How Long Does It Take to Get a Permit from LADBS? (2026)
It ranges from the same day to a few months. Express permits are issued in under an hour; standard plan-check permits take a few weeks; ADUs and additions run closer to 60 days or more.
- Express Permit: minutes to about an hour, online via PermitLA — no plan check.
- Over-the-counter plan check: often same day for simple projects reviewed at a Development Services Center.
- Standard plan-check permit: typically a few weeks for a normal residential project with a clean submittal.
- ADU / garage conversion: LADBS targets about 60 days; pre-approved standard plans are faster.
- The biggest delay is almost always incomplete submittals and correction cycles, not the city itself.
- Getting the permit and getting it inspected are two separate timelines.
It depends entirely on which kind of permit you need
“How long does an LADBS permit take” has no single answer, because LADBS runs several tracks. The same department that hands you a water-heater permit in fifteen minutes can take two months on an addition. Here’s the realistic range by track.
Express Permit — minutes to an hour
For work that doesn’t need drawings or review, the Express Permit is issued online through PermitLA in one sitting. A water heater, a like-for-like HVAC or panel swap, an EV charger, or a simple reroof all typically qualify.
Over-the-counter plan check — often same day
Slightly bigger projects that still don’t need a full review can sometimes be approved at a Development Services Center in one visit — you bring the plans, a plan checker reviews them while you wait, and you walk out with the permit.
Standard plan check — a few weeks
Projects that need a real review (most additions, structural work, complex remodels) go into the plan-check queue. For a typical residential project with a complete, code-compliant submittal, expect a few weeks — and add time for every round of corrections.
ADU, garage conversion, and additions — around 60 days or more
Larger residential projects like a garage conversion or ADU are targeted at roughly 60 days. Pre-approved standard ADU plans cut that down because the design is already reviewed.
Want the realistic timeline for your specific project?
Use the Permit360 scope guide — describe your project and we’ll tell you which permit track it falls into and the realistic time to get it issued.
What actually slows a permit down
The city gets blamed for delays that are usually built into the submittal. The real culprits:
- Incomplete submittals. Missing details or forms send your application back before review even starts.
- Correction cycles. Each time a plan checker flags something, the clock pauses while you revise and resubmit. Two or three rounds is common on complex jobs.
- Multiple departments. Projects that also need Planning (zoning), Fire, or LADWP review take longer because each department has its own queue.
- Discretionary review. Anything requiring a variance or special approval moves on a much slower, hearing-based timeline.
The permit timeline vs. the inspection timeline
These are two different things people conflate. Getting the permit issued is one timeline. Getting the work inspected is another — inspections are requested after the work is done and are usually scheduled within a few business days. A project can have several inspections (rough, then final) before it’s closed out. So even an instant Express Permit still has an inspection step a few days after the work wraps.
How to make it faster
Most of the speed is in your control: use Express wherever you qualify, submit a complete and code-compliant package the first time, use pre-approved standard plans for ADUs, and turn corrections around quickly. For the actual filing steps, see how to pull a building permit in LA, and for the fee side, how much an LADBS permit costs in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an Express Permit take?
Minutes to about an hour. Express Permits are issued online through PermitLA with no plan check, so you apply, pay, and download in a single session. Water heaters, like-for-like HVAC and panel swaps, EV chargers, and simple reroofs typically qualify.
How long does a standard plan-check permit take?
Usually a few weeks for a typical residential project, assuming the submittal is complete and there are no major corrections. Each round of corrections adds time, so the cleaner the initial submittal, the faster it clears.
How long does an ADU or garage conversion take?
LADBS targets roughly 60 days for an ADU or garage conversion. Using one of LA’s pre-approved standard ADU plans can shorten that meaningfully, since the design has already been reviewed.
What slows a permit down the most?
Incomplete submittals and correction cycles. Every time a plan checker finds something missing or non-compliant, the clock resets while you fix and resubmit. Projects that also need Planning, Fire, or LADWP review take longer because of the extra departments.
Does the permit timeline include inspections?
No. Getting the permit issued and getting the work inspected are two separate timelines. Inspections are scheduled after the work is done — often within a few business days of your request — and a project can have several inspections before final sign-off.
How can I speed up my permit?
Use Express where you qualify, submit a complete and code-compliant package the first time, use pre-approved standard plans for ADUs, and respond to corrections quickly. Most delay is self-inflicted through incomplete submittals, not the city being slow.