Who can obtain a building permit

Who can obtain a construction permit

Permits are issued only to people who are in compliance with applicable sections of the California Business and Professions Code.

Declarations concerning compliance with state law are included on various permit applications. Applicants should read, complete and sign the applicable declarations if they are true and apply to the project.

Building permits may be issued to:

1. A general building contractor with a Class B license.

2. An appropriately licensed specialty contractor with a Class C license. For example, a C-39 roofing contractor may obtain a building permit to re-roof a building.

3. A property owner who meets one of the following conditions:

a. An owner who builds or erects structures on their property and does the work themselves or through their own employees, with wages as their sole compensation, provided the buildings or structures are not intended or offered for sale within one year of completion of the permitted work.

b. An owner or lessee who contracts for the project with one or more contractors licensed under the Contractors State License Law.

c. A homeowner improving their principal place of residence, provided they meet the conditions of the owner-builder declaration on the permit application.

4. An architect or engineer acting as an agent for the owner.

Note: A general building contractor cannot be issued a permit for fire protection or well drilling classification unless the general building contractor holds the specialty license or subcontracts with the appropriately licensed specialty contractor.

Electrical permits may be issued to:

1. A general building contractor with a Class B license if, in addition to an electrical permit, the general building contractor also does work in at least two other unrelated trades and is issued a building permit concurrently.

2. A Class C-10 licensed electrical contractor.

3. A specialty contractor doing electrical work that is related and subordinate to work in their specialty, such as HVAC or electrical signs.

4. A homeowner for their principal place of residence, provided they meet the conditions of the owner-builder declaration on the permit application.

5. A county-registered maintenance electrician for work being done at the premises of a firm to which a certificate is issued.

Plumbing and sewer permits may be issued to:

1. A general building contractor with a Class B license if, in addition to a plumbing permit, the general building contractor also does work in at least two other unrelated trades or crafts at the same time and is issued a building permit concurrently.

2. A Class C-36 licensed plumbing contractor for any work regulated by the Plumbing Code.

3. A specialty contractor doing plumbing work that is related and subordinate to work in their specialty, such as swimming pools or fire protection.

4. A general engineering contractor with a Class A license or a Class C-42 licensed sanitation system contractor for any house sewer or private sewage disposal system regulated by the Plumbing Code.

5. A homeowner for their principal place of residence, provided they meet the conditions of the owner-builder declaration on the permit application.

6. A person holding a valid Los Angeles County contractor certificate as a plumbing, gas fitting or sewage contractor for work covered by that certificate.

7. An owner-builder may be issued a fire protection system permit, excluding an electrical alarm system, for a single-family dwelling, provided the dwelling is their principal place of residence.

Mechanical permits may be issued to:

1. A general building contractor with a Class B license if, in addition to a mechanical permit, the general building contractor also does work in at least two other unrelated trades or crafts at the same time and is issued a building permit concurrently.

2. A Class C-20 licensed warm air heating, ventilating and air-conditioning contractor.

3. A specialty contractor doing mechanical work that is related and subordinate to work in their specialty, such as refrigeration or HVAC.

4. A homeowner for their principal place of residence, provided they meet the conditions of the owner-builder declaration on the permit application.