Shed Permit in Los Angeles, California
It depends
We could not confirm this
Before building a shed that exceeds the exempt threshold
Issued byLos Angeles Department of Building and Safety
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
- Typical job value
- $7,200
- declared valuation
Quick answer
One-story detached sheds under 120 square feet and under 12 feet in height are exempt from a building permit in Los Angeles if they have no electrical or plumbing. Sheds at or above 120 sq ft or 12 ft in height require a building permit. Adding utilities to any shed also requires separate trade permits.
Typical threshold: one-story shed under 120 sq ft and under 12 ft in height with no electrical or plumbing does not require a permit.
Who is pulling this permit?
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When a permit is usually needed
Before building a shed that exceeds the exempt threshold
What a shed permit costs in Los Angeles
How Los Angeles compares in California
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Alameda County | It depends | Floor area of a one-story detached tool or storage shed accessory to a house, at which the building permit exemption stops |
| Contra Costa County | It depends | floor area of a one-story detached accessory structure |
| Fresno County | It depends | One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses are exempt from a building permit when the floor area is not greater than 120 square feet |
| Los Angelesthis page | 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 |
| Los Angeles County | It depends | gross floor area of a one-story detached accessory building; the exemption also requires the height not to exceed 12 feet and the maximum roof projection not to exceed 24 inches |
| Orange County | It depends | One-story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, play houses and similar uses are exempt from a building permit only when the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet and the structure sits at least 3 feet from the property line and 6 feet from other buildings on the same property |
| Riverside County | It depends | A one-story detached accessory structure with a floor area of 120 square feet or less is exempt from a building permit, other than a storm shelter |
Closest shed permit thresholds outside California
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Los Angeles's 120 sq ft.
- Aurora, Colorado, shed floor area at which a building permit is required
- Baltimore County, Maryland, accessory structure floor area
- Boston, Massachusetts, one-story detached accessory sheds used for tools or storage are exempt if floor area does not exceed 120 sq ft
- Chandler, Arizona, One-story detached accessory structures (storage sheds, open-air ramadas) with floor area of 120 sq ft or less and height of 7 ft or less (up to 9 ft with 2 additional feet of setback per additional foot of height) are exempt if not connected to any electrical, gas, or water utility; exceeding either limit or connecting a utility requires a building permit.
How to apply in Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, a residential shed permit application, once the shed is large enough to require one, is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the adopted residential code. In practice that means a written permit application, a scaled site plan locating the shed and its distances to the property lines, and construction documents covering the shed's foundation or anchoring system and its framing.
What most shed permit applications include:
- For Los Angeles, a written permit application identifying the proposed work and describing the property by its address or legal description, filed with the building department before construction begins (IRC R105.3).
- For Los Angeles, a scaled site plan showing the shed's size and location and its dimensioned distances to all property lines so required setbacks can be verified before the permit is issued (IRC R106.2).
- Construction documents showing the shed's foundation: freestanding accessory structures at or under the code's small-structure size and eave-height limits (600 square feet and a 10 foot eave height in the model code) are exempt from continuous footings but must still be shown supported on undisturbed soil or engineered fill and anchored to resist wind-induced uplift and overturning (IRC R403.1).
- Where the shed does sit on a continuous foundation with a wood sill plate, anchor bolt or approved strap details tying the sill plate to the foundation (IRC R403.1.6).
- Roof framing details showing the rafter-to-wall or truss-to-wall connections, since even a shed exempt from continuous footings must be anchored to resist wind-induced uplift and overturning (IRC R403.1; R802.11).
