Local code · Los Angeles

Los Angeles — Plan Check & Review

The Los Angeles Plan Check & Review, explained in plain English with the controlling citations.

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

In Los Angeles, the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) administers building permits and plan review for work subject to the California Building Standards Code and the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC). Most submittals are routed through two online portals: the city’s express-permit system at PermitLA for simple, no–plan-check work, and ePlanLA for full electronic plan review. Where required by code, LADBS can also route plans to other City agencies (e.g., Fire, Public Works) for parallel clearances during plan check. Under local law, a filed plan check has a hard expiration if a permit is not secured by a set deadline. See details below.

The single most important administrative rule: if a permit is not secured within 18 months after plans are filed for checking, the plan check expires and you must recheck and repay plan-check fees (§ 98.0603 ).

What “Plan Check & Review” means in Los Angeles

The city reviews construction documents to confirm compliance with the California Building Standards Code and applicable local ordinances before issuing a permit. Plans may be submitted digitally where allowed, and the Authority Having Jurisdiction may waive plan submittals for minor work when appropriate (§ 104.3.1, § 104.4, California Mechanical Code and California Plumbing Code; ).
LADBS is permitted to circulate plans to other City departments to verify compliance with laws under their jurisdiction (e.g., Fire/Life Safety, Low Impact Development, street work) (§ 104.4 CMC/CPC; ).
Online pathways:
- The city’s express-permit portal issues many over-the-counter permits without plan check through PermitLA (LADBS online express permits) — scope-limited, policy-driven service; see the official portal for current eligibility (PermitLA portal ).
- Full electronic plan submittal and corrections use ePlanLA (Electronic Plan Review) (ePlanLA portal ).

Administrative timelines that affect plan check

The plan-check file expires at 18 months if a permit is not secured; extensions may be granted for unusual conditions if requested in writing. Requests for extensions must be filed no later than 90 days after expiration (§ 98.0603 and § 98.0605 ).
For individual permit applications governed by state mechanical/plumbing administration chapters, applications with no permit issued in 180 days expire unless extended; resubmittal and new plan-review fees may be required (§ 104.3.3 CMC/CPC; ).
For ministerial ADU permits, the State imposes a 60-day approval/denial window after a complete application is received; if the City does not act by then, the ADU is deemed approved by operation of state law (Gov. Code §§ 66317, 66320; HCD 2025 ADU Handbook ). See our Los Angeles ADUs and California ADU law pages for scope and standards.

What LADBS looks for during plan review

Conformance with zoning and land use restrictions is verified via department clearances before issuance; see the Los Angeles Zoning Code (Chapter 1) and updated Chapter 1A zoning system for applicable districts and processes. LADBS routes for agency clearances under its authority to circulate plans (§ 104.4 CMC/CPC; ).
Plans must address development controls and objective standards that other reviewers will check, including Height Districts & FAR, Parking & Loading and applicable Design Review overlays, where applicable to your parcel.
Plan content, scale, signatures, and design professional preparation must meet code standards; digital plan submittal is permitted where authorized (§ 104.3.1 CMC/CPC; ).

Submittal pathways and code anchors

The table below summarizes common LADBS plan-check pathways and the controlling rules that shape them.

Pathway	Typical Scope in LA	Is Plan Check Required?	Key Administrative Rules	Code Reference
Express / ePermit (PermitLA)	Minor, scope-limited work (e.g., certain repairs, simple trade permits) issued online via PermitLA	Usually no plan check; permit is issued if eligible	City policy governs eligibility; general application/permit rules still apply	PermitLA portal (policy-level, Not found in retrieved materials for ordinance)
Electronic Plan Review (ePlanLA)	Most building permits needing plans (additions, new construction, tenant improvements)	Yes	Digital plan submittals are permitted by code when allowed by the AHJ	§ 104.3.1 (digital format allowed) CMC/CPC; ePlanLA portal
Multi-agency Clearances during Plan Check	Fire/Life Safety, LID, BOE/Street work as applicable	Yes, where triggered	AHJ may route plans to other departments; your permit cannot issue until clearances are satisfied	§ 104.4 CMC/CPC; LAFD/LID/BOE portals
Plan-Check File Validity	Any plan-checked permit	—	Plan check expires if no permit is secured within 18 months; limited extensions available	§ 98.0603; § 98.0605 (extension timing)
Application Validity (Trade Codes)	Mechanical/plumbing permits subject to trade-code admin	—	Applications expire after 180 days without issuance; new plan-review fees may apply on renewal	§ 104.3.3 CMC/CPC
ADU Ministerial Timeline	Accessory Dwelling Units	Yes (ministerial)	60-day decision clock from completeness; deemed approved if no timely action	Gov. Code §§ 66317, 66320 (HCD ADU Handbook)

