Permitting is the part of a remodel most homeowners dread — but understanding the process removes most of the anxiety. Here's how it works for a typical Los Angeles project.
1. Do You Need a Permit?
Most structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical changes require a permit from the LA Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Cosmetic work (paint, flooring, cabinets in the same footprint) usually doesn't.
2. Plan Preparation
Your contractor or architect prepares drawings that meet current building code, including structural, electrical, and (for additions) Title 24 energy compliance documents.
3. Plan Check & Submission
Plans are submitted to LADBS for review. Straightforward projects (like a standard ADU plan) often move faster than custom, one-off designs that require more back-and-forth correction cycles.
4. Permit Issuance
Once plans are approved and fees are paid, the permit is issued and construction can begin.
5. Inspections
Work is inspected at key stages — foundation, framing, rough electrical/plumbing, and final — before the job is signed off.
How Green Rise Builders Handles This
We manage the entire permit process for you: plan preparation, submission, correction responses, and scheduling every inspection, so you're not the one navigating city processes.
Contact us or call (310) 757-3033 to talk through your specific project.
Related reading: home remodel cost guide · ADU cost guide · how permitting differs by city