How to Look Up Permit History on a House in LA
Use Atlas, the free LADBS records tool, to look up permits, building info, and the Certificate of Occupancy by address. Here is how to check a property and what to do if the records are not online.
- Atlas is the free LADBS records tool — search any address for permits, building info, and the Certificate of Occupancy.
- Atlas replaced the old Building Information Online (BIO) system.
- Before buying, compare the permits on record against what’s actually in the house — a mismatch flags unpermitted work.
- If records aren’t digitized, submit a Records Research Request or order a Residential Property / Parcel Profile Report.
- Found unpermitted work? It can usually be legalized retroactively — at extra cost.
The fast way: Atlas
LADBS keeps building records in a free online tool called Atlas — an interactive map you search by address. It replaced the older Building Information Online (BIO) system, and it’s the first place to look. Pull up a property and you can see the permits on file, building information, and the Certificate of Occupancy, plus map layers like zoning and fault zones.
- Open the LADBS building records page and launch Atlas
- Search by the property address
- Open the parcel to view its permit history, building records, and Certificate of Occupancy
What you can find — and why it matters
Permit history answers a few high-stakes questions:
- Was that addition, garage conversion, or deck permitted? If the home has finished space the permits don’t account for, that’s likely unpermitted work.
- Are there open or expired permits? A permit that was pulled but never finalized can block a sale until it’s closed.
- What is the legal use and occupancy? The Certificate of Occupancy tells you what the building is legally approved to be.
Found work that was never permitted?
Use the Permit360 scope guide to see what permits that work should have had, and the fee calculator to estimate what legalizing it would cost.
Checking a house before you buy
This is the single most valuable use of permit history. Before closing, look up the address in Atlas and walk the home with the records in hand. A converted garage, a finished basement, an addition, or a raised deck with no matching permit is a warning sign — because once you own it, the unpermitted work, and the cost to legalize it, becomes your problem. It’s far cheaper to negotiate that with the seller than to discover it at your own resale.
When the records aren’t online
Older records — especially for homes built decades ago — may not be digitized in Atlas. When that happens, LADBS offers other paths through its Property Records services: a Records Research Request (by email or appointment), a Residential Property Report, a Parcel Profile Report, or a Zoning Information Letter. These can surface records that don’t appear in the online map.
What to do if you find unpermitted work
Don’t panic — most unpermitted work can be legalized through retroactive permitting. It costs more than doing it right the first time (LADBS charges a doubled fee under LAMC §91.107.5.1, plus the $356 Code Violation Inspection Fee under LAMC §98.0421), but it clears the record and removes the resale problem. A previously converted garage is the most common example. For the full picture, see what happens if you remodel without a permit in LA.
Where this fits in the broader LA permit picture
Looking up records is the flip side of pulling a permit — one creates the record, the other reads it. After you complete permitted work, it’s worth confirming it shows up in Atlas so your own record is clean for the future.
Frequently asked questions
How do I look up permits on a property in LA?
Use Atlas, the free LADBS records tool. Search by the property address and you can view the permits on file, building information, and the Certificate of Occupancy. Atlas replaced the older Building Information Online (BIO) system.
What is Atlas?
Atlas is the LADBS interactive map application for finding parcels and buildings by address. It lets you pull up permit records, building data, and zoning, fault, methane, and other map layers for a property — all free and online.
Can I check whether past work was permitted before I buy a house?
Yes, and you should. Look up the address in Atlas and compare the permits on record against what you see in the home. A finished garage, addition, or deck with no matching permit is a red flag for unpermitted work that could become your problem after closing.
What if the records aren’t online?
Older records may not be digitized. In that case, submit a Records Research Request to LADBS by email or appointment, or order a Residential Property Report or Parcel Profile Report through the LADBS Property Records services.
How do I find the Certificate of Occupancy?
The Certificate of Occupancy is part of the building records you can search through Atlas. For older buildings or missing certificates, a Records Research Request to LADBS is the way to track it down.
I found unpermitted work — what do I do now?
Unpermitted work can usually be legalized through retroactive permitting. It costs more than permitting upfront, but it clears the record. If you’re buying, factor the cost in or ask the seller to resolve it before closing.