LADBS New Building permit (ground-up construction): Los Angeles restaurant guide

LADBS

What it is

A new building goes through LADBS Regular Plan Check with full structural, grading, accessibility, energy and green-code review, plus clearances from Planning (site plan review, parking), BOE (sewer connection/SFC, street dedication), LAFD, LADWP and the Health Department before the permit issues.

When a restaurant needs it

Ground-up construction (not a tenant improvement).

How to apply

The architect/engineer of record submits the complete set in ePlanLA for Regular Plan Check; the licensed general contractor pulls the permit after all clearances.

Documents you’ll need

Full architectural, structural, MEP and civil sets
Soils/grading report
Planning entitlements and site plan review clearance
BOE sewer connection permit and SFC
LAFD plan review
Health Department plan approval

Fee

Varies — based on valuation; see LADBS Permit Fee Calculator (expedited plan check costs 50% more)

Processing time

Months — Regular Plan Check with multiple correction cycles

Renewal

Permit expires if work does not start/continue per LADBS rules

Who files

Filed by the architect/engineer of record; permit pulled by the licensed GC.

Good to know

New buildings cannot use the Restaurant & Small Business Express path alone — ask the RSBEP case manager to coordinate, but expect Planning entitlements (and possibly CEQA) first.

Official source

LADBS — building permits (new building requires plan check) · LADBS — regular plan check

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Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Guidance only, not legal advice.