How LADBS plans move through review

Intake: You file the correct LADBS application (e.g., building, electrical, plumbing) and upload plan sheets via ePlanLA (official applications linked in our Los Angeles Permits & Forms hub). LADBS may charge plan-review fees at submittal (§ 104.3.2 CMC/CPC; ).
Routing: The plan is assigned to plan check and automatically routed for City clearances as needed (Fire, Public Works, sanitation stormwater). Code allows such interdepartmental review (§ 104.4 CMC/CPC; ).
Corrections and rechecks: Reviewers issue correction lists; you resubmit until compliant. Not found in retrieved materials for numeric turnaround targets; Verify with the jurisdiction.
Ready-to-Issue (RTI): Once all clearances are satisfied and fees are paid, LADBS issues your permit (§ 104.4 CMC/CPC; ). For zoning or design approvals that precede building permits, see Los Angeles Processes & Procedures.

Practical cross-checks while you draft plans

Make your plans consistent with objective development standards early; that helps minimize corrections across Development Standards, Parking, and overlays in Overlay Districts.
If your scope touches exterior design, signage, or historical resources, pre-check needs against Design Review, Signage, or Historic Preservation pages. LADBS can circulate plans, but Planning/Zoning approvals are separate.

Checklist

Confirm whether your scope is eligible for PermitLA express permitting or requires full ePlanLA plan check (PermitLA/ePlanLA portals ).
Prepare code-compliant digital plans with required signatures; ensure sheets are clear, scaled, and prepared by appropriate design professionals (§ 104.3.1 CMC/CPC ).
File correct LADBS applications and pay plan-review fees at submittal where required (§ 104.3.2 CPC ).
Identify and satisfy all related clearances (e.g., LAFD Fire/Life Safety, LID stormwater, BOE/Street work) that LADBS may require before issuance (§ 104.4 CMC/CPC; portals ).
Track correction cycles until all comments are resolved; Not found in retrieved materials for guaranteed timelines — Verify with the jurisdiction.
Secure the permit within 18 months of plan filing to avoid plan-check expiration (§ 98.0603 ).
If a trade-code application sits idle, mind the 180‑day application clock (§ 104.3.3 CMC/CPC ).
For ADUs, watch the 60‑day statutory clock from completeness (Gov. Code §§ 66317, 66320; ).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Plan-check expiration vs. permit application expiration	LA has an 18‑month plan-check file limit; some trade-code applications expire at 180 days	Confirm which clock applies to your permit type (§ 98.0603; § 104.3.3 CMC/CPC)
Multi-agency clearances blocking issuance	LADBS cannot issue until all routed clearances resolve	Identify all required reviews early; see LAFD/LID/BOE portals (§ 104.4 CMC/CPC)
Digital submittal formatting errors	Incomplete/unclear sheets delay review	Follow digital plan standards; ensure signatures and scale (§ 104.3.1 CMC/CPC)
Assumed “expedite” timelines	Targets vary by workload and program; not guaranteed by ordinance	Not found in retrieved materials; Verify with LADBS for any expedite program details
ADU timing	State imposes 60‑day clock; missing completeness can toll it	Ensure a complete application to start the clock (Gov. Code §§ 66317, 66320; HCD Handbook)
Plan retention and public records	As‑built plans may need to be kept for building life	Check if your building type falls under plan-retention rules (CEBC § 1.8.4.3.1)

Plain-English Summary

If your Los Angeles project needs plans, you’ll submit them through ePlanLA for LADBS plan check. The City can loop in Fire, Public Works, and other departments, and your plan-check file will expire if you don’t pick up the permit within 18 months. Simple jobs can often be pulled online through PermitLA without plan check. For ADUs, the City generally must approve or deny within 60 days after your application is complete.

