Building and Safety's Financial Services section should have sent an invoice to the person(s) responsible for the fee. If you believe you have fees due, contact the Inspector or the Inspector's supervisor for confirmation.

The letter is sent out as a reminder that the recipient of the order is required to comply with the violations, and to call the Inspector for an inspection before the compliance date on the letter. 

If you can not comply by the date, call the Inspector for further options specific to your situation.

Several options are available. Talk to your Inspector to determine the best option for your particular situation.

You can review the past and present activity on a particular property with our free online Permit and Inspection Report. It shows both Permit activity and Code Enforcement activity.

The Zoning Code Manual and Commentary PDF is an interpretation of the Zoning code. It is a useful tool to answer more specific questions regarding Zoning.

Zoning Information for a particular property can be obtained by:

• Permit & Inspection Report
• Generate a Zoning Information Letter
• ZIMAS (Zone Information Map Access System)
• The City's 3-1-1 Call Center refers zoning questions to our Engineers and Inspectors. Customers calling within Los Angeles County area may call 311. Customers calling outside of Los Angeles County who need information in the Los Angeles city jurisdiction may call (213) 473-3231

A prevailing setback is a calculation used to determine minimum distance construction can be from the front property line, essentially a front yard measurement. An online Yard Setback Information File is provided to assist in determining this complex calculation.

Many building records can be researched online.

You may also obtain copies of these documents in person at our following locations:

Downtown LA - Metro201 N. Figueroa St.
1st Floor, Room 110 Van Nuys
6262 Van Nuys Blvd
2nd Floor, Room 251 Downtown LA - Metro
201 N. Figueroa St.
1st Floor, Room 110 Van Nuys
6262 Van Nuys Blvd
2nd Floor, Room 251 Downtown LA - Metro
201 N. Figueroa St.
1st Floor, Room 110Downtown LA - Metro
Downtown LA - Metro
201 N. Figueroa St
Van Nuys
6262 Van Nuys Blvd
2nd Floor, Room 251Van NuysVan Nuys
6262 Van Nuys Blvd
Research Request Form (.pdf)

By Mail

The Metro and Van Nuys offices accept requests for records (Research Request Form (.pdf)) by fax and/or mail. (Please allow 7 - 15 working days for processing). The following mailing addresses are:
 

The Metro and Van Nuys offices also provide training for individuals who wish to learn how to research for high volume jobs.

To schedule for training at the Metro office on Tuesday only, please call (213) 482-6899 or at the Van Nuys office on Wednesday only, please call (818) 374-4390.

Find all the forms to make a data request on our Service Requests forms page.

The areas that provide records include the Plan Check and Inspection System (PCIS) and Code Enforcement Information System (CEIS).

The forms package includes:

• Request to Purchase PCIS/CofO/CEIS Data
• Instructions for Obtaining PCIS/CofO/CEIS data
• Record layout for Building Permit data from PCIS
• Record Layout for Building Permit Data with CofO Data from PCIS
• Record Layout for Mechanical and Electrical Permit Data from PCIS
• Record Layout for Code Enforcement Cases from CEIS
• Record Layout for Customer Service Request from CEIS

Claim for Refunds must be prepared on the Department of Building and Safety Claim for Refund form (MISC-Form.01). You may also use the "City of Los Angeles Claim For Refund" form (Form Gen 64).

You will need to attach your original cash register receipt and your application or permit copy containing the original cash register validation. If you do not attach your original receipt and application or permit, an affidavit stating why you cannot submit the originals, signed by you and notarized, will be accepted. However, if you submit an affidavit in lieu of receipts, you will also be required to submit a copy, front and back of your canceled check or other proof of payment. Your claim will NOT be processed without these documents.

Your completed refund form and attached documents can be filed at any Office of the City Clerk or mailed to:

City Clerk
Room 395, City Hall
200 N. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012-4869

You may also submit your refund form at any Department of Building & Safety cashier counter.  The cashier will then forward the claim to the City Clerk's Office.

A claim for refund of fees paid to the Department of Building and Safety must be filed:

1. Within one year from the date of payment of the fee (L.A.M.C. Section 22.12 & 22.13)
2. Within one year from the date of expiration of extensions on building or grading permits granted by the Department of Building and Safety (L.A.M.C. Section 98.0420).

Refunds will be made on fees where no work has been performed for which the fee, application, permit or appeal was required, provided that the City has not made any physical inspection or review or conducted any hearing, conducted any test, or done any similar work. Under these conditions, 80% of the fees paid will be refunded (20% is retained to cover clerical and administrative costs).

If a valuation on a building permit was reduced, 100% of the difference will be refunded.

If a Department of Building & Safety error was made in issuing the application, 100% of the fees paid will be refunded.

