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Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Los Angeles?

It depends on the project. Los Angeles exempts some roof replacements from a building permit and requires one for the rest1.

Last checked

On this page
  1. Which permits you need
  2. Limits and conditions in Los Angeles's rule
  3. Zoning rules: separate from the building permit
  4. Who can apply
  5. Roof permit fees in Los Angeles
  6. Inspections
  7. Who to ask
  8. Roof permit rules in other cities
  9. Sources

Depends on size or scope

Los Angeles's rule

“No person shall erect, construct, alter, repair, demolish, remove or move any building or structure, nor shall any person commence any liquid washing, compressed air cleaning or steam cleaning of exterior surfaces of any building unless said person has obtained a permit therefor from the department.”1

City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Municipal Code, hosted by American Legal Publishing), LAMC 91.106.1.1

Where Los Angeles names roof replacements

“The Express Permit (e-permit) system allows for several small renovation projects , including replacing windows and doors with ones of the same size and type, re-roofing with Class A or B materials, remodeling kitchens or bathrooms, adding or replacing plumbing fixtures, rewiring electrical outlets and many more.”2

City of Los Angeles, Department of Building and Safety (LADBS), Step 3. Express Permit

Which permits you need

PermitRequired whenThe city’s wording
Roofing permitRe-roofing (Express Permit when Class A or B materials)The Express Permit (e-permit) system allows for several small renovation projects , including replacing windows and doors with ones of the same size and type, re-roofing with Class A or B materials, remodeling kitchens or bathrooms, adding or replacing plumbing fixtures, rewiring electrical outlets and many more.2

Limits and conditions in Los Angeles's rule

Each limit sits next to the sentence it comes from; the conditions in that sentence are part of the rule.

RuleValueThe city’s wording
Exempt up to this project value (the wording covers all work under this value)$2,500Work regulated by this Code that is valued at $2,500 or less, unless it impacts the structural stability of a building, affects public safety, is performed to comply with a Department order, or involves a change in the use or occupancy.1

Zoning rules: separate from the building permit

A project can be exempt from one and still need the other (zoning vs building permits).

Zoning ruleValueThe city’s wording
Zoning approval needed even without a building permit?Yes: exemption from building permit does not authorize violations of other City ordinances (e.g. zoning)Exemptions from permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of the City of Los Angeles.1

Who can apply

  • Homeowner (owner-builder) or licensed contractor2
  • Contractors must be licensed by CSLB2

Roof permit fees in Los Angeles

Fee lines as Los Angeles's schedule states them. A minimum or base fee is not the whole price when the line says the fee grows with project value.

FeeTypeAs the schedule states it
Building permit feeBased on project valuationAs shown in Table No. 1-A for the total value of all construction work3

All of Los Angeles's fee lines are on the Los Angeles permit page.

Inspections

  1. Final4 Request one day in advance before 2 PM; weekdays 7 AM-3:30 PM2

Who to ask

Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)7

Building permits

Phone
311 (within the City); (213) 473-3231 (outside Los Angeles)5
Address
201 N. Figueroa St. (Express Permit, Records, Plan Check) and 221 N. Figueroa St. (Inspection), Los Angeles, CA 90012
6
Inspections
Request online (LADBS Online Services, service=rfi) or via 311; one day in advance before 2 PM; inspections weekdays 7 AM-3:30 PM2

Roof permit rules in other cities

Rules differ from city to city. Compare Los Angeles with 19 other cities on the national roof replacement permit guide, or go straight to one:

Sources

  1. SEC. 91.106. PERMITS. (LAMC Ch. IX, Art. 1, Div. 1)City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Municipal Code, hosted by American Legal Publishing)Checked November 7, 2026
  2. Homeowner Step-By-Step | LADBSCity of Los Angeles, Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)Checked November 7, 2026
  3. SEC. 91.107. FEES. (LAMC Ch. IX, Art. 1, Div. 1)City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Municipal Code, hosted by American Legal Publishing)Checked November 6, 2026
  4. SEC. 91.109. CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY (page also renders SEC. 91.108 INSPECTION)City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Municipal Code, hosted by American Legal Publishing)Checked November 7, 2026
  5. Building & Safety | City Directory | lacity.govCity of Los Angeles (lacity.gov City Directory)Checked November 7, 2026
  6. Metro (Downtown) | LADBSCity of Los Angeles, Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)Checked November 6, 2026
  7. Ordinance No. 188797 (Council File 25-1217): amending LAMC Chapter IX to incorporate the 2025 California Building…City of Los Angeles, Office of the City Clerk (Council File 25-1217)Adopted December 24, 2025Checked November 7, 2026