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Building Permit Requirements
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Do you need a permit for a shed in Los Angeles?

It depends on the project. Los Angeles exempts some sheds from a building permit and requires one for the rest1; the exemption's limit is 120 square feet, with the conditions in the city's wording below.

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. Shed permit fees in Los Angeles
  6. Inspections
  7. Special areas and extra reviews
  8. Who to ask
  9. Shed permit rules in other cities
  10. Sources

Depends on size or scope

Los Angeles's rule

“One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area is not greater than 120 square feet (11.148 m2), not located in Fire District No. 1 and does not contain any heating, plumbing or electrical installation, and is located as permitted by Chapter I of the LAMC.”1

City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Municipal Code, hosted by American Legal Publishing), LAMC 91.101.5 item 1 (Work Not in Scope)

Which permits you need

PermitRequired whenThe city’s wording
Building permitShed over 120 sq ft, in Fire District No. 1, or with heating/plumbing/electricalOne-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area is not greater than 120 square feet (11.148 m2), not located in Fire District No. 1 and does not contain any heating, plumbing or electrical installation, and is located as permitted by Chapter I of the LAMC.1

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 area120 square feetOne-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area is not greater than 120 square feet (11.148 m2), not located in Fire District No. 1 and does not contain any heating, plumbing or electrical installation, and is located as permitted by Chapter I of the LAMC.1
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.2

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?Exempt sheds must still be located as permitted by zoning (LAMC Chapter I)One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area is not greater than 120 square feet (11.148 m2), not located in Fire District No. 1 and does not contain any heating, plumbing or electrical installation, and is located as permitted by Chapter I of the LAMC.1

Who can apply

  • Homeowner (owner-builder) or licensed contractor3
  • Contractors must be licensed by CSLB3

Shed 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 work4

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

Inspections

  1. Final5 Request one day in advance before 2 PM; weekdays 7 AM-3:30 PM3

Special areas and extra reviews

  • Fire District No. 1 limits some exemptions1

Who to ask

Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)8

Building permits

Phone
311 (within the City); (213) 473-3231 (outside Los Angeles)6
Address
201 N. Figueroa St. (Express Permit, Records, Plan Check) and 221 N. Figueroa St. (Inspection), Los Angeles, CA 90012
7
Inspections
Request online (LADBS Online Services, service=rfi) or via 311; one day in advance before 2 PM; inspections weekdays 7 AM-3:30 PM3

Shed permit rules in other cities

Rules differ from city to city. Compare Los Angeles with 18 other cities on the national shed permit guide, or go straight to one:

Sources

  1. SEC. 91.101. TITLE, PURPOSE, AND SCOPE. (LAMC Ch. IX, Art. 1, Div. 1)City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Municipal Code, hosted by American Legal Publishing)Effective December 31, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
  2. 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
  3. Homeowner Step-By-Step | LADBSCity of Los Angeles, Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)Checked November 7, 2026
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. Building & Safety | City Directory | lacity.govCity of Los Angeles (lacity.gov City Directory)Checked November 7, 2026
  7. Metro (Downtown) | LADBSCity of Los Angeles, Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)Checked November 6, 2026
  8. 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