The 7 permits every LA renovation actually needs

Ask a contractor how long your renovation will take and you’ll get a construction number. The number that actually rules your calendar is the permit timeline — and in Los Angeles it ranges from same-day to six months depending on what your project touches and where your lot sits.

The core four

Nearly every real renovation carries these. They are routine — when the drawings are complete the first time.

• Building permit. Any structural change, wall removal, addition, or conversion.
• Electrical permit. New circuits, panel upgrades, and most fixture relocations.
• Plumbing permit. Moving or adding supply, drains, or gas lines.
• Mechanical permit. HVAC replacement, new ducting, and range-hood venting.

The three that surprise people

• Coastal review. West of Lincoln in Venice, most of Malibu and the beach cities. Adds 6–20 weeks.
• Hillside review. Grading, retaining, and haul-route approvals on sloped lots. Adds 4–12 weeks.
• Historic overlay (HPOZ). Exterior changes in designated neighborhoods go before a board. Adds 4–10 weeks — or one hearing, if the application is done right.

None of these are reasons not to build. They are reasons to know your overlay before you fall in love with a design — which is why our feasibility step happens before design, not after.

A permit is only slow when it’s a surprise.