Plumbing Permit in Los Angeles, California
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
For all new plumbing fixture additions and pipe work
Issued byLos Angeles Department of Building and Safety
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
- Typical job value
- $7,200
- declared valuation
Quick answer
A plumbing permit is required in Los Angeles for new plumbing, fixture additions, underground water pipe replacement, and water heater replacement. Fixture replacement or addition and water heater replacement qualify for an Express Permit (no plan check required). A licensed plumber is typically required for permitted work.
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When a permit is usually needed
For all new plumbing fixture additions and pipe work
What a plumbing permit costs in Los Angeles
How Los Angeles compares in California
No California jurisdiction we have verified sets a size threshold for this permit, so what actually differs between them is the fee.
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|
| Alameda County | Permit required | Building Inspection Department Service Fee Schedule (Schedule A, effective... |
| Contra Costa County | Permit required | Land Development Fee Schedule S-002 E.6, "Plumbing Permit (Other) $75.00... |
| Fresno County | Permit required | Section 2512 Plumbing Code Fees, FY 2026-27: Alteration, repair or addition of... |
| Los Angelesthis page | Permit required | Itemized per fixture per LADBS Fee Sch.5 (7/2017), for example a toilet at $23... |
| Los Angeles County | Permit required | Plumbing Code Fee Schedule (Title 28 of the Los Angeles Code, Ord. |
| Orange County | Permit required | Plumbing Permit Application Flat Fee: $363 for FY 2024-25, $383 for FY... |
| Riverside County | Permit required | Residential Plumbing (BPL-RPLU): $274.30 fixed fee, per Appendix A to... |
How to apply in Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, you apply for a residential plumbing permit at your local building department by filing an application that describes the scope of work and site, along with construction documents, before any regulated plumbing installation, alteration, or repair begins. Minor repairs that do not touch piping or fixtures are generally exempt, and once issued the permit only stays valid if work is started within its time limit.
What most plumbing permit applications include:
- For Los Angeles, a permit is required before any owner or authorized agent constructs, alters, repairs, removes, converts, or replaces a plumbing system regulated by the code (IRC R105.1).
- For Los Angeles, the application must identify and describe the work, describe the site, state the intended use and occupancy, and be signed by the applicant or an authorized agent (IRC R105.3).
- Two or more sets of construction documents must accompany the application, drawn with enough clarity to show the location, nature, and extent of the proposed plumbing work and how it will conform to code (IRC R106.1, R106.1.1).
- Minor plumbing repairs, such as clearing a stoppage or removing and resetting a water closet without rearranging pipes or fixtures, are exempt from permit (IRC R105.2).
- Once issued, a permit is only valid for a limited window, commonly 180 days, and becomes invalid if the work is not started or is abandoned within that time, though extensions can be requested (IRC R105.3.2, R105.5).
General submittal guidance from 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), Chapter 1 Scope and Administration, Sections R105 Permits and R106 Construction Documents. Source. Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety sets the exact checklist for Los Angeles.
Where to apply in Los Angeles:
Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety
- 201 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
- Phone: (213) 473-3231
Plumbing Permit in Los Angeles compared with nearby California localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each California schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Permit required | Not specified | Itemized per fixture per LADBS Fee Sch.5 (7/2017), for example a toilet at $23 and a... | |
| Alameda County | Permit required | Not specified | Building Inspection Department Service Fee Schedule (Schedule A, effective July 1... | |
| Contra Costa County | Permit required | Not specified | Land Development Fee Schedule S-002 E.6, "Plumbing Permit (Other) $75.00 minimum."... | |
| Fresno County | Permit required | Not specified | Section 2512 Plumbing Code Fees, FY 2026-27: Alteration, repair or addition of a drain... | |
| Los Angeles County | Permit required | Not specified | Plumbing Code Fee Schedule (Title 28 of the Los Angeles Code, Ord. |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Los Angeles, plumbing inspections are timed to whatever is about to hide the pipe: underground and under-slab piping is checked before concrete covers it, rough-in piping is pressure or water tested before walls close up, and a final inspection checks every fixture and backflow protection once the work is complete.
- In Los Angeles: piping and equipment placed under a slab or floor must be in place and inspected before any concrete is poured or floor sheathing is installed over it (IRC R109.1.1.1).
- In Los Angeles: rough plumbing, along with the mechanical, gas, and electrical rough-in, must be inspected prior to covering or concealment and before fixtures or appliances are set (IRC R109.1.2).
- In Los Angeles: rough drain, waste, and vent (DWV) piping is tested with water, air, or (for plastic piping) a vacuum, and must show no evidence of leakage before it is closed in (IRC P2503.5.1).
- In Los Angeles: the water-distribution piping is tested and must hold tight under the system's working pressure, or under a 50 psi air test for non-plastic piping, before it is concealed (IRC P2503.7).
- In Los Angeles: the framing inspection cannot proceed until the plumbing rough inspection, along with the mechanical and electrical rough inspections, has been approved (IRC R109.1.4).
- In Los Angeles: at the final drainage test, each fixture is filled and then drained, and its traps and fixture connections must prove watertight by visual inspection (IRC P2503.5.2).
