Residential
ADU Design & Permitting in Los Angeles
ADU Design & Permitting for Los Angeles owners, reviewed by LADBS plan check, typically 10 to 18 weeks to permit, driven mostly by how many correction cycles the first submittal triggers.
City of LA · Los Angeles County
Design, Permitting and Construction in Los Angeles
LADBS is not one counter, it is several, and the fastest route through it depends on which district office your address falls under. That is a knowledge problem, not a design problem. Plan review here runs through LADBS plan check, with City Planning sign-off where zoning discretion applies, with LAFD on access and life safety. Typical experience is roughly 10 to 18 weeks to permit, driven mostly by how many correction cycles the first submittal triggers.
How review actually works in Los Angeles
Enormous range, from 1910s craftsman to 1960s stucco boxes, with lot slopes that decide half the budget. On the commercial side, change of use, occupancy load and accessibility upgrades are where LA tenant improvements gain or lose months. Those two facts explain most of what is easy and most of what is expensive here.
LADBS plan check, LAFD clearance and school fees stack quickly on anything over 1,000 sq ft of new area. We put the local fee picture into the first budget, because a number that ignores school, sewer and utility charges is not a budget, it is an advertisement.
We work throughout Los Angeles ZIP codes 90012, 90026, 90027, 90042, 90066, 91401 and 90016, including Silver Lake, Highland Park, Mar Vista, Sherman Oaks, West Adams, Eagle Rock. Two addresses in the same ZIP can still sit under different overlays, so we review the parcel rather than the postcode.
Overlays that come up here
- Hillside ordinance and Baseline Hillside limits
- HPOZ districts across Highland Park, West Adams and Angelino Heights
- Specific plans in Venice, Hollywood and the Warner Center area
- Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone requirements in the canyons
Neighbourhoods we work in
Silver Lake · Highland Park · Mar Vista · Sherman Oaks · West Adams · Eagle Rock
Services in Los Angeles
Residential
Garage Conversions in Los Angeles
Garage Conversions for Los Angeles owners, reviewed by LADBS plan check, typically 10 to 18 weeks to permit, driven mostly by how many correction cycles the first submittal triggers.
Residential
Additions & Remodels in Los Angeles
Additions & Remodels for Los Angeles owners, reviewed by LADBS plan check, typically 10 to 18 weeks to permit, driven mostly by how many correction cycles the first submittal triggers.
Commercial
Tenant Improvements in Los Angeles
Tenant Improvements for Los Angeles owners, reviewed by LADBS plan check, typically 10 to 18 weeks to permit, driven mostly by how many correction cycles the first submittal triggers.
Commercial
Restaurant, Retail & Hospitality in Los Angeles
Restaurant, Retail & Hospitality for Los Angeles owners, reviewed by LADBS plan check, typically 10 to 18 weeks to permit, driven mostly by how many correction cycles the first submittal triggers.
Residential
Permitting & Plan Check in Los Angeles
Permitting & Plan Check for Los Angeles owners, reviewed by LADBS plan check, typically 10 to 18 weeks to permit, driven mostly by how many correction cycles the first submittal triggers.
Commercial
Construction Management in Los Angeles
Construction Management for Los Angeles owners, reviewed by LADBS plan check, typically 10 to 18 weeks to permit, driven mostly by how many correction cycles the first submittal triggers.
Commercial
Design-Build in Los Angeles
Design-Build for Los Angeles owners, reviewed by LADBS plan check, typically 10 to 18 weeks to permit, driven mostly by how many correction cycles the first submittal triggers.
Los Angeles questions
Who reviews building plans in Los Angeles?
LADBS plan check, with City Planning sign-off where zoning discretion applies. Fire review runs through LAFD. LADBS is not one counter, it is several, and the fastest route through it depends on which district office your address falls under. That is a knowledge problem, not a design problem.
How long does a permit take in Los Angeles?
Typically roughly 10 to 18 weeks to permit, driven mostly by how many correction cycles the first submittal triggers. The variable is correction cycles, not intake speed, which is why we spend the extra week making the first submittal complete.
Which overlays and local rules apply in Los Angeles?
Most commonly: Hillside ordinance and Baseline Hillside limits; HPOZ districts across Highland Park, West Adams and Angelino Heights; Specific plans in Venice, Hollywood and the Warner Center area; Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone requirements in the canyons. Which ones touch your parcel is an address question, and we answer it during feasibility.
What do local fees add to a Los Angeles project?
LADBS plan check, LAFD clearance and school fees stack quickly on anything over 1,000 sq ft of new area. We put those numbers into the first budget rather than presenting them as a later surprise.
Do you work outside Los Angeles?
Yes, across Los Angeles and Orange County from offices in Santa Monica and Fullerton. Nearby markets we cover include West Los Angeles, Glendale, Pasadena, Culver City.
Nearby markets
Talk to us about a project in Los Angeles
Send the address, including the ZIP code, and what you want to build. We come back with what the LADBS plan check route looks like, a realistic budget range and a schedule.