LADBS ePlan: a builder's walkthrough of the LA permit portal
8 min read · Reviewed 2026-05-15
LADBS moved residential plan check fully online in 2022. The line at Figueroa Plaza is gone, and so is the half-day required to physically walk a set across the counter. What replaced it is ePlan — an electronic portal that works well once you know its quirks, and badly if you treat it like email-with-PDFs.
This guide covers the exact ePlan workflow our project managers run on every LA permit, including the file-naming conventions and submittal-package structure that minimize correction rounds.
Step 1 — Project registration
Same day
Log in to ePlan at planlace.lacity.gov, register a new residential project with the property address and APN, and select the work type (ADU new, addition, alteration, etc.). The system assigns a project number and routes to the correct plan-check team.
Step 2 — Submittal-package assembly
1–2 days
Assemble PDFs in this exact order, each as a separate file: (1) cover sheet with project data and code summary; (2) site plan with all dimensions; (3) architectural set (floor plans, elevations, sections); (4) structural set (foundation plan, framing plans, details, calcs); (5) Title 24 CF1R; (6) soils report (if required); (7) proof of ownership.
Name files with this convention: PROJECT-NUMBER_SHEET-TYPE_REV.pdf. Example: 24-100123_STRUCT_R0.pdf. Wrong names get bounced before review.
Step 3 — Initial submittal & completeness review
5–10 business days
Upload the package and pay the plan-check deposit (typically $1,500–$3,500 for an ADU). LADBS performs a completeness review — checking that all required documents are present, sheets are labeled correctly, and the project type matches the work. If complete, the 60-day ministerial clock starts. If incomplete, you get a 'Returned for Completeness' notice with specific fixes.
Step 4 — First plan-check round
2–4 weeks
A plan-check engineer reviews the structural set, an architect reviews the building envelope and accessibility, and an energy reviewer checks Title 24. Each issues a separate correction sheet. Common ADU corrections: anchor bolt schedule missing, header sizing not justified, fire-rated assemblies not specified at 4-ft setback, Title 24 envelope values inconsistent with as-drawn windows.
Step 5 — Correction response & resubmittal
1–3 weeks (engineer time)
The structural engineer revises the drawings and produces a written response addressing each correction item. The corrected set is uploaded as REV1, with the response letter as a separate PDF. Most ADUs clear in 2 rounds; complex hillside or HPOZ projects can take 3.
Step 6 — Permit issuance
1–3 days after final approval
When all corrections are cleared, LADBS issues a 'Ready to Issue' notice. The owner or designated agent pays the remaining fees (building permit, school fees, LADWP, LAFD). The portal generates the issued permit as a downloadable PDF. Print one copy to post on the job site — required by inspector at first inspection.
Once issued, every inspection is also requested through ePlan. The general contractor or owner-builder schedules each phase (foundation, framing, etc.) and the assigned LADBS inspector visits within 48–72 hours.
FAQ
- Can I correct typos in the submitted set without a full revision?
- Minor revisions (typo fix, dimension callout) can be marked-up on the existing PDF and uploaded as a 'minor revision' through the same portal. Anything affecting structure or scope requires a new revision number and stamped sheets.
- How do I see which engineer is reviewing my project?
- ePlan shows the assigned plan-check engineer's name and contact. They will accept brief clarifying calls but won't pre-review drawings. Treat this contact for scope clarification only.
- What happens if my project times out?
- If you don't respond to corrections within 6 months, LADBS administratively closes the project and you forfeit the plan-check deposit. Reactivation requires a new submittal and a new deposit.
- Does ePlan handle Coastal Development Permits?
- Partially. LADBS-issued Coastal Exclusions and ministerial CDPs flow through ePlan. Appealable CDPs that go to the California Coastal Commission are filed separately on a parallel track.
- Where do the other field guides live alongside "LADBS ePlan: a builder's walkthrough of the LA permit portal"?
- The full index is on the guides hub. Shorter operational notes go in the field journal; defined terms link out to the glossary.
- How do I act on what "LADBS ePlan: a builder's walkthrough of the LA permit portal" covers?
- The five-phase design-build sequence is on the process page. Pricing bands are in the 2026 California cost report. Then book a discovery call.
- Which California cities does "LADBS ePlan: a builder's walkthrough of the LA permit portal" apply to?
- The LA cities we cover are on the LA studio page; Bay Area cities on the Bay studio page. The full statewide permit reference is in the California permit directory.
- Who wrote "LADBS ePlan: a builder's walkthrough of the LA permit portal" and is it reviewed by a licensed contractor?
- Authored by the studio team and reviewed by our principal CSLB-licensed contractor before publication.
- What background reading sets up "LADBS ePlan: a builder's walkthrough of the LA permit portal" best?
- Start with the process page, then the glossary for terms, then this guide.
- Which projects illustrate "LADBS ePlan: a builder's walkthrough of the LA permit portal" in practice?
- The projects index filters by type. Field commentary on similar work is on the field journal.
- Where do "LADBS ePlan: a builder's walkthrough of the LA permit portal" pricing examples come from?
- The 2026 California cost reportpublishes the methodology; ADU bands are in the ADU cost calculator.
- Is "LADBS ePlan: a builder's walkthrough of the LA permit portal" applicable to commercial work?
- Many guides translate; commercial-specific guides are tagged on the guides hub.
- Which California cities does "LADBS ePlan: a builder's walkthrough of the LA permit portal" cover?
- Most guides are statewide; city deltas are flagged. See the studio coverage on the locations index.
- Where do I track changes to "LADBS ePlan: a builder's walkthrough of the LA permit portal"?
- Each guide is dated. Material changes get a companion post on the field journal.
- What's the fastest way to apply "LADBS ePlan: a builder's walkthrough of the LA permit portal" to my project?
- Run the calculator, then book a discovery call.
Sources
- LADBS ePlan portal — Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety
- Residential Plan Check Guide — Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety
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