Do I Need a Permit to Remodel a Kitchen or Bathroom in Los Angeles?
Who issues the permit for your address, what usually needs one, and how we handle permits and inspections for you.
Usually, yes. Most kitchen and bathroom remodels involving plumbing, electrical, gas lines, or structural modifications require permits in Los Angeles. The harder question is who issues the permit, because “Los Angeles” covers the City of Los Angeles, unincorporated county areas and separate cities, each with its own building department.
Step 1: find out who issues the permit for your address
A Los Angeles mailing address does not always mean the City of Los Angeles. The building department depends on where the property actually sits.
| Where the property is | Who issues the permit | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| City of Los Angeles (for example Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Encino, Westchester) | LA Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) | A residential kitchen or bathroom remodel with no structural changes can be issued as an Express Permit, without plan check. Changes that need plan review go through plan check. |
| Unincorporated LA County (for example Altadena, Marina del Rey) | LA County Public Works, Building and Safety | Permits and inspections are handled online through EPIC-LA. The County lists residential remodels of 600 square feet or less among plans that can be reviewed over the counter. |
| Cities that contract with the County | LA County Building and Safety, on behalf of the city | Some cities, such as La Mirada, contract with the County for building services. |
| Cities with their own building department, such as Burbank, Glendale and Santa Monica | That city’s Building and Safety division | Each city has its own process and timing. Santa Monica, for example, offers same-day review for some projects, and Burbank’s Building Division contacts applicants after submission. |
We check this for you from your address before we quote, so the right permit and the right inspection schedule are in your plan from day one.
Step 2: what in your project needs a permit
- Plumbing: moving or adding a sink, toilet, shower or drain.
- Electrical: new circuits, new lighting or moving outlets.
- Gas: moving or adding a gas line for a range or cooktop.
- Walls and structure: removing or moving a wall, or making a new opening. In the City of Los Angeles, structural changes take the project out of the Express Permit route and into plan check.
- Cabinets: in the City of Los Angeles, a guide published on the LADBS site says new cabinets installed in a kitchen or bathroom require a permit.
If you are unsure whether a smaller job needs a permit, ask before the work starts. Rules differ between cities, and it is easier to permit work before it is done than after.
Step 3: how KBLA handles it
- We confirm which building department covers your address.
- We apply for the permit as your licensed contractor (CSLB #1085229) and include the fees in your written quote.
- We book each inspection when the work reaches that stage: for example plumbing and electrical before the walls close, and a final inspection at the end.
- You get the signed-off permit record when the project is finished.
Not sure which city your home is in? We will check it at the free visit.
Permit questions
Who pulls the permit, me or the contractor?
We do. As the licensed contractor on the job, we apply, pay the fees as part of your quote and meet the inspector.
Does a permit slow the project down?
It can add time before work starts, especially when plan check is needed. Remodels that qualify for an express or over-the-counter permit move faster. We include the permit step in your written schedule.
What happens if past work in my house was done without a permit?
Tell us at the consultation. Unpermitted work can come up during a remodel or a sale, and it is easier to plan for it early.
More: kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, kitchen cost guide, bathroom cost guide.
Official resources
Tell us about your project
Four short steps, about a minute. We call within 1 business day to set up your free in-home consultation.
- No obligation, no sales pressure
- Photos help us prepare, but are optional
- Prefer to talk? Call (323) 212-3020