Los Angeles County, CA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing agency
- LA County Building Official (Public Works)
- Permit voids
- If work unstarted 12 months
- Final inspection
- Required before occupancy allowed
- Small exempt work
- Sheds under 120 sq ft exempt
- Applies to
- Unincorporated LA County only
Summary
In unincorporated Los Angeles County, building, altering, or demolishing a structure without a permit from the Building Official is prohibited, and permitted work must pass staged inspections -- foundation, framing, and final -- before it can be covered up or occupied.
No person shall erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, connect, convert, demolish, or equip any building, structure, or portion thereof, or automatic fire protection system regulated by Chapter 9, perform any grading, or perform landscaping ... or cause the same to be done, without first obtaining a separate permit for each such building, structure, automatic fire protection system, grading, or landscaping from the Building Official.
Full Breakdown
Los Angeles County Code § 106.1 bars erecting, altering, repairing, moving, or demolishing any building or structure in the unincorporated area without first obtaining a separate permit from the Building Official, and § 106.2 makes it unlawful to own, use, or occupy an 'Unpermitted Structure.' Once permitted, § 108.1 requires the work to stay accessible for inspection, § 108.3 bars proceeding past each inspection point without written approval, and § 108.4.10 requires a final inspection before the building is ready for occupancy. Small exempt work -- sheds under 120 square feet, 6-foot fences, retaining walls under 4 feet -- skips the permit under § 106.3.
Violations & Fines
Working without a required permit creates an 'Unpermitted Structure' under § 106.2; continuing past a failed inspection creates 'Non-inspected Work' under § 108.8, both grounds for code enforcement action and permit denial until corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside the City of Los Angeles?
What happens if my permit sits unused?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles County
California rules heatmap·Compare Los Angeles County to another location·View the California building safety overview
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