PLAN CHECK
What is a Plan Check?
Plan Check is a review of plans, drawings and documents by the Building Official for compliance with the building codes. An accurate and detailed set of plans, specifications and supporting documents is required for most construction projects. Typical projects can be reviewed during a visit to a Building and Safety office, either at the counter or by appointment for more complex projects, or electronically via the EPIC-LA website (for unincorporated areas) or at the BSOP Web Application (for contract cities). Plan check may be required before a permit can be issued.
What is a Plan Check?
Plan Check is a review of plans, drawings and documents by the Building Official for compliance with the building codes. An accurate and detailed set of plans, specifications and supporting documents is required for most construction projects. Typical projects can be reviewed during a visit to a Building and Safety office, either at the counter or by appointment for more complex projects, or electronically via the EPIC-LA website (for unincorporated areas) or at the BSOP Web Application (for contract cities). Plan check may be required before a permit can be issued.
What type of Plan Check do you need?
Steps
Building Plan Check
-
STEP 1
Submit two sets of plans and specifications and pay any required plan check fees
Screen Permit Application Package for Completeness -
STEP 2
The plan check engineer provides the applicant an agency referral sheet of County, State, federal or other agencies, from whom the applicant will need to obtain approval prior to permit issuance
Agency Referral Sheet Given to Applicant -
STEP 3
The plan check engineer reviews all documents for compliance with the Code and when necessary corrections are noted on plans and correction sheet. Applicant notified plans ready for pick up.
Plans and Specifications Reviewed -
STEP 4
Applicant makes noted corrections and resubmits plans.
Plans Picked up, Corrected and Resubmitted -
STEP 5
Plans are re-checked and approved.
Plan Rechecked and Approved -
STEP 6
Applicant submits approvals from all agencies listed on the agency referral sheet.
Agency Approvals Submitted -
STEP 7
Project Ready for Permit Issuance
EPIC-LA
Electronic Permitting and Inspections for the County of Los Angeles (EPIC-LA), is the online portal to Building and Safety Division’s electronic permitting services. On this site, you can submit plans, specifications, and supporting documents for review and approval, pay permit fees, and apply for a permit
Tell me about Building Check
What work is covered by the Building Code?
The provisions of Title 26, the Los Angeles County Building Code (LACBC) and Title 30, the Los Angeles County Residential Building Code (LACRBC), apply to the construction, addition, alteration, moving, demolition, repair, and use of any building or structure, and grading.
Where do I submit for an Building Code Plan Check?
Building Code plan checks are processed at the local Building and Safety District Office or online via EPIC-LA (for unincorporated areas) or at the BSOP Web Application (for contract cities).
When is a Building Plan Check required?
Contacting the Building Official at the local Building and Safety District Office to discuss your project is an easy way to determine if a plan review is required. Even though a plan check or permit may not be required, the Building Official may provide information regarding the code and referrals to other agencies that might impact a project.
Plan check is usually required, but not limited to, the following:
- New buildings.
- Additions to buildings.
- Tenant Improvements.
- Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU).
- Miscellaneous items (decks, patios, fences over six feet, fireplaces, pools, retaining walls, ADA striping and path of travel, etc.).
- Remodels and renovations (changes in occupancy/use, garage conversions, kitchen remodels, etc.).
- New and expanded Electrical systems. See Electrical Plan Check.
- Significant Plumbing system changes See Plumbing Plan Check.
- New and expanded HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning) systems. See Mechanical Plan Check.
- Changes to existing site drainage and grading See Drainage/Grading Plan Check.
- Grading. See Drainage/Grading Plan Check.
What is the Building Plan Check submittal process?
The plan check submittal process includes the following:
- Completed permit application,
- Payment of plan check fees,
- Submittal of plans for review by plan check engineer
Simple plans like patio covers or carports may be reviewed over the counter. More complex plans will need to be submitted. There are 4 ways you may submit plans:
- On paper, at the Building and Safety District Office that serves your project location. Please provide two sets of plans.
- Digitally, at the Building and Safety District Office that serves your project location. Please provide the plans as a single PDF and any additional calculations or specifications as separate PDFs.
- For unincorporated areas online at the EPIC-LA website, please provide the plans as a single PDF and any additional calculations or specifications as separate PDFs. The EPIC-LA website requires registration to establish an account. Invoices for fees will be emailed and linked to the appropriate EPIC-LA accounts and may be paid in person at one of the Building and Safety District Office or via EPIC-LA.
- For Contract Cities, all online applications may be submitted via the BSOP Web Application.
What is the Building Plan Check review process?
If a project is too complex to plan check over-the-counter, it will be taken in and reviewed in the order it was received. Turn-around time may vary depending on the volume of plans submitted to an office. Any elements of the plans that are not in compliance will be noted on the plans and a correction list will be provided. When a plan requires code corrections, the applicant will need to correct and resubmit the plans. Recheck times will vary depending on the extent of the corrections. When all corrections have been made, the plans are stamped approved by the plan check engineer. The project is ready for permit issuance, pending the approvals of any required agencies found on the Agency Referral Sheet.
With a digital submittal, any correction lists and plans with comments will be uploaded to the website. The applicants will then receive a call and/or email notifying them about the status of their plan check.
Plan check expiration and extension
A permit application expires if no permit is issued within one year following the date the application is initiated. If the applicant can show that circumstances beyond the applicant’s control prevented him or her from obtaining permits before the expiration date, the applicant may be granted up to two extensions of 180 days each, upon written request. An extension fee of up to 25 percent of the plan check fee may be required. No permit application will be extended more than two times, after which a new application must be filed, and new plan check fees paid.
Over–the-counter plan check
Projects that can be plan-checked in 15 minutes or less may be reviewed over-the-counter, during the morning office counter hours. Check with the Building and Safety District Office for specific building plan check public counter hours. It is Building and Safety Division’s goal to review as many small projects over the counter as possible.
Typical projects that may be checked over-the-counter:
- Plans classified by the Building Plan Check Engineer as “small projects”.
- Plans for residential remodel 600 square feet or less.
- Projects that meet the conventional framing provisions of the Building Code,
- Plans for small commercial remodels.
- Plans for limited tenant improvement projects.
What if my plan has corrections?
When a plan requires code corrections, the applicant will need to make the necessary corrections and resubmit the plans. The ensuing recheck will vary in time depending on the extent of the corrections. When all corrections have been made, the plans are stamped approved by the plan check engineer. The project is ready for permit issuance, pending the approvals of any required agencies found on the Agency Referral Sheet.