Ready To Issue Permits in Los Angeles – How Does it Work?

Determining whether a city or county building permit is required and securing it are two crucial steps to consider when starting a construction project. The National Association of Realtors cautions that if the necessary permits are not secured before any building works, your planned renovation or construction may be put on hold.

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Before beginning a renovation or construction project, one must obtain a building permit: a written authorization from a local governmental agency that allows you or a hired contractor to start work. The permit—which essentially is permission—ensures the safety of the work and its adherence to zoning, building, and other construction regulations.

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For instance, you'll need a building permit for new custom home construction, additions to/demolition of an existing structure, renovations like a kitchen remodel and garage conversion, or system permits such as electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits.New home building permits do not have unlimited time to start and complete the work. In most cases, you must begin construction within six months or a year. Typically, projects must be finished in a year or 18 months.

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Your project is entered into the system as a plan check when you apply for residential building permits in Los Angeles county through the City of LA. As the permit application progresses, its status is updated as it reaches different milestones. Ready To Issue status is the final phase of the permit application process before the legal document that serves as a construction record to confirm a building project is granted and payments are made.

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Ignoring the permit process can lead to roadblocks down the line such as reduced property resale value, greatly increased cost to permit or demolish the work, homeowner's insurance claims denial, and increased risk of civil prosecution or steep fines for off-permit. In an article by HG. Org titled “Common Problems If You Don’t Get a Construction Permit,” not acquiring a building permit also leaves room for error and uncertainty regarding the construction's quality and safety.

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Types of Permits Required to Build New Home in Los Angeles

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Permits required to build a house will vary depending on geographical location, but in Los Angeles, there are 3 types that every homeowner should be familiar with: a pre-construction permit, construction permit, and post-construction permit.

A pre-construction permit

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Before starting the building process of a new home in Los Angeles, you’re going to need to apply for a pre-construction permit. This is for any systematic assessment like reviewing project plans and schedule and checking for any potential challenges before issuing the construction permit.

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Construction permit

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A construction permit gives you or the contractor you’ve hired the ability to proceed with a construction project on your property.In an article by Home Builder Digest titled “How Much Does It Cost to Build a House in Los Angeles?” the cost of permits to build a house in Los Angeles range in price from $3,135 to $7,400.

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Post-construction permit

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Once you have been granted the go-ahead to begin your project, the process doesn't end with the building permit for house construction. To guarantee that the work was completed as intended and in accordance with the necessary health and safety standards, the City of Los Angeles will provide final approval.

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How Ready to Issue Permits Works in Los Angeles

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Wondering how a permit to build a house on land works? To better navigate this process, here are a few things to know:

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How long does it take to get building permits in Los Angeles?

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Suppose you are working on a residential project. In that case, you should anticipate receiving a building permit within two weeks of submitting an application and all needed documents to the local building department for review. If undertaking a relatively small project, it's possible to get same-day approval. Always check with your local authorities to arm yourself with the right information on which project type and sizereceive quick approval.

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Building permit requirements in Los Angeles

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When it comes to residential building permits in Los Angeles County, the application you submit requires that you detail every aspect of the project, including its commencement date, site location, project scope, development, and management details.

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The primary supporting materials to accompany your application include architectural and structural plans. Once you have submitted all documents, the application goes through a detailed “plancheck” process that determines whether the project complies with local building standards and regulations.

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Types of Projects that Require a Permit

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When it comes to building, some of the projects that require a permit include new residential construction, additions to an existing structure, kitchen and bathroom renovations, HVAC installations or replacements, solar panels, upgraded electrical systems, new pools, installation of new plumbing, installation of a fence of a certain height, and demolition of a portion of the house.

Final Inspection Checklist after Approved Ready to Issue Permits in Los Angeles

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Below we’ll examine what a typical new home construction final inspection checklist includes after the approved Ready to Issue permit in Los Angeles.  

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Plans and Permits

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One of the essential elements of the final checklist is all approved permits and project plans. An article titled “Building Permit Inspection Checklist” by Tejjy reveals that it’s important to ensure that permit information—address,number,description of work—is uptodateand that allapproved drawings are accessible to the inspector. Equally important is the visibility of the street number. Under this category, the final checklist also includes the state of the verge and if construction of the driveway and other structures is in accordance with the approved construction plan.

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Sewage, drainage, and water

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Before concealing any works,the assigned inspector will want to look at any installation while it is still exposed. Under this category, the inspector will check to confirm that sewage system reticulation is up to code, reticulation and hookup of stormwater are in order, the swimming pool has proper fencing, and banks, if any, are correctly sloped with retaining walls.

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Glazing and exterior openings

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Since there is a fair amount of glass in modern residential buildings, the inspector will want to establish that all of the windows have been installed and glazed in accordance with the required standards, all exterior penetrations are successfully sealed, and emergency and rescue apertures can be accessed without keys or any equipment. Under this category, the inspector will further want to confirm whether potentially dangerous areas like sliding, shower, and storm doors have safety glazing, external doors are up to code, and the chimney, if any,has the proper height and is equipped with spark arresters.

