You need to file for a Clerical Modification approval. You need to perform the following steps:

1. Submit a completed Clerical Modification application form (PC-STR-App.19). Original signature is required.
2. Submit the application fee as marked on the application form. Make check payable to “The Department of Building and Safety, City of Los Angeles.”

Addition of a model to an existing approval requires submittal of Technical Modification. You need to perform the following steps:

1. Submit a completed Technical Modification application form (PC-ELEC-App.12). Original signature is required.
2. Submit the application fee as marked on the application form. Make check payable to “The Department of Building and Safety, City of Los Angeles.”
3. Submit a current production sample of the new equipment model. d. Provide a current new model product literature (brochure, operational instruction, maintenance manual, owner’s manual).
4. Photographs or drawings showing the exterior views and internal views of the new equipment.
5. Schematic wiring diagrams. Diagrams should identify the sizes of wires, ratings of fuses, circuit breakers, and other components.
6. The parts list for the components operating at or above 30 VAC or 24.8 VDC in dry locations or 15 VAC or 12.4 VDC in wet locations. Include the part's function, name of manufacturer, catalog number, electrical ratings, and testing agency component recognition or listing number.
7. For new model with unlisted transformers, drivers or power supplies with a rating of less than 1KVA, provide two samples with schematic wiring diagrams and specification sheets.

The steps are the same as regular approval, as follows:

Submit the following:

1. A completed application form (PC-ELEC-App.12). Original signature is required.
2. Application fee as marked on application form. Make check payable to “The Department of Building and Safety, City of Los Angeles.”
3. Current product literature (brochure, operational instruction, maintenance manual, owner’s manual).
4. Photographs or drawings showing the exterior views and internal views of the equipment.
5. Schematic wiring diagrams. Diagrams should identify the sizes of wires, ratings of fuses, circuit breakers, and other components.
6. The parts list for the components operating at or above 30 VAC or 24.8 VDC in dry locations or 15 VAC or 12.4 VDC in wet locations. Include the part's function, name of manufacturer, catalog number, electrical ratings, and testing agency component recognition or listing number.
7. Production sample of the equipment as follows:
   1. For General or Laboratory Approval: Submit a current production sample (complete and operable) with all appurtenances to operate the equipment. If the equipment is too heavy or large to ship to the laboratory, arrange for a field location in the City of Los Angeles or at the factory where a complete testing can be performed without on-site restrictions (call the laboratory for a prior arrangement) and pay for the field trip charges.
   2. For One-Time Approval of field installed equipment: Provide the field location where the equipment is intended to be installed insuring that it can be evaluated and tested without on-site restrictions. Provide the complete address, phone number, and contact person. Pay for the field trip charges.

However, the revised approval may require a new model designation of the previous product and the approval would be for the duration that was originally established for the equipment.

Current product literature, owner’s manual, schematic wiring diagrams and parts list, installation instruction (if applicable), and a production sample of the equipment with all the options and accessories.

The permit number, address, owner, description of work, A&E occupancy load, and signature.

An approved recognized electrical testing agency is a testing agency that obtains approval from the Department of Building and Safety to perform testing and listing and field evaluation. A list of these recognized testing agencies are posted on the LADBS web as follows on the "Electrical Test Lab (ETL)" page:

• Testing agencies that have approval for listing of equipment
• Testing agencies that have approval for one-time field evaluation

All construction work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by authorized inspectors. An inspection must be performed before work is concealed or covered. It is your responsibility to notify the inspector when the work is ready for inspection. Work is generally inspected and approved in succession and no work may continue beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the approval of the inspector. 

Common items to be inspected are foundation excavations, concrete work, wood framing, ventilation equipment, plumbing, electrical, shear wall nailing, roof nailing etc. When completed, there shall be a final inspection and approval of the completed project.

The purpose for which a building, or part of a building, is used or intended to be used.

It is an order to correct a code violation.

Plan check is when your building plans are reviewed to make sure they comply with basic safety, engineering and planning rules. LADBS plan check engineers will review the design of such things as the structure, plumbing and electrical systems to make sure they are safe and properly designed. They will also look at other items, like building setbacks, heights and lot coverage to see that the construction is compatible with the neighborhood.

Plan check is part of the permit process. If your project disqualifies you from directly receiving an Express Permit, you will need to have a plan check. If it's a small project, a Counter Plan Check will suffice. If it's a large project, you might need to have a Regular Plan Check, where your plans are submitted and reviewed over the period of several weeks.

A prevailing setback is a calculation used to determine minimum distance construction can be from the front property line, essentially a front yard measurement. An online Yard Setback Information File is provided to assist in determining this complex calculation.

A Range File is a Code Enforcement Violation.

A soft-story building is a structure which has a weaker first floor and is unable to carry the weight of the stories above during an earthquake. The first floor generally would have large openings in the perimeter walls such as garages, tuck under parking or even large windows.

A soft-story building is a structure which has a weaker first floor and is unable to carry the weight of the stories above during an earthquake. The first floor generally would have large openings in the perimeter walls such as garages, tuck under parking or even large windows.

UL Standard is an Underwriters Laboratories standard used as the basis of evaluation and testing of equipment.

Turning space shall be a circular space of 60” diameter, or a T-shaped space with a 60” length for arms width, and a base that is 36” wide. See 11B-304.3.2.

Also known as an Online Permit or Express Permit, e-permit is a service we provide to expedite less complex permit types. 
Obtain permits on our website through Online Services or see a list of available online permits on our Express Permit page.

ePlanLA, short for Electronic Plan Review Los Angeles, is an online service for submitting plans for plan check, applying for permits, and tracking the progress of these applications. Plans submitted must be scaled pdf drawings. Plan review and correspondence will be done through the online service.

"Extra Inspection Trip Payment" is an online service offered by LADBS to provide its customers the capability to pay extra inspection trip fees via the e-Permit system, when an inspection is scheduled but cannot be performed due to customer error.

Customers can pay for "Extra Inspection Trip" fees through Online Services.

All construction work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by authorized inspectors. It is your responsibility to notify the inspector when the work is ready for inspection. 

Work is generally inspected and approved in succession and no work may continue beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the approval of the inspector. 

Common items to be inspected are foundation excavations, concrete work, wood framing, shear wall nailing, etc. When completed, there shall be a final inspection and approval of the completed project.

1. Applicant submits plans to LADBS, if plan check is required
2. LADBS reviews plans and issues corrections, and mandates separate City and County approvals as needed
3. Applicant corrects plans
4. LADBS verifies corrections, and issues permit
5. Applicant starts construction after permit is issued
6. As construction progress, applicant requests inspections from LADBS before work is covered.
7. LADBS inspects construction.
8. After approval of all construction and final inspection, LADBS issues Certificate of Occupancy to applicant.

LARR stands for "Los Angeles Research Reports." LADBS approves alternate building materials or products that are at least equivalent to the materials prescribed in the code in terms of quality, effective time period of fire resistance, strength, effectiveness, durability and safety. Approved materials are published as LARR.

You can then appeal any determination with respect to the Zoning code to the Department Of the City Planning. See the Information Bulletin P/ZC 2023-019 for more information.

To find the zone for your property, please visit ZIMAS.

Plan check is a process of which the plans are reviewed for compliance to current codes. For this program, the plans will be reviewed for compliance to the mandatory retrofit ordinance 183983 and 184081. Once plans have been reviewed and approved, permit can be issued.