Custodian of Records
Anyone can initiate a request to Public Records. It may include a wide variety of documents and materials (including print, photographic, and electronic formats) that were created or obtained by the LADBS.
About the Program
The California State Legislature adopted the Public Records Act in 1968. It is designed to give the public access to information in the possession of public agencies. The Act also provides that public records shall be open for inspection during regular office hours of the agency. The public can inspect or receive a copy of any record unless the record is exempted from disclosure under the act.
Additional Resources
- FAQ
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Once you have your plans ready for submittal, you can submit them through our Eplan portal using the address '1 Standard Plan Way'. Please include in the work description, 'ADU Standard Plan Program: X-Story, X-bedroom(s) with options. (XXX sf)'. You will need to submit plans for each unit you are proposing.
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Once you have your plans ready for submittal, you can submit them through our Eplan portal using the address ‘1 Standard Plan Way’. Please include in the work description, SFH or ADU or MISC ‘Standard Plan Program: X-Story, X-bedroom(s) with options. (XXX sf)’. You will need to submit plans for each unit you are proposing.
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The evaluation time frame is based on the complexity of the product. Contact the Engineering Research Section for the current status. The process to obtain a Los Angeles City Research Report consists of the following steps:
- Determine if a LARR is required or not using the Information Bulletin P/BC 2020-119.
- Submit the following information to the Los Angeles City Department of Building and Safety Engineering Research Section: product literature describing how your product is to be used, substantiating data (i.e. test reports by approved 3rd party testing agency, engineering analysis), a completed application form for new LARR, along with a check in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank.
- Once this information is received, your application package will be reviewed for completeness. If any deficiencies are determined, a letter will be sent to the applicant stating the deficiencies requiring correction or completeness.
- After determining the application package is complete, the application will be logged in and assigned a log number and placed in line for review.
- The substantiating data submitted will be evaluated to determine if it is at least the equivalent of the prescribed devise, material, or method of construction specified by the Los Angeles City Building Code in terms of quality, effective time period of fire resistance, strength, effectiveness, durability, and safety.
- After reviewing the substantiating data, the research engineer assigned to the application will write a letter stating their comments and the information needed to complete the evaluation and/or correct the evaluation, if necessary.
- Upon resolution of all comments a draft copy of the Los Angeles City Research Report will be written. The draft copy of the Research Report will be e-mailed to the applicant for their review and comment. In addition, a supplemental fee will be sent to the applicant to bill the additional reviewing hours for the report approval beyond the first 6 hours.
- After all comments from the applicant have been resolved and the supplemental fee has been paid by the applicant, the Research Report will be submitted to the Chief of the Engineering Research Section for final review and approval. A signed copy of the Los Angeles City Research Report will be mailed to the applicant and a copy will be posted on the LADBS web site.
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The evaluation time frame is based on the complexity of the product. Contact the Building Research Section for the current status.
The process to obtain a Los Angeles City Research Report consists of the following steps:
- Determine if a LARR is required or not, using the Information Bulletin P/BC 2020-119
- Submit the following information to the Los Angeles City Department of Building and Safety Building Research Section:
- Product literature describing how your product is to be used
- Substantiating data (i.e. test reports by approved 3rd party testing agency, engineering analysis)
- A completed application form for new LARR (PC-STR.App18)
- A check in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank.
- Once this information is received, your application package will be reviewed for completeness. If any deficiencies are determined, a letter will be sent to the applicant stating the deficiencies requiring correction or completeness.
- After determining the application package is complete, the application will be logged in and assigned a log number and placed in line for review.
- The substantiating data submitted will be evaluated to determine if it is at least the equivalent of the prescribed device, material, or method of construction specified by the Los Angeles City Building Code in terms of quality, effective time period of fire resistance, strength, effectiveness, durability, and safety.
- After reviewing the substantiating data, the research engineer assigned to the application will write a letter stating their comments and the information needed to complete the evaluation, if necessary.
- Upon resolution of all comments, a draft copy of the Los Angeles City Research Report will be written. The draft copy of the Research Report will be e-mailed to the applicant for their review and comments. In addition, a supplemental fee will be sent to the applicant to bill the additional reviewing hours for the report approval beyond the first 6 hours.
- After all comments from the applicant have been resolved and the supplemental fee has been paid by the applicant, the Research Report will be submitted to the Chief of the Building Research Section for final review and approval. A signed copy of the Los Angeles City Research Report will be mailed to the applicant and will also be posted on the LADBS website under "LA Research Reports".
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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.
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- To obtain a building permit, you will need to provide a completed Building Permit Application, a copy of the LA City approved stamped ADU Standard Plan, and plans indicating how the Standard Plan will be adapted to a specific site. This should include the necessary details indicating how and where the structure will be built in a specific location (i.e. plot plan showing setbacks, etc.).
- All applications and plans must then be submitted at one of our offices or uploaded/submitted via Eplan. No structural calculations are required. The Department will review all of the plans and issue a building permit once it is verified site-specific factors for the property, including compliance with the Zoning Code and foundation requirements.
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For a complete listing of building permit submittal requirements, please refer to the Building Permit Checklist.
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- To obtain a building permit, you will need to provide a complete Building Permit application, a copy of the LA City approved stamped Standard Plan, and plans indicating how the Standard Plan will be adapted to a specific site. This should include the necessary details indicating how and where the structure will be built in a specific location (i.e. plot plan showing setbacks, etc.).
- All applications and plans must then be submitted at one of our offices or uploaded/submitted via Eplan. No structural calculations are required. The Department will review all of the plans and issue a building permit once it is verified that site-specific factors for the property, including compliance with foundation requirements are met.
- For a complete listing of building permit submittal requirements, please refer to the Standard Plan - Building Permit Submittal Checklist.
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Eaves: Project into the required side yard not more than 4 inches for each foot of width of such side yard, provided the width of the side yard is not reduced to less than 30 inches. Project into the required front and rear yards not more than 30 inches. Project into the side yard adjoining the street lot line of a corner lot not more than 30 inches, provided the width is not reduced to less than 30 inches.
Open roof and unenclosed trellis
Open, unenclosed stairways or balconies not covered by a roof or canopy: Project into a required rear yard not more than 4 feet. Project into a required front yard 30 inches. Project into the side yard adjoining a street lot line of a corner lot, not more than 30 inches, provided the width is not reduced to less than 30 inches.
Open, unenclosed porches, platforms, or landing places (including access stairways) not covered by a roof or canopy which does not extend above the level of the first floor of the building, provided: Projection is maximum 6 feet into the required front, side, and rear yards Projection is maximum 6 feet above adjacent grade.
Chimney: Project into the required front, side, and rear yards not more than 2 feet. The width of the required side yard shall not be reduced to less than 3 feet.
A bay window or garden type window of normal size may project 8 inches into a required side yard, provided the width of the required side yard is not reduced to less than 3 feet.
Tankless water heaters may project 18 inches into the required side yard, provided such side yard is not reduced to less than 3 feet in width.
The following roof structures are allowed to project above the like-for-like height limit:
Stairway housing (no larger than 72 square feet) may project 5 feet.
Elevator housing may project 5 feet, provided it is setback a minimum of 5 feet from the roof perimeter.
Chimneys may project 5 feet.
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The proposed conversion will be subject to all zoning code and fire sprinkler regulations in place at the time of the proposed change of use. If the ADU or JADU was constructed within an existing building, non-conforming rights from the building and use that existed prior to the ADU or JADU may be considered at the discretion of LADBS.
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