General submittal guidance from IRC R105.3 (permit application), R106.2 (site plan), R403.1 (footings and anchorage for accessory structures), and R403.1.6 (sill anchorage), 2021 IRC. 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
Shed Permit in Los Angeles compared with nearby California localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each California schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 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 | |
| Alameda County | It depends | Floor area of a one-story detached tool or storage shed accessory to a house, at which the building permit exemption stops | No shed line item appears in the Building Inspection Department Service Fee Schedule... | |
| Contra Costa County | It depends | floor area of a one-story detached accessory structure | No shed-specific flat fee is published. | |
| Fresno County | It depends | One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses are exempt from a building permit when the floor area is not greater than 120 square feet | For a shed between 120 and 240 square feet the county charges for the Item No. | |
| Los Angeles County | It depends | gross floor area of a one-story detached accessory building; the exemption also requires the height not to exceed 12 feet and the maximum roof projection not to exceed 24 inches | No shed line item is published. |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Los Angeles, a permitted shed is inspected in stages as it goes up: the foundation or the anchors that hold it down before they are covered, the framing before it is enclosed, and a final inspection once the shed is finished. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if skipped.
- Foundation or anchor inspection in Los Angeles: called after any required footings, piers, or ground anchors are set and any forms or reinforcing steel are in place, but before concrete is placed, so the foundation or anchoring system can be verified before it is covered (IRC R109.1.1).
- Frame inspection in Los Angeles: after the shed is framed, sheathed, and braced, the inspector checks the framing, bracing, fasteners, and the roof connections that resist wind uplift, before those elements are covered (IRC R109.1.4 frame inspection; R403.1 anchorage).
- Final inspection in Los Angeles: made after the permitted work is complete and before the shed is used; work may not proceed past any inspection stage without the building official's approval (IRC R109.1.6 final inspection; R109.4 approval required).
- In Los Angeles: for a pre-fabricated or kit shed, the manufacturer's installation instructions must be on site at the time of inspection so the inspector can confirm the anchoring and assembly match the design (IRC R106.1.2).
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 IRC R109.1.1 (foundation inspection), R109.1.4 (frame inspection), R109.1.6 (final inspection), and R106.1.2 (manufacturer's instructions on site), 2021 IRC. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Shed Permit checklist for Los Angeles
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: one-story shed under 120 sq ft and under 12 ft in height with no electrical or plumbing does not require a permit. Usually needed: Before building a shed that exceeds the exempt threshold.
- Budget the fee. No shed-specific valuation multiplier printed; a shed requiring a permit takes the valuation-based building permit fee per LAMC 91.113 Table 1-A off declared project valuation, posted base $65 for valuation $100.01 to $2,000. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Los Angeles, a residential shed permit application, once the shed is large enough to require one, is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the adopted residential code. In practice that means a written permit application, a scaled site plan locating the shed and its distances to the property lines, and construction documents covering the shed's foundation or anchoring system and its framing. 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, a permitted shed is inspected in stages as it goes up: the foundation or the anchors that hold it down before they are covered, the framing before it is enclosed, and a final inspection once the shed is finished. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if skipped.
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 shed permit in Los Angeles?
- One-story detached sheds under 120 square feet and under 12 feet in height are exempt from a building permit in Los Angeles if they have no electrical or plumbing. Sheds at or above 120 sq ft or 12 ft in height require a building permit. Adding utilities to any shed also requires separate trade permits. One-story shed under 120 sq ft and under 12 ft in height with no electrical or plumbing does not require a permit. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a shed permit cost in Los Angeles?
- No shed-specific valuation multiplier printed; a shed requiring a permit takes the valuation-based building permit fee per LAMC 91.113 Table 1-A off declared project valuation, posted base $65 for valuation $100.01 to $2,000. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a shed 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 shed 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 |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Itemized per fixture per LADBS Fee Sch.5 (7/2017), for example a toilet at $23 and 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 |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Residential rooftop PV is an electrical permit with itemized per-component fees per the... |
Shed 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.
- IRC R105.3 (permit application), R106.2 (site plan), R403.1 (footings and anchorage for accessory structures), and R403.1.6 (sill anchorage), 2021 IRC
- IRC R109.1.1 (foundation inspection), R109.1.4 (frame inspection), R109.1.6 (final inspection), and R106.1.2 (manufacturer's instructions on site), 2021 IRC
How this shed 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 Shed Permit requirements across California localities