Building permits in Los Angeles County, California
Find the right authority before you build. Los Angeles County permitting follows California law — here is exactly who issues the permit and where to start.
County + cities (mixed)
Los Angeles County Public Works — Building & Safety
In unincorporated Los Angeles County, building permits are issued by LA County Public Works – Building & Safety (via the EPIC-LA online portal). Within the 88 incorporated cities (Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Pasadena, etc.) the city building department issues the permit.
Open the official permit portal →
Unincorporated-area permits and inspections are handled through the EPIC-LA portal (pw.lacounty.gov/permits/epicla).
Permit cheat-sheet (California rules)
| Project | Permit? | Authority | Typical fee | Timeline | Go / No-Go | Key notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) | Permit required | city | Permit and plan-check fees set by the local jurisdiction; state law limits impact fees on ADUs. Verify with the city building department. | ~3–6 months for full plan review; many cities offer pre-approved plans or over-the-counter review. | Generally allowed | State law (Gov. Code §65852.2) requires cities to approve ADUs ministerially by right in most zones; local design review is limited to objective standards. Local fees, setbacks, and coastal/historic overlays still apply. Exempt: By-right up to 1,200 sq ft (≤800 sq ft for a 1-bedroom unit) under state law. |
| 🪵 Deck / Porch | Conditional | city | Set by the city — typically a flat fee plus a valuation-based fee. Verify with the city building department. | Same-day Over-the-Counter for low decks (SF); 2–4 weeks elsewhere. | Generally allowed | Attached decks and any deck over 30 in above grade need a permit. SF issues Over-the-Counter permits for decks less than 10 ft above grade that meet setbacks. Exempt: Decks over 30 in (760 mm) above grade require a permit; lower decks are often exempt. |
| 🧱 Fence / Wall | Conditional | city | Usually no building permit under the height threshold; zoning setback rules apply. Verify locally. | SF: Over-the-Counter same day for fences over the threshold. | Generally allowed | Height and front-yard limits are set by local zoning; masonry or sight-obstruction fences near intersections may need review. HOA covenants may also apply. Exempt: No permit for fences under ~6 ft in side/rear yards (SF: ≤6 ft side/rear, ≤3 ft front exempt). |
| 🛖 Shed / Outbuilding | Conditional | city | No fee under the exemption; a permit fee applies if over the threshold. | Over-the-Counter / same day where a permit is required. | Generally allowed | Larger or occupied/serviced sheds require a building permit. Check local setbacks and HOA rules. Exempt: One-story detached accessory structure ≤120 sq ft is exempt (CBC R105.2). |
| 🪜 Basement Finish | Permit required | city | Valuation-based building permit fee. Verify with the city building department. | 2–6 weeks. | Generally allowed | Finishing a basement adds habitable space and triggers egress requirements (CBC R310); a sleeping room needs a code-compliant egress window. Exempt: N/A |
| 🚗 Garage / Carport | Permit required | city | Valuation-based fee; flat plus per-square-foot. Verify with the city building department. | 2–8 weeks. | Generally allowed | A new detached or attached garage requires a full building permit; conversions of an existing, legally established garage may be exempt if no structural change occurs. Exempt: N/A |
| ☀️ Rooftop Solar PV | Permit required | city | Electrical permit fee set by the city; state law requires streamlined review for agencies above 50,000 population. | Streamlined (often 1–3 days via SolarAPP+ where adopted); 2–4 weeks otherwise. | Generally allowed | Rooftop PV requires an electrical permit. California requires local agencies above 50,000 population to provide streamlined solar permitting. Exempt: N/A |
| 🌡️ HVAC Replacement | Permit required | city | Mechanical permit fee set by the city. Verify with the city building department. | 1–2 weeks. | Generally allowed | Furnace, AC, or heat-pump replacement requires a mechanical permit and California Title 24 energy compliance. Exempt: N/A |
| 🍳 Kitchen Remodel | Permit required | city | Building + electrical + plumbing permit fees. Verify with the city building department. | 2–6 weeks. | Generally allowed | Moving plumbing/electrical or walls triggers permits; California Title 24 appliance and ventilation requirements apply. Exempt: N/A |
| 🛁 Bathroom Remodel | Permit required | city | Building + plumbing + electrical fees. Verify with the city building department. | 2–6 weeks. | Generally allowed | Ventilation (Title 24) and waterproofing are required; relocating plumbing needs permits. Exempt: N/A |
| 🏗️ Room Addition | Permit required | city | Valuation-based building permit; impact fees may apply. Verify with the city building department. | 3–8 weeks. | Generally allowed | Expanding the footprint requires full plan review, zoning compliance with setbacks, and Title 24. Exempt: N/A |
| 🪟 Window / Door Replacement | Conditional | city | Permit fee if changing the opening; in-kind swap is often Over-the-Counter. | SF: same-day Over-the-Counter in-kind replacement. | Generally allowed | Changing the opening size or adding egress windows requires a permit; replacement must meet the energy code. Exempt: In-kind replacement (same size/location) typically needs no permit. |
| 🏘️ Roof Replacement | Conditional | city | Roofing permit fee set by the city; in-kind shingle re-roof may be Over-the-Counter. | SF: same-day Over-the-Counter reroofing. | Generally allowed | Re-roofing usually requires a permit; structural deck replacement triggers a full building permit. Exempt: Tear-off / re-roof is generally permitted work. |
| 🅿️ Driveway / Parking Pad | Conditional | city | No building permit for private flatwork; a right-of-way/curb cut needs a separate permit. | Varies. | Generally allowed | A curb cut or work in the public right-of-way requires a separate permit from the city / public works. Exempt: N/A |
| 🏊 Swimming Pool / Spa | Permit required | city | Building permit + electrical; fee set by the city. Verify with the city building department. | 3–8 weeks. | Generally allowed | Pools require a permit and a compliant barrier (CBC Chapter 42 / Health & Safety Code §115920): self-closing/self-latching gate and alarms. Exempt: N/A |
| 🧱 Retaining Wall | Conditional | city | No fee under the exemption; a permit applies if over the threshold. | 2–4 weeks if required. | Generally allowed | Walls over 4 ft or supporting a surcharge (deck, vehicle, structure) require design and a permit. Exempt: Retaining walls ≤4 ft (measured bottom of footing to top), not supporting a surcharge, are exempt (CBC R105.2). |