Los Angeles — Forms & Applications

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

This page is your Los Angeles-specific map to official LADBS permit forms, applications, and agency clearances. It focuses on which City forms exist, how they are submitted, and where the Zoning Code or Building Code actually requires certain submittals. For broader topics like zoning rules, use the linked guides to the Los Angeles zoning & planning overview, Plan Check & Review, and California Building Standards Code.

Key takeaway: for eligible small residential rooftop solar, LADBS must publish a checklist, accept online submittals with electronic signatures, deem complete applications based on that checklist, and process them on a streamlined timeline per the City’s Building Code. See § 91.106.5.1.

What LADBS means by “Forms & Applications”

• LADBS accepts two main application pathways:
  • PermitLA (Express Permits) for over-the-counter/no-plan-check scopes like minor mechanical/electrical/plumbing and simple signs. The portal is the official City system for these permits.
  • ePlanLA (Electronic Plan Review) when your work requires plan check. Upload plans and the core application package here.
• LADBS publishes discipline-specific application forms used alongside those portals, including the Application for Building Permit or Grading & Certificate of Occupancy (PC/STR/App.01) and trade permit applications for electrical, plumbing/mechanical, and fire sprinklers.
• Some City projects in the Coastal Zone require a separate Coastal Development Permit application with Los Angeles City Planning or the City Engineer. The Zoning Code spells out the filing and “what to include” for this application packet. See § 13B.9.1.

Core LADBS forms, portals, and what they do

• PermitLA (Express Permits) — issue simple permits online with no plan check.
• ePlanLA (Electronic Plan Review) — submit plans and the LADBS core application package.
• PC/STR/App.01 — Application for Building Permit or Grading & Certificate of Occupancy — LADBS’s primary building/grading/CO application. Often accompanies plan sets in ePlanLA.
• PC/ELEC/App.02 — Electrical Permit Application — trade permit application; may be used via PermitLA where eligible.
• PC/MECH/App.05 — Plumbing/Plan Check Application — for plumbing and some mechanical items.
• PC/MECH/App.03 — Fire Sprinkler Permit/Plan Check Application — for sprinkler scopes reviewed by LADBS.
• Owner-Builder Notice — required disclosure when the property owner acts as the contractor of record.

For ADUs, LADBS also publishes a document that spells out minimum plan submittals when using the ADU Standard Plan pathway. See “LADBS ADU Doc Submittal Requirements (Standard Plan).” For broader ADU rules and zoning, head to the Los Angeles ADUs guide.

Clearances: who else must sign off

Depending on scope and site, LADBS may require outside-agency clearances before a permit can be issued (e.g., fire/life safety, stormwater/LID, public right-of-way work, or utility actions). Examples of official clearance touchpoints include:

• LAFD Fire/Life Safety Plan Review or Plan Check — separate submittal for applicable occupancies/scopes.
• LASAN LID WebUI — Low Impact Development plan check/clearance for qualifying projects.
• BOE Class “A” permits / Public Works portals — when work impacts the public right-of-way.
• StreetsLA BSSPermits — for street use, tree, and other BSS-managed activities.
• LADWP Service Requests — for certain power/water service actions.

The City’s Building Code explicitly acknowledges multi-agency involvement at least for streamlined residential solar, noting a single inspection “may involve multiple agencies.” See § 91.106.5.1.

Submittal requirements that are actually in code

• For eligible small residential rooftop solar, LADBS must:
  • Publish a public-facing checklist of required documents and use state-guidebook standard plans.
  • Allow online submittal and electronic signatures.
  • Deem applications complete based on that checklist and issue permits in a timely manner consistent with the State guidebook.
    All of the above are mandated by § 91.106.5.1.
• After permit issuance, LADBS requires you to post and maintain a construction notice at the site throughout construction. Failure to display it can result in inspections being withheld, per § 91.106.4.8.3.
• If your project is in the Coastal Zone and requires a Coastal Development Permit, the application must include an adequate project description, maps/photographs, site and vicinity information, and evidence of the applicant’s legal interest in the property as specified in § 13B.9.1. Those applications are filed with City Planning or the City Engineer, not LADBS.

“Most-used” LADBS forms and where they fit

For how these choices intersect with zoning, see Los Angeles Zoning Code (Chapter 1) and Chapter 1A. For dimensional standards and parking dependencies that affect your plans, use Los Angeles Development Standards and Parking. If your scope includes exterior changes that might trigger aesthetic review, see Design Review. New signs go hand-in-hand with Signage.