Source References

LAMC — Expiration of Plan Check and Extension Timing: § 98.0603; § 98.0605 (plan-check expiration, extension deadlines)
California Mechanical Code — Administration for submittals, interdepartmental review, timelines: § 104.3.1; § 104.3.2; § 104.3.3; § 104.4
California Plumbing Code — Administration for submittals, fees, timelines, plan approval/changes: § 104.3.1; § 104.3.2; § 104.3.3; § 104.4; § 104.4.1; § 104.4.2
California Existing Building Code — Plan retention: § 1.8.4.3.1
State ADU timing and ministerial processing: Gov. Code §§ 66317, 66320 (HCD 2025 ADU Handbook)
LADBS portals: PermitLA (express permits) and ePlanLA (electronic plan review) — official City portals for application and plan submittal

Information Gaps

Not found in retrieved materials: official LADBS definitions/eligibility lists for “Express Permit” scopes, published review-cycle timelines, or formal expedite program details. Verify with the jurisdiction.

Sources

Retrieved passages

Los Angeles Zoning Code High relevance
Los Angeles Zoning Code Medium relevance
Los Angeles Zoning Code Medium relevance
CBC § 66316 (§ 66316) Medium relevance
CMC § 104.3.1 (Section 104.3.1.) Medium relevance
Los Angeles Zoning Code Medium relevance
Los Angeles Zoning Code Medium relevance
Los Angeles Zoning Code Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Los Angeles code library

Frequently asked questions

How long does LADBS plan check take in Los Angeles?

There is no fixed citywide turnaround in the ordinance. The controlling deadlines are administrative expirations: a filed plan check expires after 18 months if a permit is not secured (§ 98.0603 ). For ADUs, a separate state 60‑day decision clock applies after a complete submittal (Gov. Code §§ 66317, 66320; ). Verify current workloads and any expedite options with LADBS.

Can I get a building permit online without plan check in Los Angeles?

Often yes, if your scope is eligible for the City’s express-permit service through PermitLA. Eligibility is policy-defined and can change; review the official portal to confirm your scope before applying (PermitLA ). If your project needs plans, use ePlanLA for electronic plan review (ePlanLA ).

What happens if my plan check expires before I pick up the permit?

If a permit is not secured within 18 months after plans are filed, the plan check expires; the plans must be rechecked and a new plan-check fee paid. Limited extensions may be granted for unusual conditions, and extension requests must be submitted within 90 days after expiration (§ 98.0603; § 98.0605 ).

Will my plans be sent to other City departments during review?

They can be. The code allows the Authority Having Jurisdiction to route plans to other departments to verify compliance with laws under their jurisdiction (§ 104.4 CMC/CPC ). Common clearances include Fire/Life Safety and stormwater (LID).

Do ADUs get special plan-check timing in Los Angeles?

Yes. State law requires that ministerial ADU applications be approved or denied within 60 days from completeness, and failure to act can result in a deemed approval (Gov. Code §§ 66317, 66320; HCD 2025 ADU Handbook ). See our Los Angeles ADU page for local submittal specifics.

Can I submit plans digitally?

Yes. Construction documents may be submitted in a digital format where permitted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (§ 104.3.1 CMC/CPC ). LADBS accepts electronic plan review via ePlanLA (ePlanLA portal ).

What fees are due at plan submittal?

Where plans are required, plan-review fees are generally paid at the time of submitting construction documents (§ 104.3.2 CPC ). Additional permit fees are due prior to issuance; check your LADBS fee estimate at intake.

Do my plans have to be kept on file?

Yes, for many buildings the enforcing agency must retain an official copy of the plans during the life of the building; there are exceptions for smaller residential structures (CEBC § 1.8.4.3.1 ). Verify how this applies to your building type.

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