Plan check guide · Los Angeles
LADBS reviews building plans against the Los Angeles codes and returns circled correction sheets. This guide collects what the department publishes: which plan check path fits, how to format plans for ePlanLA, which departments sign off, and what the 2026 correction sheets ask designers to show.
In Los Angeles, the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) reviews permit plans through Counter, Expanded Counter, or Regular Plan Check, applying the 2025 California Building Standards Code with Los Angeles amendments. Corrections come back as circled items on standard correction sheets: answer each with a written response and a sheet or detail reference, then verify the corrections with the plan check engineer by appointment.
Los Angeles at a glance
| Question | What the official source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who reviews building plans? | The Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). City Planning, the Fire Department, Public Works, Transportation, and other agencies issue clearances that must be signed off before the permit is issued. | City of Los Angeles Development Services Committee - Building Permit Clearance Handbook |
| Which code applies? | LADBS applies the 2025 California Building Standards Code with Los Angeles amendments. Correction sheets effective January 1, 2026 cite the 2026 Los Angeles Building and Residential Codes alongside CBC sections. | LADBS Information Bulletin P/BC 2026-120 - Policy for Plan Check Time Extension |
| How are plans submitted? | Through ePlanLA, as single-file vector PDFs in landscape layout, bookmarked by sheet number, up to 50 MB per file, with the top-right corner of every sheet left clear for the LADBS stamp. | LADBS - ePlanLA FAQ (FAQ search results, ePlanLA category) |
| How long does plan check take? | Counter Plan Check is reviewed the same day. Regular Plan Check is assigned within a few days and returned within weeks, and LADBS says timing varies with the backlog at submittal. | LADBS - Regular Plan Check |
| How do I respond to corrections? | Answer every circled correction with a written response or detail reference that shows where the revision is, then verify corrections with the plan check engineer by appointment. | LADBS - Commercial Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), PC/STR/Corr.Lst.015 |
| How long is a plan check valid? | Eighteen months, with up to four six-month extensions, for about three and a half years from the original submittal. | LADBS Information Bulletin P/BC 2026-120 - Policy for Plan Check Time Extension |
Sources reviewed September 12, 2026. Requirements change; confirm the current version with City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety.
Who reviews
LADBS plan check covers the building code. Other departments issue clearances that are tracked on the Clearance Summary Worksheet and must be signed off before the permit is issued, and LADBS warns that some take months, so apply for them early.
Clears projects against existing planning cases and conditions, new entitlement actions, and specific plan, HPOZ, CDO, CPIO and POD areas; public hearings or discretionary approvals can affect final design.
Address approval, construction permits for driveways, curbs, gutters and sidewalks, storm drain connections, and encroachments into the public way.
Low Impact Development (LID) sign-off for new construction, additions, parking lot regrading, or pads adding more than 2,500 sq ft of impervious area.
Hydrant and access approval for new buildings and additions valued at $50,000 or more (hydrant spacing, fire lanes, fire hazard severity zones), plus high-piled storage, underground fuel tanks and asbestos removal clearances.
Driveway approval for projects on Boulevard and Avenue roadways or with drive-through uses, and Transportation Demand Ordinance clearance.
Plan check for food facilities, public pools, tattoo shops, wells and x-ray rooms; clearance is given as a Public Health approval stamp on the plans.
New construction or alterations to apartment and commercial buildings receive a separate disabled access and accessibility review.
Green Building Division clearance; Grading Section approval of soils, foundation and geology reports; grading pre-inspection reports for Hillside Grading Area work.
Review paths
For simple projects that need no plan check; can be obtained online.
Same-day, over-the-counter review of simple projects, such as single-story home additions, alterations, tenant improvements, storefront changes, non-bearing partitions and disabled access improvements.
For modest projects such as medium-size home additions and multi-floor tenant improvements with no change in use.
For large, complex projects. Processed at the Metro, Van Nuys and West LA offices, though plans may be submitted at any Development Services Center; plans are assigned to an engineer after submittal.
Paying an additional 50% of the plan check fee expedites regular plan check review.
Paid pre-submittal meeting ($208 plus surcharges) with a plan check engineer to answer code questions before formal submittal.
For major developments: design and permitting run concurrently, with LADBS giving guidance from conceptual design and plan check and correction verification through later design phases.
