The evaluation time frame is based on the complexity of the product.  Contact the Building Research Section for the current status.

The process to obtain a Los Angeles City Research Report consists of the following steps:

1. Determine if a LARR is required or not, using the Information Bulletin P/BC 2020-119
2. Submit the following information to the Los Angeles City Department of Building and Safety Building Research Section:
   1. Product literature describing how your product is to be used
   2. Substantiating data (i.e. test reports by approved 3rd party testing agency, engineering analysis)
   3. A completed application form for new LARR (PC-STR.App18)
   4. A check in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank.
3. Once this information is received, your application package will be reviewed for completeness. If any deficiencies are determined, a letter will be sent to the applicant stating the deficiencies requiring correction or completeness.
4. After determining the application package is complete, the application will be logged in and assigned a log number and placed in line for review.
5. The substantiating data submitted will be evaluated to determine if it is at least the equivalent of the prescribed device, material, or method of construction specified by the Los Angeles City Building Code in terms of quality, effective time period of fire resistance, strength, effectiveness, durability, and safety.
6. After reviewing the substantiating data, the research engineer assigned to the application will write a letter stating their comments and the information needed to complete the evaluation, if necessary.
7. Upon resolution of all comments, a draft copy of the Los Angeles City Research Report will be written. The draft copy of the Research Report will be e-mailed to the applicant for their review and comments. In addition, a supplemental fee will be sent to the applicant to bill the additional reviewing hours for the report approval beyond the first 6 hours. 
8. After all comments from the applicant have been resolved and the supplemental fee has been paid by the applicant, the Research Report will be submitted to the Chief of the Building Research Section for final review and approval. A signed copy of the Los Angeles City Research Report will be mailed to the applicant and will also be posted on the LADBS website under "LA Research Reports".

The Zoning Code Manual and Commentary PDF is an interpretation of the Zoning code. It is a useful tool to answer more specific questions regarding Zoning.

• To obtain a building permit, you will need to provide a completed Building Permit Application, a copy of the LA City approved stamped ADU Standard Plan, and plans indicating how the Standard Plan will be adapted to a specific site. This should include the necessary details indicating how and where the structure will be built in a specific location (i.e. plot plan showing setbacks, etc.).
• All applications and plans must then be submitted at one of our offices or uploaded/submitted via Eplan. No structural calculations are required. The Department will review all of the plans and issue a building permit once it is verified site-specific factors for the property, including compliance with the Zoning Code and foundation requirements.

For a complete listing of building permit submittal requirements, please refer to the Building Permit Checklist.

Eaves: Project into the required side yard not more than 4 inches for each foot of width of such side yard, provided the width of the side yard is not reduced to less than 30 inches. Project into the required front and rear yards not more than 30 inches. Project into the side yard adjoining the street lot line of a corner lot not more than 30 inches, provided the width is not reduced to less than 30 inches.

Open roof and unenclosed trellis

Open, unenclosed stairways or balconies not covered by a roof or canopy: Project into a required rear yard not more than 4 feet. Project into a required front yard 30 inches. Project into the side yard adjoining a street lot line of a corner lot, not more than 30 inches, provided the width is not reduced to less than 30 inches.

Open, unenclosed porches, platforms, or landing places (including access stairways) not covered by a roof or canopy which does not extend above the level of the first floor of the building, provided: Projection is maximum 6 feet into the required front, side, and rear yards Projection is maximum 6 feet above adjacent grade.

Chimney: Project into the required front, side, and rear yards not more than 2 feet. The width of the required side yard shall not be reduced to less than 3 feet.

A bay window or garden type window of normal size may project 8 inches into a required side yard, provided the width of the required side yard is not reduced to less than 3 feet.

Tankless water heaters may project 18 inches into the required side yard, provided such side yard is not reduced to less than 3 feet in width.

The following roof structures are allowed to project above the like-for-like height limit:

Stairway housing (no larger than 72 square feet) may project 5 feet.

Elevator housing may project 5 feet, provided it is setback a minimum of 5 feet from the roof perimeter.

Chimneys may project 5 feet.

The proposed conversion will be subject to all zoning code and fire sprinkler regulations in place at the time of the proposed change of use. If the ADU or JADU was constructed within an existing  building, non-conforming rights from the building and use that existed prior to the ADU or JADU may be considered at the discretion of LADBS.

Public Record Act Requests to the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) may include a wide variety of Departmental documents and materials (including print, photographic, and electronic formats) that were created or obtained by the department and are, at the time the request is filed, in the department's care and custody. The Public Records Act excludes certain categories of records from disclosure.

Please be advised that some LADBS documents are available in electronic format and can be obtained online from the Departments Official Document Repository, the LADBS Internet Document Imaging System (IDIS) here:

Search Online Building Records

Other documents that are not available online, but are indexed in IDIS can be obtained through the LADBS Public Records Counter by submitting a Research Request Form available here:

Forms and Publications - Service Requests

Copies of Building Plans (Blueprints) are also obtained through the LADBS Public Records Counter by submitting a Research Request Form.

The BBSC is granted the authority by the Code and by the City Charter, to hear many kinds of appeals, including but not limited to the following:

• Appeals of the Department’s action regarding requests for slight modifications of the Building Ordinances and/or Code Violation Inspection Fee Ordinances, pursuant to the authority described in LAMC Section 98.0403.1(b) 1.
• Appeals from determinations, orders or actions of the Department pertaining to enforcement of specific ordinances, regulations or laws in individual cases, pursuant to LAMC Section 98.0403.1(b) 2 (i.e. error and abuse, except land use issues)
• Applications for import/export of soil pursuant to LAMC Section 91.7006.7.4.
• "Quasi-Judicial" proceedings pursuant to Division 89 of the LAMC (NOID, PNH)
• Adoption of Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, HVAC, etc Ordinances
• The BBSC does not hear cases related to land use ordinances. These cases shall be heard by the Department of City Planning in accordance with Section 12.26K of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.
• Read more about the BBSC appeals process.

Automobile parking is not required for ADUs created within an existing or proposed main home or an existing accessory structure. ADU parking may be required if the ADU exceeds the existing square footage of an existing main home (primary residence) or accessory structure, as well as for a newly constructed detached ADU. Other parking waivers in LAMC Section 12.22 A.33(c)(12)(i) may also apply.

As of June 9, 2025, LADBS will start accepting applications using the process shown in the Implementation Guidelines.