known permit or application numbers.
Email the request when records remain missing
Send the completed form to Records.LADBS@lacity.org.
Use an appointment for in-person research
Records appointments are available at Metro, 201 N. Figueroa Street, Floor 1, Room 110, and Van Nuys, 6262 Van Nuys Boulevard, Floor 2, Room 251.
“Please provide records not available online for [address/APN], including the permit application, approved plans, Certificate of Occupancy, inspection history and final sign-off for permit/application [number or approximate year].”
How to Estimate Los Angeles Permit and Plan-Check Fees
Enter complete project data
- Permit type and work type
- Building use and occupancy
- New or altered square footage
- Complete project valuation
- Electrical, plumbing and mechanical items
- Grading, elevator or fire-sprinkler work
Budget beyond the base permit
- Plan-check fees
- Energy and administrative charges
- Planning or zoning fees
- School and development fees
- Clearance-agency charges
- Off-hour or extra-trip inspection fees
Los Angeles Construction and Demolition Hours
Day |
City-published general hours |
Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
Monday–Friday |
7:00 AM–9:00 PM |
Other permit, noise, project or neighborhood restrictions may be stricter |
Saturday |
8:00 AM–6:00 PM |
Check Hillside Construction Regulation areas and permit conditions |
Sunday |
No work permitted |
Do not assume quiet interior construction is automatically allowed |
What Common LADBS Statuses Mean
Fix Common Los Angeles Permit Delays
Problem |
Likely reason |
Best next action |
|---|---|---|
Address does not appear in LADBS |
Wrong jurisdiction, new address or incorrect format |
Check ZIMAS, Atlas and LA County jurisdiction before refiling |
Application remains in screening |
Wrong application, incomplete plans or unclear project scope |
Review the screening comment and upload a complete corrected package |
Plan review repeatedly returns |
Responses are incomplete or revised sheets conflict |
Use a numbered response letter and one coordinated plan set |
Plans are approved but permit is unavailable |
RTI clearance, contractor, insurance, signature or payment remains open |
Read the permit-issuance checklist and outstanding holds |
Inspection cannot be scheduled |
Permit is not issued, wrong inspection type or project is inactive |
Check permit status and contact 311 or the assigned inspector |
Inspector rejects changed work |
Field construction differs from approved plans |
Stop affected work and submit a formal revision |
Old plans are unavailable online |
Records are archived, restricted or not digitized |
Submit a Records Research Request to LADBS Records |
Construction complaint remains unresolved |
No official violation report or insufficient location details |
Submit through LADBS/311 and save the service-request number |
Do Not Consider the Los Angeles Project Complete Until These Items Are Confirmed
- City or County jurisdiction confirmed
- Atlas and ZIMAS research saved
- Legal use and occupancy confirmed
- Correct permit route selected
- Complete plan package submitted
- All corrections answered
- Planning and agency holds cleared
- Permit formally issued
- Approved plans kept on site
- Work stayed within approved scope
- All required inspections passed
- Special inspections certified
- Every trade permit finaled
- Outstanding violations resolved
- Certificate of Occupancy obtained when required
- Final LADBS record saved before final payment
LADBS Metro Development Services Center Map
Los Angeles Permit, Inspection, Zoning and Record Resources
Los Angeles Building Department FAQs
Where is the main Los Angeles Building and Safety office?
The Metro Development Services Center uses 201 and 221 N. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Express permits, records and plan-check services are primarily at 201 N. Figueroa, while major inspection units are at 221 N. Figueroa.
What is the LADBS phone number?
Dial 311 from inside Los Angeles. Call 213-473-3231 from outside the Los Angeles area. ePlanLA technical support is available at 213-275-3434.
How do I apply for a Los Angeles building permit?
Use LADBS Online Services for a qualifying Express Permit that requires no plan check. Use ePlanLA for remodels, additions, ADUs, structural work, commercial projects, new buildings and other projects requiring plan review.
How do I know whether to use City of Los Angeles or LA County?
Check the property in ZIMAS and confirm the jurisdiction. LADBS serves property inside Los Angeles city limits. Unincorporated county property generally uses Los Angeles County Public Works Building and Safety and EPIC-LA.
How do I search for Los Angeles building permits?
Use the LADBS Permit and Inspection Report for address-based permit and inspection history. Use Atlas for parcel, building, permit and Certificate of Occupancy information. Search Online Building Records for available document PDFs.
How do I schedule an LADBS inspection?
Request the inspection through LADBS Online Services, dial 311 inside Los Angeles or call 213-473-3231 from outside the area. Do not cover regulated work before it is inspected and accepted.
What are the allowed construction hours in Los Angeles?
The current general City schedule is Monday–Friday from 7:00 AM–9:00 PM, Saturday from 8:00 AM–6:00 PM and no construction or demolition work on Sunday. Hillside and permit-specific rules may be stricter.
How much does a Los Angeles building permit cost?
The amount depends on the permit type, project valuation, square footage, occupancy, plan review, trade work and agency clearances. Use the official LADBS Permit Fee Calculator and applicable fee schedules rather than a generic percentage estimate.
Can a Los Angeles homeowner pull their own permit?
An eligible owner may obtain certain permits as an owner-builder, but the owner accepts legal, safety, employment and inspection responsibilities. Structural design and regulated trade work may still require licensed design professionals and contractors.
How do I know an LADBS permit is fully closed?
Confirm that building and every related electrical, plumbing, mechanical, grading, Fire, elevator or specialty permit has the required final approval. Save the final Permit and Inspection Report and the Certificate of Occupancy when one is required.
Official Information Used for This Guide
Building-Department.org is an independent informational guide and is not the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety.
This page was rebuilt from LADBS Plan Review & Permitting, ePlanLA, Express Permit, Inspection, Atlas, Property Records, Development Services Center, Fee Schedule, Standard Plan, ADU and permitted-construction-hours resources, plus Los Angeles City Planning ZIMAS guidance.
Last reviewed: July 21, 2026.
Office schedules, fees, forms, codes, clearance procedures and portal functions can change. Confirm time-sensitive instructions with LADBS before traveling, paying fees, beginning construction or allowing a permit to approach expiration.
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.