Building Permits in Long Beach

Long Beach requires a building permit for most construction, alteration, and repair work affecting structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems. Permits are issued by the City of Long Beach Development Services Department — Building & Safety Bureau, which administers plan review, inspections, and code enforcement for the city.

Long Beach is an independent charter city in Los Angeles County. Unlike unincorporated county areas, Long Beach has its own building department — not the LA County Department of Public Works — and its own local amendments to state code.

Long Beach enforces the 2022 California Building Standards Code (Title 24), which includes:

• CBC — California Building Code (based on 2021 IBC)
• CRC — California Residential Code (based on 2021 IRC)
• CPC — California Plumbing Code
• CMC — California Mechanical Code
• CEC — California Electrical Code (based on 2020 NEC)
• CEnC — California Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6)
• CALGreen — California Green Building Standards Code (Title 24, Part 11)

Local Long Beach amendments to Title 24 may apply; confirm current amendments with the Building & Safety Bureau before submitting plans.

When You Need a Permit

You generally need a Long Beach building permit for:

• New construction, additions, and accessory structures (including ADUs and JADUs)
• Structural alterations, load-bearing wall changes, and foundation work
• Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical (HVAC) changes, including panel upgrades and EV charger installations
• Reroofing and window or door openings in exterior walls
• Swimming pools, spas, and retaining walls above applicable height thresholds
• Solar photovoltaic (PV) system installations
• Demolition of any habitable structure

Minor cosmetic work (painting, floor coverings, cabinetry without plumbing or electrical changes) is typically exempt. When in doubt, contact the Building & Safety Bureau before starting work.

LB Permit Center — The Online Portal

The Long Beach Citizen Access Portal (citizenaccess.longbeach.gov), also called the LB Permit Center, is Long Beach's Accela-based permitting system. Through this portal you can:

• Create an applicant account and submit new permit applications
• Upload plans and documents for electronic plan review
• Respond to correction comments and resubmit revised plans
• Pay permit fees online
• Request and track inspection status

In-person service is available at the Development Services Department counter for applicants who prefer to submit paper documents or need counter assistance. Check the Building & Safety Bureau's webpage for current counter hours and address.

Permit Costs

Long Beach building permit fees are calculated primarily from project valuation, with additional fees for plan check, inspections, and applicable impact or utility charges. Typical fee components include:

• Building permit fee — scales with project valuation per the fee schedule
• Plan check fee — a percentage of the building permit fee
• Inspection fees — charged per trade (electrical, plumbing, mechanical)
• Impact fees — applicable for new construction or added habitable square footage (transportation, parks, schools, utilities)
• CALGreen / energy compliance fees — for new construction subject to mandatory energy reporting

Do not rely on third-party fee estimates. Always consult the current Long Beach Building Fee Schedule published by the Development Services Department at longbeach.gov/lbds/building/ for exact amounts.

Typical Timeline

California ADU rule: Under California Government Code § 65852.2, the City must issue an approval or denial on a complete ADU permit application within 60 calendar days. This is a state-mandated ministerial review — no discretionary hearing is required for qualifying ADUs.

Second and third correction cycles are typically shorter than the initial review if the applicant addresses all plan check comments fully in the resubmittal.

The Process

1. Pre-submittal: Confirm zoning district, overlays (coastal zone, planned development, historic), and applicable Title 24 edition for your parcel using the city's GIS resources and the LB Permit Center
2. Plans: Prepare drawings stamped by a California-licensed architect or engineer where required; include energy compliance (Title 24 Part 6) and CALGreen documentation as applicable
3. Submit via LB Permit Center: Create an account at citizenaccess.longbeach.gov, upload plans and supporting documents, and pay initial fees
4. Plan review: Building & Safety Bureau reviewers check plans for compliance with the CBC/CRC, energy code, CALGreen, zoning, and fire code; multiple disciplines may review simultaneously
5. Corrections: Respond to plan check comments in the portal and resubmit revised documents
6. Permit issuance: Pay any remaining fees and receive the approved permit; keep approved plans and permit on-site during construction
7. Inspections: Schedule required inspections at each construction phase through the portal or by phone
8. Final: Pass final inspection; receive a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) or Certificate of Final Completion where applicable

Inspections

Typical inspection stages for a residential project include:

• Foundation / footings (before concrete pour)
• Underground plumbing and electrical
• Framing (before sheathing)
• Rough plumbing, electrical, and mechanical
• Insulation (before drywall)
• Drywall (before taping or texture)
• Title 24 energy compliance verification
• Final building and trade inspections

The approved permit and stamped plans must be accessible on-site at each inspection. Request inspections at least one business day in advance through the LB Permit Center or by contacting the Building & Safety Bureau directly.

California Energy Code and CALGreen

Because Long Beach enforces California Title 24, all new construction and major alterations must comply with the California Energy Code (Part 6) — one of the most stringent in the country. Key requirements include:

• HERS (Home Energy Rating System) verification by a certified rater for new residential construction
• Solar-ready or mandatory solar PV requirements for new single-family homes under the 2022 code
• CALGreen (Part 11) mandatory measures for construction waste diversion, water efficiency, and indoor air quality

Title 24 energy compliance documentation must be included in the plan check submittal.

Common Reasons for Denial or Corrections

• Plans don't meet the 2022 California Building Code or Long Beach local amendments
• Missing Title 24 energy compliance forms (CF-1R, CF-2R, etc.) or HERS verification documentation
• Missing structural calculations, soils report, or design-professional stamps required for the project type
• Zoning conflicts (setbacks, height limits, lot coverage, use) not resolved before submittal
• Coastal Zone Development Permit not obtained where required by the California Coastal Act
• Missing CALGreen documentation or water/waste management plan
• Incomplete submittal — missing sheets, civil or site plan, or required forms

Official Sources

Always verify current requirements with the City of Long Beach Development Services Department — Building & Safety Bureau and the LB Permit Center portal before submitting plans or starting construction. See the sources listed in the frontmatter for direct links to the Building & Safety Bureau, the Citizen Access Portal, Long Beach Municipal Code, California Title 24, and California ADU law.

Disclaimer: This guide summarizes publicly available information from official City of Long Beach and State of California sources and is provided for general orientation only. It does not constitute legal or engineering advice. Building code and permitting requirements change — always confirm current rules with the City of Long Beach Development Services Department — Building & Safety Bureau before submitting plans or starting construction.