Counter Plan Check plans are reviewed the same day as submittal; projects suited to the counter can be reviewed in roughly 45 to 60 minutes. (source) Regular Plan Check: plans are assigned within a few days of submittal and returned within weeks, depending on workload. (source) LADBS's FAQ says plan check time varies from week to week based on the backlog at the time of submittal. (source)
What LADBS asks for
LADBS publishes standard correction sheets by project type, and plan check engineers circle the items that apply to your plans. These items come from the 2026 Commercial, Counter, and Adaptive Reuse correction sheets. Paraphrased from the department’s published documents, grouped by topic. The documents do not rank items by how often they are issued.
| Topic | What the published document asks for | Code cited | Sheets that usually change | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code analysis | Show project data on the title sheet: height, stories, basements, floor area, fire district, uses, lot size, construction type, occupancy groups, scope, sprinkler and alarm status, allowable-area analysis. | CBC 903.2, T506.2; CBC 907; CBC 506 | cover/title sheet project data and code analysis | Commercial Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part I General Requirements, C. Administration, item 6 |
| Occupant load and egress width | Label each space with the occupant load factor matching its actual function, and provide width calculations for all egress components. | CBC T1004.5; CBC 1005.2, 1005.3 | occupant load/egress plans; code analysis | Commercial Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part II, H. Means of Egress, items 3 and 10 |
| Travel distance and common path | Dimension the common path of egress travel from each space, and add a legend showing exit locations and travel distance from the most remote point on each story. | CBC 1006.2.1; CBC T1017.2 | egress/life safety plans | Commercial Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part II, H. Means of Egress, items 13 and 40 |
| Number and separation of exits | Provide two exits from any space or story whose occupant load exceeds the table limit, for example more than 49 occupants in Groups A, B, E, F, M or U. | CBC T1006.2.1 | floor plans; egress plan | Commercial Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part II, H. Means of Egress, item 12 |
| Stairs, handrails, and guards | Detail every stairway: 7 in. maximum riser, 11 in. minimum tread, 6 ft 8 in. headroom, required width, landings, handrail height, grip size and extensions, and 42 in. guards. | CBC 1011.2, 1011.3, 1011.5, 1011.6, 1014.2, 1014.4, 1014.7, 1015.3 | stair plans, sections and details | Commercial Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part II, H. Means of Egress, item 25 |
| Fire-rated assemblies | Identify fire areas, fire walls, fire barriers and fire partitions on the plans, with a complete legend and construction details for each. | CBC 702, 706, 707, 708 | fire/life safety plans; wall type legend; rated assembly details | Commercial Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part II, E. Fire-Resistance Rated Construction, item 8 |
| Rated openings and penetrations | Analyze protected and unprotected exterior wall openings; no openings are allowed under 3 ft fire separation distance, and required door and window protection ratings must be shown. | CBC 705.9; CBC T716.1(2); CBC T716.1(3) | exterior elevations; opening area table; door and window schedules | Commercial Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part II, E. Fire-Resistance Rated Construction, item 6 |
| Fire separation distance | Show fire separation distance to interior lot lines, to the centerline of streets, alleys or public ways, and to imaginary lines between buildings, measured perpendicular to the wall. | CBC 202 | site plan; code analysis; exterior wall rating diagram | Commercial Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part II, E. Fire-Resistance Rated Construction, item 2 |
| Path of travel in alterations | Altered elements must fully comply, and alterations or additions need an accessible path of travel to the work area, covering the primary entrance, restrooms, drinking fountains, phones and signs. | 11B-202.3; 11B-202.4 | site plan path of travel; floor plans; restroom enlarged plans; accessibility details | Counter Plan Check Correction Sheet (2026 Code Ref.), Part III, H. Accessibility, items 1-2 |
| Path of travel in alterations | When adjusted construction cost is at or below the valuation threshold, path-of-travel cost may be limited to 20 percent, with an unreasonable hardship request. The sheet lists $203,611; the state updates the threshold each January. | 11B-202.4, Exception | cover sheet valuation and accessibility notes; path-of-travel plan | Counter Plan Check Correction Sheet (2026 Code Ref.), Part III, H. Accessibility, items 3-4 |
| Special inspection | State required continuous or periodic special inspection, and require structural observation for items such as shear walls over 300 plf, hold-down anchors or diaphragms. | Sec 1704; Sec 1709 | structural general notes; special inspection and observation schedule | Counter Plan Check Correction Sheet (2026 Code Ref.), Part III, L. Structural item 13 and M. Add Structural Notes item 2 |
| Special inspection | Require structural observation by a licensed architect or civil/structural engineer for wall anchorage, anchor connectors and continuity ties, and put the completed observation form on the plans. | LABC Section 1704 | structural general notes; structural observation form sheet; anchorage details | Adaptive Reuse Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part II, page 3 of 6, item 8 (structural observation) |
| Sheet coordination | Delete any plans, details or notes that do not apply to this project. | — | general notes; standard detail sheets; any sheet with unused content | Commercial Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part I, C. Administration, item 11 |