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Garages

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The inspector will examine a few things under the garage category, such as whether all garage arrangements comply with fire separation standards, whether the garage door leading into the house is self-closing, fire-rated, and weather-stripping, and whether penetrations in ceilings and garage walls are sealed with materials that meet code requirements.

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Gardenbuildings, stairways, and decks

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New house final inspection checklist also includes the garden buildings, stairways, and decks category. It details whether all decks, gazebos, summerhouses, and outdoor stairways adhere to location, size, and setback requirements, whether the proper preservative and sealant were applied to any raw edges and notches, and if the decking is protected against the elements.

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Interior design

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Additionally, your inspector will assessceiling and head heights, stair proportions, installation of balustrades, railings, and safety obstacles, attic access and its door thickness and insulation, the safety of all electrical, conduits, wiring, plug points, fixtures, and lighting installations, and if installation of smoke alarms, fire-warning equipment, sprinkler systems, and carbon monoxide detectors meets the approved plans and local law.

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Crawl spaces, floors, cellars, and basements

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The final inspection checklist for a new home also looks at proper ventilation of the crawl area under the floor, vapor barrier installation, materials used for basement structure, support, moisture barriers, and flood, removal of construction debris from the crawl space, and the materials type and thickness used for flooring.

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General

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Under this category, the inspector will check that fire equipment is up to code and works properly, all structural elements such as drainage systems and swimming pools are certified, ifthe roof structure fabrication, waterproofing, and fire compliance certificates have been pulled, and whether the land surveyor and electrical compliance certificates have been submitted.

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Steps Involved after Getting Home Building Permits in Los Angeles

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So, you’ve finally gotten a permit to build a house in your desired lot. But are you familiar with the steps involved in building a new home? Fret not. A step by step custom home construction process is all you need to understand to get started:

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The site work and masonry phase

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The first construction step after acquiring your new home building permits starts with the lot itself. Using a backhoe and a bulldozer, the siteis cleared, excess dirt moved, and the land is leveled. Once the plot plan is approved, your home's position is staked so builders can identify where the foundation should be poured.

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After the footings,formed of brick masonry or concrete, have been set in place, concrete is poured for the foundation.Once the concrete has had time to set, all underground plumbing and electric system are laid, and the basement and garage slab are poured.

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Framing

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The framing process begins after the city inspector has verified that the foundation has been properly laid and given the project the all-clear. This is where the skeleton of your new house starts to take shape. This step involves building the house's wall, floor, and roof systems before wrapping it in a protective sheathing. Essentially, a protective wrap shields the frame from moisture, keeping mold and wood rot at bay. Thereafter, roofing goes on.

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Plumbing, electric & more

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Once the shell is finished, the rough plumbing, electrical, and HVAC contractors begin to establish the framework for these systems. A burst of activity during this phase of construction includes the installation of heating and cooling ducts, plumbing and indoor sewer pipes, wiring for electrical outlets, and installation of electrical switches.

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Insulation, drywall & flooring

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After the home passes the rough mechanicals, exterior and interior walls, floors, ceilings, and areas around the basement, crawl spaces, or attic are insulated to ensure the most energy-efficient home possible. Drywallcommonly referred to as "sheetrock," is hung and finished. Any raised surfaces like seams are taped and concealed.Once all that is completed, flooring is laid and all cabinets installed.

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Landscaping & exterior aspects

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At this stage, exterior works; everything from applying siding, stucco, stone, or brick to building the driveway, walkway, and patio, are carried out. During this construction phase, sod can be laid and trees planted by a professional landscaper. To make sure your new home adheres to building codes, the city inspector conducts the final assessment. A Certificate of Occupancy is issued.

Common FAQ about Getting Ready to Issue Permits in Los Angeles

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1.Who Arranges for the Permit in Los Angeles?

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According to Public Works Los Angeles, the permit can be obtained or “pulled” by a qualified, licensed contractor responsible for your building project. Permit for house construction can also be obtained by an authorized agent representing either the homeowner or contractor. In some instances, certain residential projects allow the homeowner to pull the residential building permits for Los Angeles County. In such a case, the homeowner is considered the contractor and therefore accountable for any construction problems that may arise during or after the project.

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2.How can I find a licensed contractor in Los Angeles to get an RTI permit?

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To find a licensed contractor in Los Angeles to pull city permits for construction, you can use online lookup tools that provide a directory of all licensed contractors and any licensing infractions they may have.

3.Does my custom home project require a general contractor to get home building permits in Los Angeles?

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Whether your project needs a permit depends on what is required by the Los Angeles local building code. Custom home projects, that is building from the ground up, require a permit to ensure that all works meet building standards and regulations and that the structure is safe for future occupancy.

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4.When can I hire a general contractor to get my new home construction RTI permits in Los Angeles?

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You will need to hire a general contractor to pull a permit to build a house on land before you conduct any construction work.

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