Building Safety in Long Beach, CA (2026)
8 verified building safety rules for Long Beach, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Lead Paint
Long Beach's own Community Lead Hazard Control chapter, LBMC § 8.27, requires removal of lead hazards once the City Health Officer confirms a child under six has an elevated blood lead level, reaching any dwelling, hotel, child care facility, yard or soil where children live or gather. It's also unlawful citywide to apply or sell paint exceeding 0.06% lead by weight on any child-accessible surface.
Long Beach Community Lead Hazard Abatement
Significant RestrictionsLong Beach Municipal Code §§ 8.27.010, 8.27.020, 8.27.050(D)
8.27.010: The purpose of this Chapter is to require the removal of lead hazards when the Health Officer has found that a child under six (6) years of age has an elevated blood lead level as a result of such a hazard. 8.27.020: This Chapter shall apply to any dwelling, dwelling unit, hotel, motel, guest room, child care facility, institution, yard, soil, or any premises or areas inhabited or fre...
Fire Sprinkler Requirements
Long Beach Municipal Code § 18.48.440 amends California Fire Code § 903.2.8 to require automatic fire sprinklers in every new multi-family building of three or more units, hotels, motels and similar occupancies, and, going further than the state model code, in every new single-family dwelling and duplex built in the city.
Long Beach Residential Fire Sprinkler Mandate
Heavy RestrictionsLong Beach Municipal Code § 18.48.440
Section 903.2.8 of Chapter 9 of the California Fire Code is amended by the addition of the following paragraphs to read as follows: All new multi-family (3 or more units) residential, hotels, motels and similar buildings shall be protected by an automatic sprinkler system. All new single-family dwellings and duplexes shall be protected by an automatic sprinkler system.
Door Locking Hardware
Long Beach can force a motel to install deadbolt locks, peepholes, window locks, and door chains or swing bars on every guest room door. Municipal Code Section 5.57.030(A)(4) makes this one of the corrective measures a nuisance-designated motel must adopt to keep its business license under Chapter 5.57.
Long Beach Motel Door Lock Security Rule
Some RestrictionsLong Beach Municipal Code § 5.57.030(A)(4)
A motel that is deemed a nuisance site shall retain its business license only if it conforms to any and all combination of the following regulations as deemed required by the City Interdepartmental Team. The owner or operator shall: ... 4. Install deadbolt locks, peepholes, window locks and door chains or swing bars on all guest room doors.
Green Building Code
Long Beach adopts the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code by reference as its own Green Building Standards Code under Chapter 18.47, then layers local amendments -- rerouting construction-waste compliance through the City's own recycling chapter and requiring separate utility submetering for every residential and nonresidential use in mixed buildings.
Long Beach CALGreen Local Amendments
Some RestrictionsLong Beach Municipal Code §§ 18.47.010, 18.47.020, 18.47.040
18.47.010 - Adoption. The City Council adopts and incorporates by reference as though set forth in full in this chapter the 2025 Edition of the California Green Building Standards Code... The following appendices of the California Green Building Code are deleted: Appendices A4, A5, and A6. ... 18.47.020 - Amend CALGreen Sections 4.408.1 through 4.408.5-Construction waste reduction, disposal and...
Building Permits
Long Beach requires a permit before any building, grading, electrical, plumbing, mechanical or sign work begins. LBMC § 18.04.010 bars erecting, altering, remodeling, moving, converting or demolishing any building or structure, or changing its occupancy, without a permit issued first by the Building Official in the Department of Community Development.
Long Beach Building Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsLong Beach Municipal Code § 18.04.010(A)-(B)
A.Building permits. No person, firm or corporation shall erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, remodel, move, remove, improve, convert or demolish any building or part of a building or structure, or change the character or occupancy or use of any building or structure, or part of a building or structure, in the City without first obtaining a permit covering such work from the Building Offic...
Electrical Permits
Long Beach requires an electrical permit for new wiring, alterations and most equipment operating above 25 volts or 50 watts, under LBMC § 18.04.010(C), enforced through the City's own adopted 2025 California Electrical Code. A defined list of minor, low-voltage or portable work is exempt.
Long Beach Electrical Permit Requirement
Some RestrictionsLong Beach Municipal Code § 18.04.010(C)
C. Electrical permits. No new electrical installation shall be made nor any alteration or addition performed to any existing wiring, nor shall any wiring for the placing or installation of any electric light, power or heating device, or any apparatus which generates, transmits, transforms or utilizes electricity operating at a voltage exceeding twenty-five (25) volts between conductors or capab...
Plumbing Permits
Long Beach requires a plumbing permit before any plumbing, water piping, gas piping or water heater work under LBMC § 18.04.010(D), enforced under the City's own adopted 2025 California Plumbing Code. A short list of minor repairs is exempt from the permit under § 18.04.020(E).
Long Beach Plumbing Permit Requirement
Some RestrictionsLong Beach Municipal Code § 18.04.010(D)
D. Plumbing permits. No person, firm or corporation shall construct, install or alter any plumbing, water piping, gas piping, water heater, water heater vents, water treating equipment, or any appliance or device regulated by this title without obtaining a plumbing permit approving the proposed quality and character of workmanship and materials. Where a building is demolished or removed from it...
Building Inspections
Every permitted building project in Long Beach runs through a fixed inspection sequence under LBMC § 18.07.050, footing and foundation, framing, energy efficiency and a final inspection before occupancy, each one requiring the Building Official's written approval before work can proceed to the next stage.
Long Beach Required Building Inspections
Some RestrictionsLong Beach Municipal Code § 18.07.050(A)
18.07.050 - Required inspections.A.Building. The Building Official, upon notification as specified in Section 18.07.030, shall make the inspections set forth in subsection, if applicable.1.Footing and foundation inspection. Footing and foundation inspections shall be made after excavations for footings are complete and any required reinforcing steel is in place. For concrete foundations, any re...
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