1. The City Clerk's office will assign a number, date stamp and log in your claim. They will then send it to Building and Safety, Financial Services for review.
2. Financial Services staff will also log it in. The refund will be forwarded to the applicable division for refund recommendation. For example, if the refund is for a building permit, requests will be sent to our Plan Check Engineers and our Building Inspectors. Our Department staff will review the refund requests and make appropriate recommendations. These recommendations will be sent back to Financial Services.
3. Financial Services staff will complete the audit on the claim, make the necessary calculations and set up either the refund or the denial letter. When completed, the refund or denial letter will be mailed to the claimant.

The BBSC consists of five citizens appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. The BBSC is granted the authority, by the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) and by the City Charter, to hear many kinds of appeals related to Building ordinances.

Read more about the BBSC.

The BBSC is granted the authority by the Code and by the City Charter, to hear many kinds of appeals, including but not limited to the following:

• Appeals of the Department’s action regarding requests for slight modifications of the Building Ordinances and/or Code Violation Inspection Fee Ordinances, pursuant to the authority described in LAMC Section 98.0403.1(b) 1.
• Appeals from determinations, orders or actions of the Department pertaining to enforcement of specific ordinances, regulations or laws in individual cases, pursuant to LAMC Section 98.0403.1(b) 2 (i.e. error and abuse, except land use issues)
• Applications for import/export of soil pursuant to LAMC Section 91.7006.7.4.
• "Quasi-Judicial" proceedings pursuant to Division 89 of the LAMC (NOID, PNH)
• Adoption of Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, HVAC, etc Ordinances
• The BBSC does not hear cases related to land use ordinances. These cases shall be heard by the Department of City Planning in accordance with Section 12.26K of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.
• Read more about the BBSC appeals process.

1. The Appeal processing Fee is $130.00 for the first item plus $39.00 for each additional item and a 6% surcharge. Additional fees may be added for research ($104.00/hour) and inspection ($84.00/hour).
   
   Board Fee is based on Table 4-A (found in LAMC Section 98.0403.2) (see Table 4-A below). The cost to file the appeal consists of the appeal processing fee and the Board fee combined.
   
   Applications for import/export have a filing fee of $529.00 for the first 1000 cubic yards and $100.00 additional for each 1000 cubic yards or portion of 1000 cubic yards, plus surcharges (17% + $10.00).
2. Department of City Planning Case applications have an Appeal processing fee of $130.00 with a 6% surcharge. Additional fees may be added for research ($104.00/hour) and inspection ($84.00/hour)

Table 4-A  FILING FEES * FOR APPEALS  FIRST ITEM FOR SINGLE BUILDING TYPE OF BUILDING **  GROUP OCCUPANCY  V IV and II-N  III  I and II EXCEPT II-N   Each Additional Item  R-3 and U  $215  $215  $215  $215  $76  A,B,E,F,H,I,M,S and R-1 and R-2  $354  $354  $354  $632  $215  All other filing fees not covered in the above schedule including appeals   pursuant to Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 12.26, shall be $500.00 for the first item and $150.00 for each additional item. Table 4-A Table 4-A  FILING FEES * FOR APPEALS  FILING FEES * FOR APPEALS  FIRST ITEM FOR SINGLE BUILDING TYPE OF BUILDING **  FIRST ITEM FOR SINGLE BUILDING TYPE OF BUILDING **  GROUP OCCUPANCY  V IV and II-N  III  I and II EXCEPT II-N   Each Additional Item  GROUP OCCUPANCY VIV and II-N III I and II EXCEPT II-N  Each Additional Item  R-3 and U  $215  $215  $215  $215  $76  R-3 and U $215 $215 $215 $215 $76  A,B,E,F,H,I,M,S and R-1 and R-2  $354  $354  $354  $632  $215  A,B,E,F,H,I,M,S and R-1 and R-2 $354 $354 $354 $632 $215  All other filing fees not covered in the above schedule including appeals   pursuant to Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 12.26, shall be $500.00 for the first item and $150.00 for each additional item.  All other filing fees not covered in the above schedule including appeals   pursuant to Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 12.26, shall be $500.00 for the first item and $150.00 for each additional item.

Generally, an appeal to the BBSC is scheduled for a hearing date within thirty days of receipt of the appeal to the BBSC. This time period will be extended in cases that require additional documentation and/or research. In the case of import/export applications, the scheduled hearing date is contingent upon receipt of the appropriate environmental clearance from the Department of City Planning (i.e. Categorical Exemption, Mitigated Negative Declaration, or Environmental Impact Report) AND responses from the Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Works. 

Notices for all cases on an upcoming hearing are mailed out to interested parties and/or the owner approximately ten days prior to the date of the hearing. For more information regarding a specific application or appeal, contact the Commission Office at (213) 482-0466.

Also, you may refer to Import/Export Route (Haul Route) Requests Status Table (.pdf) for the status of Import/Export (Haul Route) cases submitted to the Department.