Los Angeles permit
Remodel + addition permit in Los Angeles
Cosmetic = no permit. Like-for-like = trade-only. Walls or new sqft = full plan check. We map yours by scope.
Permit speed
Same day to 12 weeks
Like-for-like cosmetic: no permit. Trade-only swap: same-day. Walls moved or sqft added: 6-12 week plan check.
Typical cost
$200-600/sqft remodeled
Cosmetic kitchen $50-100/sqft. Mid-grade kitchen $200-350/sqft. Luxury full gut $500-1,000+/sqft.
License needed
B (general) for structural
Cosmetic-only: not legally required. Anything moving walls or adding sqft: hire a B-licensed general.
Plan-check fee
90% of permit fee
Plan check fee is 90% of the eventual building permit fee, paid up front per LAMC §91.107.6.
4 LA remodel / addition gotchas
Moving any wall = full plan check
Even moving a non-load-bearing wall counts as a structural change in LA and requires plan check + engineer-stamped drawings. The myth that non-load-bearing walls are fair game without a permit is wrong. Inspectors verify against the existing recorded floor plan.
Window opening enlargement triggers plan check
Replacing a window in the same opening is like-for-like (trade permit only). Enlarging the opening — even by an inch — is a structural change requiring plan check, header sizing engineering, and a building permit. Common surprise gotcha when homeowners want bigger windows.
Title 24 retroactive when 50%+ scope
If your remodel touches 50% or more of habitable area, the entire affected scope must meet current Title 24 energy standards: insulation upgrades, dual-pane windows, LED lighting, possibly HVAC + water heater swaps. CEPE professional consultant required for the CF1R compliance form.
Adding sqft to a hillside lot is expensive surprise territory
Even small additions on hillside lots often need: geotech soils report ($3-8K), Hillside Grading Permit (separate from building permit), updated structural for the existing house if foundation modified, possibly fire-sprinkler retrofit if total sqft crosses 3,600. Assume +30-50% over flat-lot equivalent.
Questions about remodel / addition permits?
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Often paired with
These permits commonly come up alongside a remodel / addition project in LA.
Electrical permit
Panel upgrade, EV charger, sub-panel — same-day permit, rough + final inspection. We connect you to a C-10 licensed electrician.
Plumbing permit
Repipe, sewer lateral, gas line — same-day permit. We connect you to a C-36 licensed plumber.
HVAC permit
Same-day permit. New AC or heat pump triggers third-party HERS verification per Title 24.
Roofing / re-roof
Standard LA re-roof permits issue same-day. Cool Roof material required. Hillside + VHFHSZ adds fire rating.
Check your address first
Get the verdict + zoning + overlays + LADBS forms specific to your lot. Free, no signup.
Run feasibility check →Drawings we generate for you
Auto-drawn from your address using LARIAC orthoimagery, parcel polygons, and Microsoft Building Footprints.
- Site plan
- Existing floor plan
- Proposed floor plan
- Elevations
The permit pathway
Phase 01
Define your scope
Cosmetic vs structural vs addition determines the permit path
Three scope levels — each takes a different permit path. Cosmetic-only (paint, flooring, fixture swaps) often needs no permit. Like-for-like trade work (replace water heater, swap outlets) is trade-only permit. Structural changes (move walls, add rooms, change windows) need full plan check.
Phase 02
Get plans drawn (if structural/addition)
Architect or design-build contractor
Structural remodels and additions need permittable drawings: floor plan, elevations, sections, structural details. An architect ($5K–$25K) or a design-build contractor (often included in their project price) handles this.
Phase 03
Plan check via ePlanLA
LADBS reviews the drawings; you respond to corrections
Architect submits via ePlanLA. LADBS issues corrections; architect revises and resubmits. 1–2 rounds typical for a clean remodel.
Phase 04
Pull building + trade permits
Building permit + electrical/plumbing/mechanical as needed
Once plans are approved, pay the remaining building permit fee + state/green surcharges + records management. Pull trade permits for any electrical, plumbing, mechanical work in scope.
Phase 05
Construction + inspections
Stage-by-stage inspection sequence
Construction in stages. Each stage stops for LADBS inspection before the next can start. Don't bury anything (foundation rebar, plumbing rough, electrical rough) that hasn't passed inspection.
LADBS application + forms
Who you'll need
Pros that pull this remodel / addition
Pro categories whose specialty involves this permit type. Each links to a category page with license-class info, a request-quotes form, and (where populated) a hand-curated directory.
General contractors
Class B licensed LA generals for remodels, additions, and structural work.
See general contractors→
ADU architects & designers
When standard plans don't fit, an architect tailors plans to your lot, slope, and HPOZ rules.
See adu architects & designers→
Structural engineers
Stamped engineering for hillside, additions, retaining walls, and seismic retrofit.
See structural engineers→