- In Los Angeles: final inspection is made after all work required by the permit is complete, and includes confirming backflow protection, such as vacuum breakers on hose bibbs, is installed (IRC R109.1.6, P2902.4.3).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Los Angeles permit portal or by phone at (213) 473-3231.
Inspection sequence from 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), Section R109 Inspections and Section P2503 Inspection and Tests. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Plumbing Permit checklist for Los Angeles
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: For all new plumbing fixture additions and pipe work.
- Budget the fee. Itemized per fixture per LADBS Fee Sch.5 (7/2017), for example a toilet at $23 and a water heater at $28, with a minimum of $55 for one item under $55 or $90 for two or more items, plus 3% D.S.C.S. and 6% Systems surcharges. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Los Angeles, you apply for a residential plumbing permit at your local building department by filing an application that describes the scope of work and site, along with construction documents, before any regulated plumbing installation, alteration, or repair begins. Minor repairs that do not touch piping or fixtures are generally exempt, and once issued the permit only stays valid if work is started within its time limit. Start at the Los Angeles permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. Phone: (213) 473-3231. Address: 201 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.
- Plan for inspections. In Los Angeles, plumbing inspections are timed to whatever is about to hide the pipe: underground and under-slab piping is checked before concrete covers it, rough-in piping is pressure or water tested before walls close up, and a final inspection checks every fixture and backflow protection once the work is complete.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
First-time inspection pass rates in Los Angeles
Measured from Los Angeles's own inspection event log: how often each inspection type passes on the first visit.
- Final: 62% pass first time (n=80,069)
- Smoke Detectors: 90% pass first time (n=38,441)
- Floor/Roof Diaphrgm/Shear Wall: 61% pass first time (n=33,475)
- Interior/Exterior Lathing: 50% pass first time (n=23,574)
- Footing/Foundation/Slab: 58% pass first time (n=21,651)
to . Source: City of Los Angeles building and safety inspections (open data). Full study.
Permitting activity in Los Angeles
In 2024, Los Angeles authorized permits for 10,488 new residential housing units (3,041 single-family, 7,447 in multi-family buildings), valued at $1.6B, down from 13,154 the year before. That works out to about 2.6 permits per 1,000 residents.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual data · population 3,970,219.
About Los Angeles
Los Angeles has about 1,537,034 housing units. The median home is valued at $879,500, against a median household income of $80,366. About 36% of homes are owner-occupied, and the typical home was built around 1964.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a plumbing permit in Los Angeles?
- A plumbing permit is required in Los Angeles for new plumbing, fixture additions, underground water pipe replacement, and water heater replacement. Fixture replacement or addition and water heater replacement qualify for an Express Permit (no plan check required). A licensed plumber is typically required for permitted work. Always confirm with the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety before starting.
- How much does a plumbing permit cost in Los Angeles?
- Itemized per fixture per LADBS Fee Sch.5 (7/2017), for example a toilet at $23 and a water heater at $28, with a minimum of $55 for one item under $55 or $90 for two or more items, plus 3% D.S.C.S. and 6% Systems surcharges. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a plumbing permit in Los Angeles?
- You can apply through the Los Angeles permit portal or contact the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a plumbing permit themselves in Los Angeles?
- Under California law (Business & Professions Code 7044(a)-(b); Business & Professions Code 7031.5): California exempts an owner-builder from contractor licensing when the owner personally performs the work, or uses only wage employees, on their own property and does not intend the improvements for sale. A homeowner may also directly hire licensed trade contractors for up to four single-family residences a year, or improve their own principal residence without a general contractor's license, as long as they have actually lived there for the 12 months before the work is finished. Selling a self-built structure within one year of completion creates a rebuttable presumption that it was built for sale, which defeats the exemption, and selling five or more structures within a year makes that presumption conclusive. Separately, every city or county that requires a building permit must also require the applicant to file a signed statement giving their contractor license number or the basis of their claimed exemption; a false or missing statement carries a $500 civil penalty. Confirm how Los Angeles applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Los Angeles
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Building permit fee is graduated by declared project valuation per LAMC 91.113 Table... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Itemized per installed item per the LADBS Electrical Permit Fee Schedule (rev 12/2016):... |
| Fence Permit | It depends | masonry or concrete fence up to 6 ft in height may be built without a permit if it meets LADBS construction specifications in IB-P-BC2014-080; a solid masonry infill panel between pilasters may not exceed 3 ft 6 in with lightweight open material filling the remaining height; non-masonry fence height threshold not confirmed from official page | Valuation-based building permit per LAMC 91.113 Table 1-A |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Itemized per piece of equipment per LADBS Fee Sch.3 (7/2017), for example a gas furnace... |
| Patio Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Valuation-based building permit per LAMC 91.113 Table 1-A |
| Pool Permit | Permit required | Not specified | The pool shell takes a valuation-based building permit with the LADBS Valuation Table... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Valuation-based building permit per LAMC 91.113 Table 1-A |
| Shed Permit | It depends | one-story shed under 120 sq ft and under 12 ft in height with no electrical or plumbing does not require a permit | No shed-specific valuation multiplier printed |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Residential rooftop PV is an electrical permit with itemized per-component fees per the... |
Plumbing Permit in other California localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Los Angeles documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this plumbing permit page for Los Angeles was verified. 2 official sources: dbs.lacity.gov, dbs.lacity.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Plumbing Permit requirements across California localities