Administrative overview · FIPS 06037
Los Angeles County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Los Angeles County Public Works, Building and Safety Division
For a project in or near Los Angeles County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
(626) 458-3173 (Building Plan Check); (626) 458-3180 (Electrical); (626) 458-3182 (Mechanical/Plumbing); (626) 458-6333 (Grading/Drainage)
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Los Angeles County Public Works, Building and Safety Division, 3rd Floor, 900 S. Fremont Avenue, Alhambra, CA 91803
Operating hours
Headquarters: Monday-Thursday 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; over-the-counter plan review Monday-Thursday 7:00-11:00 a.m. District and contract-city hours vary.
Review expectation
N/A; the current county workflow publishes screening, fee payment, review, corrections, and issuance steps but no standard plan-review timeline.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Los Angeles County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Los Angeles County Public Works, Building and Safety Division is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact (626) 458-3173 (Building Plan Check); (626) 458-3180 (Electrical); (626) 458-3182 (Mechanical/Plumbing); (626) 458-6333 (Grading/Drainage).
How long might review take?
N/A; the current county workflow publishes screening, fee payment, review, corrections, and issuance steps but no standard plan-review timeline.
How are inspections scheduled?
Request inspections through EPIC-LA or the applicable Building and Safety district/contract-city office. The county's guide says to request when the work stage is complete, specify the desired date/time, cancel at least 24 hours ahead if the site is not ready, and keep the permit active by requesting the first inspection within 12 months and follow-up inspections every 6 months.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Los Angeles County adopted the 2025 California Building Code into Title 26 with county amendments effective for the 2026 code cycle; related 2025 California Existing Building Code is in Title 33 and 2025 California Green Building Standards Code is in Title 31, with applicable county electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire, zoning, and local amendments. LA County's public code adoption incorporates 2025 CBC 105.2 exemptions including one-story detached accessory structures for tool/storage/playhouse use up to 120 sq ft; fences up to 7 ft (other than pool barriers); retaining walls up to 4 ft without surcharge; grade-supported water tanks up to 5,000 gallons under a 2:1 height-to-width ratio; sidewalks and driveways; painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work; qualifying awnings; pools under 24 inches; swings/playground equipment; and limited low-voltage, portable equipment, minor-part, plumbing-leak, and ordinary repair work. Exemptions do not override zoning or separate electrical, plumbing, mechanical, grading, or other requirements.