Los Angeles County is not one city. Your project is reviewed by the building department of the city it is in, and the rules and process differ from one to the next. Here is what most homeowners and restaurant owners should know before they start.
Which department reviews your project
Studio City, Encino, Sherman Oaks, the Hollywood Hills and most of Toluca Lake are neighborhoods of the City of Los Angeles, so permits go through the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS).
Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica and Calabasas are separate cities with their own departments. Unincorporated areas are handled by Los Angeles County.
What usually needs a permit
As a rule, work that changes structure, plumbing, electrical or mechanical systems needs a permit. Cosmetic work like painting or replacing finishes often does not. When in doubt, ask before you start: unpermitted work can cause trouble when you sell or insure the home.
- New walls or removing walls
- New or moved plumbing and electrical
- Additions, ADUs and pools
- Commercial build-outs and changes of use
Plan check and inspections
Larger projects go through plan check: the department reviews the drawings and returns corrections, which are answered until the plans are approved. During construction, inspectors visit at set stages. Complete, clear drawings make plan check faster.
Extra reviews
Some projects need more than a building permit: hillside rules in parts of the City of Los Angeles, historic district review in places like Pasadena, design review in Beverly Hills, HOA review in gated communities, and health department review for restaurants.
Restaurants
Restaurants and other food businesses also need plan review from the health department: the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health in most of the county, while Pasadena, Long Beach and Vernon have their own health departments.
By Albert Galstyan, Creative Director, Futuris Architects · Updated 2026-11-06
