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KB / Planning reference

Prepare for residential permits with the right local authority.

A starting point for whole-home remodeling and ADUs in Greater Los Angeles. These are official reference links and preparation questions, not a determination for your property.

Permit-preparation desk

Start with the address and proposed work. This checklist organizes a conversation with the reviewing offices; it is not an eligibility or approval decision.

Project type

Likely starting authority: —

Confirm the actual parcel jurisdiction first. A mailing-city or neighborhood label is not proof of authority.

From questions to inspections

  1. 01

    Property and scope

    Bring the address, existing drawings or permit records, photos and a marked sketch of the proposed changes.

  2. 02

    Planning review

    Ask whether the proposed use, placement, exterior work or parcel designations require land-use review.

  3. 03

    Building review

    Ask which drawings and specialist reports are needed; an existing-structure remodel and a new unit may need different information.

  4. 04

    Corrections and clearances

    Keep written reviewer comments together, assign answers to the right specialists and ask which other offices must sign off.

  5. 05

    Permit and inspections

    Confirm the permit documents and inspection stages with the issuing agency before scheduling work or covering work.

Questions to take to the agency

Your selections and marks are only on this device and are not submitted by printing.

Three different reviewing paths

Compare the agency starting points, not legal rules across borders. The County row applies only to confirmed unincorporated parcels.

City of Los Angeles

Planning / parcel start

Check the parcel in ZIMAS and ask City Planning about applicable zoning or overlays.

Construction / permit start

Ask LA Building and Safety about drawings, plan review, clearances and inspections for the proposed work.

Official sources

Selected link checks: . No comparable live permit activity series is available; counts would not predict parcel review time.

A catalog plan is not a site permit

A plan reviewed in advance can be a starting design. Confirm its current use rights, local acceptance, parcel fit, structural/foundation adaptation, utility connections and remaining permit submission with the issuing authority. None of these catalogs guarantees approval or a faster project schedule.

Read the ADU feasibility guide ↗

Terms you may hear

Jurisdiction
The public agency with authority over the address; a postal city or neighborhood name alone does not prove it.
Planning review
Review of applicable land-use and site rules, distinct from checking construction drawings for building safety.
Plan check
Agency examination of submitted construction documents; the reviewer may request corrections before approval.
Clearance
A required sign-off or referral from another agency or discipline when applicable to the project.
Preapproved plan
A previously reviewed design option, not approval to build it on a particular parcel or a substitute for a site-specific permit.
JADU
Junior accessory dwelling unit: a configuration distinct from a detached, attached or conversion ADU; ask the local agency which rules apply.

Agency directory by service community

Open the local guide and its official sources. Local labels are starting points, not a parcel boundary lookup.

Take the next step

Open your private project briefDiscuss the project

KB Remodeling · Greater Los Angeles

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