Residential
ADU Design & Permitting in Pasadena
ADU Design & Permitting for Pasadena owners, reviewed by City of Pasadena Planning and Community Development, typically 10 to 16 weeks to permit, plus historic review where a district applies.
San Gabriel Valley · Los Angeles County
Design, Permitting and Construction in Pasadena
Pasadena protects its design character seriously, and rightly. Designing with the district's language from day one is faster than arguing with it at review. Plan review here runs through City of Pasadena Planning and Community Development, with Pasadena Fire Department on access and life safety. Typical experience is roughly 10 to 16 weeks to permit, plus historic review where a district applies.
How review actually works in Pasadena
Outstanding craftsman and period revival stock, much of it inside designated districts. On the commercial side, Old Pasadena and Colorado Blvd fit-outs involve facade review alongside standard tenant improvement work. Those two facts explain most of what is easy and most of what is expensive here.
Historic consultant reports and design review time are the fees people forget to budget. 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 Pasadena ZIP codes 91101, 91103, 91104, 91105, 91106 and 91107, including Bungalow Heaven, Madison Heights, Linda Vista, Playhouse District. 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
- Landmark districts and historic preservation review
- Hillside development standards in the northern foothills
- Design commission review for larger commercial projects
Neighbourhoods we work in
Bungalow Heaven · Madison Heights · Linda Vista · Playhouse District
Services in Pasadena
Residential
Garage Conversions in Pasadena
Garage Conversions for Pasadena owners, reviewed by City of Pasadena Planning and Community Development, typically 10 to 16 weeks to permit, plus historic review where a district applies.
Residential
Additions & Remodels in Pasadena
Additions & Remodels for Pasadena owners, reviewed by City of Pasadena Planning and Community Development, typically 10 to 16 weeks to permit, plus historic review where a district applies.
Commercial
Tenant Improvements in Pasadena
Tenant Improvements for Pasadena owners, reviewed by City of Pasadena Planning and Community Development, typically 10 to 16 weeks to permit, plus historic review where a district applies.
Commercial
Restaurant, Retail & Hospitality in Pasadena
Restaurant, Retail & Hospitality for Pasadena owners, reviewed by City of Pasadena Planning and Community Development, typically 10 to 16 weeks to permit, plus historic review where a district applies.
Residential
Permitting & Plan Check in Pasadena
Permitting & Plan Check for Pasadena owners, reviewed by City of Pasadena Planning and Community Development, typically 10 to 16 weeks to permit, plus historic review where a district applies.
Commercial
Construction Management in Pasadena
Construction Management for Pasadena owners, reviewed by City of Pasadena Planning and Community Development, typically 10 to 16 weeks to permit, plus historic review where a district applies.
Commercial
Design-Build in Pasadena
Design-Build for Pasadena owners, reviewed by City of Pasadena Planning and Community Development, typically 10 to 16 weeks to permit, plus historic review where a district applies.
Pasadena questions
Who reviews building plans in Pasadena?
City of Pasadena Planning and Community Development. Fire review runs through Pasadena Fire Department. Pasadena protects its design character seriously, and rightly. Designing with the district's language from day one is faster than arguing with it at review.
How long does a permit take in Pasadena?
Typically roughly 10 to 16 weeks to permit, plus historic review where a district applies. 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 Pasadena?
Most commonly: Landmark districts and historic preservation review; Hillside development standards in the northern foothills; Design commission review for larger commercial projects. Which ones touch your parcel is an address question, and we answer it during feasibility.
What do local fees add to a Pasadena project?
Historic consultant reports and design review time are the fees people forget to budget. We put those numbers into the first budget rather than presenting them as a later surprise.
Do you work outside Pasadena?
Yes, across Los Angeles and Orange County from offices in Santa Monica and Fullerton. Nearby markets we cover include Glendale, Burbank, Los Angeles, Arcadia.
Nearby markets
Talk to us about a project in Pasadena
Send the address, including the ZIP code, and what you want to build. We come back with what the City of Pasadena Planning and Community Development route looks like, a realistic budget range and a schedule.