| Allowable height and area | Provide an allowable area analysis using the CBC formulas; a frontage increase needs 20 ft unobstructed yards along at least 25% of the building perimeter. | CBC 506.2.1; CBC 506.2.2; CBC 506.3.2 | code analysis on cover sheet; area plans; site plan (frontage) | Commercial Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part II Building Code Requirements, C. Building Limitation, item 4 |
| Allowable height and area | Calculate the grade plane and show it on elevations, sections and site plan; show maximum building height in feet and stories on every elevation. | CBC 202 | exterior elevations; building sections; site plan | Commercial Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part II, C. Building Limitation, items 10-11 |
| Structural calculations and signatures | Every architectural and structural sheet must carry the signature and registration number of a California-registered architect or engineer. | — | title blocks of all architectural and structural sheets | Commercial Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part I, C. Administration, item 4 |
| Geotechnical report | Soils, foundation or geology reports must be approved by the LADBS Grading Section; submit the approved report and approval letter and show compliance with their conditions. | — | foundation plan; structural general notes; grading plan | Commercial Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part I, B. Clearances, item 9 |
| Energy compliance | Make the signed energy certificate of compliance, mandatory measures and calculations part of the plans, and specify insulation R-values for exterior walls, raised floors and roofs. | — | Title 24 energy compliance sheets; wall, floor and roof sections | Counter Plan Check Correction Sheet (2026 Code Ref.), Part III, J. Building Envelope, item 9 |
| Energy compliance | In adaptive reuse work, building envelope changes and new HVAC or lighting must meet Title 24; provide the calculations and include compliance certificates in the plan notes. | — | Title 24 energy sheets; mechanical and lighting plans; general notes | Adaptive Reuse Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part II, A. General Plan/Calculation Requirements, item 15 |
| Green building | Obtain a clearance from the LADBS Green Building Division before the permit can be issued. | — | green building code notes and checklist sheets | Commercial Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part I, B. Clearances, item 15 |
| Plumbing fixture count | Provide a plumbing fixture analysis based on calculated occupant load, with separate facilities by sex where required and maximum travel distance to toilet facilities. | CPC Table 422.1, P/BC 2026-095; CPC 422.2; CPC 422.4 | fixture count table on code analysis sheet; floor plans; restroom enlarged plans | Commercial Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part II, I. Interior Environment, item 4 |
| Fire sprinklers and alarms | Where sprinklers are required, add a plan note that the building will have an NFPA 13 system approved by the Plumbing Division before installation. | CBC 903.2; CBC 903.3.1.1 | general notes; code analysis on cover sheet | Commercial Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part II, G. Fire Protection, item 1 |
| Site plan information | Provide a scaled, fully dimensioned plot plan showing legal description, property lines, setbacks, easements, street centerline, dedications, parking, each building's use and type, new work, and fire walls. | LABC 106.3.2.1; LABC 506.3; CBC 706 | site/plot plan | Commercial Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part I, C. Administration, item 8 |
| Site plan information | Show natural and finished grade elevations around the building perimeter plus floor and roof elevations, and include a survey map signed by a licensed surveyor or civil engineer. | LABC 106.4.3.3 | site plan; exterior elevations; topographic survey | Commercial Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part I, C. Administration, item 9 |
| Site plan information | New buildings valued over $50,000, or with any part 150 ft from an improved street or fire lane, need fire lane access clearance from LAFD's Hydrants and Access Unit. | LAMC 57.503.1 | site plan (fire lane, hydrants, building distances to street) | Commercial Plan Check Correction Sheets (2026 LABC), Part I, B. Clearances, item 16 |
Respond and resubmit
Review the circled corrections on the correction sheet, plans and calculations; answer each with a written response or detail reference that identifies where the revision is on the plans. Source
Verification of corrections is by appointment only; contact the plan check engineer after corrections are addressed. For paper plans, bring the originally checked set, the correction sheet and revised plans. Source
Projects reviewed through ePlan upload plan revisions and correction responses through the ePlanLA portal. Source
The permit is issued only after compliance with the corrections is verified and all clearances on the Clearance Summary Worksheet are signed off, including each agency's conditions. Source
Plan checks extended past three and a half years require resubmitting plans for recheck against current codes, with the plan check fee charged hourly or as the Department sets. Source
Official documents
Counter plan check projects: permit application, clearances, zoning, dwellings and garages, egress, tenant improvements, accessibility, envelope, structural
Commercial buildings (regular plan check): general requirements, occupancy, area/height, fire-resistance, fire protection, egress, interior environment, envelope
Adaptive reuse conversions (live/work, historical buildings): structural, fire and life safety, plan notes
Grading, retaining walls and shoring
Which other-department clearances apply by project type and location (Planning, Public Works, Fire, DOT, Cultural Affairs, Health, others)
Suggested minimum plans, calculations and documents for new commercial/industrial buildings
Before you submit
Upload the drawings with the California Building Code and Los Angeles amendment PDFs that apply to the project. Groundbook compares the sheets with each other and with those references, and links each potential issue to its sources for your team to verify.