Practical notes (how LADBS actually handles submittals)

• The City’s Building Code hard-codes online submittal and e-sign allowances for eligible residential solar; applicants should expect LADBS to run that entire track per § 91.106.5.1.
• Coastal Zone projects require a separate Planning/City Engineer application with detailed content requirements per § 13B.9.1; this is outside LADBS but often runs in parallel with building plan check.
• Once the permit is issued, post the required construction notice on site for the duration of work, or inspections may be withheld under § 91.106.4.8.3.

Checklist

• Choose the right pathway: PermitLA for express/no-plan-check scopes, ePlanLA for plan check.
• Complete the PC/STR/App.01 building/grading/CO application when plans are required; attach a coordinated plan set.
• Add trade permit applications as needed: electrical (PC/ELEC/App.02), plumbing/mechanical (PC/MECH/App.05), fire sprinkler (PC/MECH/App.03).
• If applying as an Owner-Builder, include the City’s owner-builder notice.
• For eligible residential rooftop solar, use the published checklist and submit online with e-signatures as allowed by § 91.106.5.1.
• If in the Coastal Zone and a CDP is needed, file the Coastal Development Permit application with City Planning/City Engineer per § 13B.9.1.
• Anticipate and obtain any required clearances (LAFD, LASAN LID, BOE/StreetsLA, LADWP) before issuance. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• After issuance, post and maintain the City’s required construction notice on site for the duration of work per § 91.106.4.8.3.

Risks & Ambiguities

Information Gaps

• The retrieved materials do not include a general, code-level list of when each LADBS form is required for non-solar scopes. Not found in retrieved materials.
• The specific rule that LADBS must hold issuance pending all external clearances is not shown in the retrieved code excerpts. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Fee schedules, wet-stamp/signature rules beyond the solar track, and Citywide ePlanLA file naming/sheet indexing standards are not included. Not found in retrieved materials.

Plain-English Summary

Most Los Angeles permits start with the right portal: PermitLA for simple, no-plan-check work and ePlanLA for anything needing plan review. You’ll pair that with LADBS’s core application forms and get any required outside clearances (fire, stormwater, right-of-way) before issuance; post the City’s construction notice once you have your permit. Solar on homes has a special streamlined track with an online checklist and e-signatures required by code, while Coastal Zone projects need a separate Planning application.

Source References

• Los Angeles Building Code — streamlined residential solar permitting, online submittal, electronic signatures, and inspection scope: § 91.106.5.1.
• Los Angeles Building Code — required posting/maintenance of construction notice: § 91.106.4.8.3.
• Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A — Coastal Development Permit application content and filing venue: § 13B.9.1.
• LADBS forms and portals: PermitLA; ePlanLA; PC/STR/App.01; PC/ELEC/App.02; PC/MECH/App.05; PC/MECH/App.03; Owner-Builder Notice. Official links compiled here.
• ADU — LADBS ADU Standard Plan document submittal requirements (PDF).
• LAFD Plan Check / Fire-Life Safety Review portals.
• BOE Public Works and Class “A” permits; StreetsLA BSSPermits; LADWP Service Requests.

Retrieved passages

• Los Angeles Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Los Angeles Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Los Angeles Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Los Angeles Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Los Angeles Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Los Angeles Zoning Code (ARTICLE 13) High relevance show source text
• Los Angeles Zoning Code High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Los Angeles Building Code — streamlined residential solar permitting, online submittal, electronic signatures, and inspection scope: § 91.106.5.1. (§ 91.106.5.1.)
• Los Angeles Building Code — required posting/maintenance of construction notice: § 91.106.4.8.3. (§ 91.106.4.8.3.)
• Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A — Coastal Development Permit application content and filing venue: § 13B.9.1. (Chapter 1A)
• LADBS forms and portals: PermitLA; ePlanLA; PC/STR/App.01; PC/ELEC/App.02; PC/MECH/App.05; PC/MECH/App.03; Owner-Builder Notice. Official links compiled here.
• ADU — LADBS ADU Standard Plan document submittal requirements (PDF).
• LAFD Plan Check / Fire-Life Safety Review portals.
• BOE Public Works and Class “A” permits; StreetsLA BSSPermits; LADWP Service Requests.
• codebook_California_LA_Permit_OfficialFormLinks.md
• LA City Zoning Code Chapter 1A.md
• codebook_California_LA_ADU_OfficialFormLinks.json
• la_permit_forms_scenarios_checklists_with_links_v2.json
• LA City Rent Rules.md

• Official Los Angeles code library