Do you actually need a permit?
Most homeowners guess wrong. Answer 3 simple questions to find out exactly what Los Angeles requires for your project.
Takes 30 seconds · No credit card required to check
Stop Work Orders
City inspectors can force you to tear down completed work or halt construction entirely if permits are missing.
Insurance Denials
Unpermitted work often voids homeowner policies. If a fire starts from an unpermitted electrical job, you pay out of pocket.
Lost Home Value
When selling, buyers demand permits for renovations or require massive price cuts during escrow.
What counts as a "project" in LA?
From massive additions to simple weekend upgrades, the city has strict rules on what requires a permit. Do any of these look familiar?
Backyard ADU
Swimming Pool
Kitchen Remodel
Bathroom Remodel
New Windows
Wall Removal
Electrical Panel
New Roof
Wood Deck
Privacy Fence
Water Heater
HVAC System
What happens if you skip the permit?
The city of Los Angeles takes unpermitted work seriously. Skipping the permit process can lead to devastating consequences for homeowners.
Stop-Work Orders
If a city inspector or a neighbor spots unpermitted work, the city will issue a stop-work order. Your project freezes immediately, and you cannot resume until you retroactively apply for permits (which often carry severe penalty fees).
Forced Demolition
If you built something that violates local zoning codes (like building too close to a property line), the city won't just fine you. They can legally force you to tear down the completed work at your own expense.
Huge Financial Fines
Los Angeles aggressively penalizes unpermitted work. Code enforcement fines can quickly escalate into the thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars if ignored.
Escrow Nightmares
When selling, buyers will check permit history. Unpermitted bedrooms or ADUs cannot be legally included in the home's square footage, forcing you to slash your asking price while the buyer walks away.
Why Google won't give you the right answer
Searching "do I need a permit for a fence in LA?" will give you a dozen conflicting answers. That's because Los Angeles permit rules are not a simple "yes" or "no"—they depend entirely on your specific property's zoning, your lot size, hillside designations, and the exact dimensions of your project. Generic search results ignore your parcel data. PermitNow doesn't.
The Old Way vs. PermitNow
- 1Spend hours digging through the outdated LADBS website trying to find your project type.
- 2Call the city, wait on hold for 45 minutes, and get a vague, non-committal answer from a clerk.
- 3Show up in person at the permit office only to be told you brought the wrong forms.
- 1Answer 3 simple questions about your project on your phone.
- 2Get an instant, definitive YES or NO answer based on LA's actual zoning rules.
- 3Receive exactly the forms and links you need. Done in 2 minutes.
See exactly what you'll get
No surprises. Answer a few questions and get your definitive answer.
- Immediate YES/NO permit decision for your specific project
- Personalized guidance based on your property zone
- Official LADBS portal links and resources