Look for incomplete information and conflicting requirements before the first plan check cycle.
Prepare for submissionCompare the stated design with the code and local references you supply.
Review against codesWhich code PDFs to bring, and how Groundbook uses them in a review.
Read the guideQuestions, answered
Answer each circled correction with a written response or a reference to a detail, and state where each revision appears on the plans. Verification is by appointment with the plan check engineer; ePlan projects upload revised plans and responses through ePlanLA.
Single-file vector PDFs in landscape layout, bookmarked by sheet number, 50 MB maximum per file, with a title sheet containing a sheet index. Leave the upper-right corner of every sheet clear for the LADBS approval stamp. Supporting documents go in as portrait PDFs up to 8.5x11 in.
The plan check period is 18 months; LADBS's extension bulletin says it starts when the plan check fee is paid. Administrative six-month extensions, up to four, can stretch it to about three and a half years from original submittal.
Yes. Information Bulletin P/BC 2026-073 allows electronic signatures and electronically generated seals. Each sheet prepared by a licensed professional needs signature, seal and signing date; multi-page calculations or reports need it at least on the title, cover or signature sheet.
No. Groundbook surfaces potential conflicts and omissions in the drawings you upload, with links to the sources, for your team to verify before submitting. LADBS reviews the application and makes every approval decision.
Official source directory
Express, Counter, Expanded Counter, Regular and Preliminary plan check descriptions; ePlanLA link; list of departments that may require clearances
11 pages; effective 1-1-2026, revised 4-3-2026; instructions, clearances, zoning, building and structural items
20 pages; effective 1/1/2026, revised 4/24/2026; response and verification instructions; commercial correction items
6 pages; effective 01-01-2026, revised 04-08-2026
Identifier PC/STR/Corr.Lst.058-2026, effective January 1, 2026; Standard Correction List category
Identifier PC/STR/Corr.Lst.015-2026; links the 2026 commercial PDF
Large complex projects; offices; assigned within a few days; returned within weeks; 50% fee to expedite
Same-day review; roughly 45-60 minute projects; eligible residential and commercial project types
Medium-size home additions; multi-floor TIs with no change in use; page also says plans assigned within a few days
CPC about 45 minutes or less; ECPC same day, typically 2 hours or less; list of other departments/agencies; RTI definition
Plan and drawing format requirements; supporting document format; application steps
Rev. 6.11.2026, 124 pages; clearance scopes for City Planning, Public Works (BOE, Sanitation, Street Services), Fire, DOT, Cultural Affairs, Housing, County Public Health
Effective 01-01-2026; when licensed signature is required; wet or electronic seal and signature rules
Effective 01-01-2026; cover sheet should list 2026 LABC, LAMC, LAPC, LAEC, LAGBC and 2025 Energy Standards
Effective 01-01-2026, revised 03-27-2026; 18-month period, extensions under LAMC 98.0603; references 2025 California Building Standards Code with LA amendments
Fee, scheduling within 5 business days, 1.5-hour maximum meeting
Concurrent design and permitting for major developments
Time varies week to week based on backlog at submittal
Separate disabled access review for apartment and commercial new construction or alterations
Earlier edition still served at the starting-point URL
Earlier edition still served at the starting-point URL; verification appointment instructions
Identifier PC/GRADCorr.Lst.011-2026; links PDF opened and shown as revised 01/01/26
Titles, identifiers and effective dates of 2026 supplemental correction sheets listed in correctionLists
LA Green Building Code is based on the current CALGreen; edition year not stated on page
California plan review guide · All plan check corrections · California AB 253 private plan review · San Francisco plan check · San Diego plan check · San Jose plan check · Seattle plan check · New York City plan check
Upload the drawing set with the code and local references that govern it. Groundbook links each potential issue to its sources for your team to verify.