You can visit one of our development centers and apply for your permit in person by making the required appointment through the BuildLA system.

A permit that does not require plans or plan check. Here is a link to a detailed list of express permits.

At our website LADBS.org under “Plan Review & Permitting” option in the carousel.

Most of the ADU Standard Plans have been pre-approved with various options. Some customization is possible, such as changes to window and door types and sizes, colors, etc. Approved standard plan floor plans can also be rotated.

Standard plans are intended to serve as a base design that has already been reviewed by the Department of Building and Safety for Building Code Compliance. However, each property is unique, and modifications / customizations to a pre-approved standard plan may be necessary. Any customization of a pre-approved standard plan must be completed by the plan’s owner. Please note that design changes may result in additional costs and could result in additional permitting review timelines, as revised portions of the plan will require City review.

One-time Approval. This approval is granted for fixtures and equipment that are custom made or installed at a specific job site. The evaluation and testing can often be performed at the location where the fixture/equipment is installed. Application for this type of approval may be filed by the building owner, installer, vendor, or manufacturer. The approval is for one time and for a specific location, and it cannot be used for another installation.

General Approval/Laboratory Approval. This approval is granted for fixtures and equipment to be used anytime and anywhere within the City. The testing and physical evaluation are usually done in an approved laboratory, unless a suitable site visit is prearranged. Application for this type of approval shall be filed by the manufacturer.

all

• Installation of one Residential Elevator; or
• Installation of one Cabled Traction Elevator; or
• Installation of one Hydroelectric Elevator. 

one

• Installation of Fire Sprinkler for a single Family Dwelling or Duplex.
• Installation of Fire Sprinkler in a Commercial Building that is a. Four (4) stories or less and b. No more than a total of four (4) hydraulic calculations. 
• Installation of fire Sprinkler in an Apartment that is a. Four (4) stories or less and; b. No more than a total of four (4) hydraulic calculations.

must

• Plumbing systems for buildings of 4 stories or less and up to 5 sheets of riser diagrams.

• The project is an apartment or commercial building; and
• The building is 2 stories or more; and
• The building is 4 units or more; and
• The project does not add new floor area; and
• The project must have no changes in use; and
• Only one building is allowed per plan check application.

When you receive an Order To Comply (OTC) stating that your property violates Code, read the order carefully to identify which items:

• require a permit
• find contact information for the inspector or supervisor
• determine what fees maybe applied and penalties if not paid on time
• determine appeal procedures

The current property owner is responsible for complying with the Order, even if previous owners or tenants have performed the un-permitted work or created the violation.

Refer to the Obtaining Permits to Resolve Orders (.pdf) information bulletin for more detail.

LAMC 12.22 A.33(b)(3) states that a MTH shall be approved if in compliance with all of the provisions in Paragraph (c), except for those provisions that apply solely to buildings and  structures (as well as all of the provisions in Paragraph (f)). This is because MTHs are not considered “structures” under the Zoning Code or Building Code. The following standards in  LAMC 12.22 A.33(c) do not apply to MTHs, as they apply solely to buildings and structures (LADBS may determine that other standards do not apply to MTHs):

• Building Code regulations (LAMC Section 12.22 A.33(c)(9))
• Fire sprinkler requirements (LAMC Section 12.22 A.33(c)(10

1. The City Clerk's office will assign a number, date stamp and log in your claim. They will then send it to Building and Safety, Financial Services for review.
2. Financial Services staff will also log it in. The refund will be forwarded to the applicable division for refund recommendation. For example, if the refund is for a building permit, requests will be sent to our Plan Check Engineers and our Building Inspectors. Our Department staff will review the refund requests and make appropriate recommendations. These recommendations will be sent back to Financial Services.
3. Financial Services staff will complete the audit on the claim, make the necessary calculations and set up either the refund or the denial letter. When completed, the refund or denial letter will be mailed to the claimant.

If you disagree on how the code is being applied to your specific situation, discuss the matter with the Inspector or the Inspector's immediate supervisor.

If the issue is not resolved, you have the right to Appeal to the Board of Building and Safety Commissioners. Further information on Appeal rights are on the Order.

For the purpose of implementing LAMC 12.22 A.33, dwelling, primary dwelling, or primary residence mean any single-family or multifamily dwelling

Mixed-use zone refers to any zone classification that allows for both residential and nonresidential uses on the same lot.

Exceptions for products without proper approval are considered by the Structural Plan Check Division. See your plan checker and plan check supervisor regarding the process and fees required for an administrative approval.

A single-family dwelling or use means a Dwelling, One-Family. A multifamily dwelling or use means any Structure with more than one Dwelling Unit or Guest Room, and used for long-term dwelling. Transient short-term rental uses established or used for less than 30 days are not considered dwellings for the purpose of implementing LAMC 12.22 A.33. Areas zoned for these uses means zones in which these uses are a permitted use in the respective zone classification.

Car share means a vehicle rental program designed for people to rent vehicles for short periods of time, such as a few hours, pay only for their usage, and access the car at any hour, not just  during business hours. The vehicles may be commercially or personally owned. Commercial car share companies generally offer a fleet of vehicles which may be picked up and returned to a designated parking spot, or are picked up and returned to non-designated parking spots. Personal vehicle sharing (peer-to-peer car sharing) allows private car owners to make their vehicles available for rental.

Some car share companies operating in Los Angeles include, but are not limited to: BlueLA, Zipcar, Ryde, Waive, Getaround, Transfr, PiTcarz, Maeve, Turo, Envoy, and  Animo. For the purposes of determining the applicability of this parking exemption, pick-up and drop-off locations are provided by the ADU applicant and verified online. If LADBS staff has  questions on information an applicant supplies to demonstrate a car share program or location, they should consult with the Department of Transportation.

The aim of LADBS Code Enforcement is to preserve and enhance the safety, appearance and economic stability of our community through the diligent enforcement of applicable ordinances and land use regulations. It maintains Los Angeles Municipal Codes (LAMC) by issuing an Order to Comply (OTC) to the property owner and any other person in control of a property who violates or causes or permits another person to violate any provision or requirement of the LAMC.

The OTC is essentially a warning letter with a time frame for voluntary compliance. The OTC describes the violation(s), instructions to remedy the violation(s) and warnings of possible penalty fees and criminal prosecution. Violation of the LAMC is a misdemeanor and code enforcement cases must therefore be prepared for the possibility of being resolved in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Read more about LADBS Code Enforcement.

Living area is defined in state ADU law as “the interior habitable area of a dwelling unit, including basements and attics, but does not include a garage or any accessory structure.”