On this page 6
§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Lakewood
Lakewood issues permits for new and remodeled home and commercial construction. The City and County guidance cover new buildings, additions, tenant improvements, structural remodels, reroofing, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, pools/spas, certain walls/fences, sewer work, grading, and other alterations not specifically exempt.
One-story detached accessory buildings such as tool sheds, playhouses, and shade structures up to 120 square feet, up to 12 feet high, with roof projection limits
Wire fences not over 12 feet high
Other fences not over 6 feet high, except Lakewood specifically requires permits for masonry walls over 42 inches
Retaining walls retaining not more than 4 feet unless supporting surcharge or certain liquids
Decks, walks, and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade, not over a basement/story below, and not part of an accessible route
Prefabricated pools accessory to Group R-3 occupancies that are less than 18 inches deep or not over 5,000 gallons and entirely above grade
Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work where disabled-access requirements do not apply
Minor electrical repair work such as replacing lamps, switches, receptacles, and similar devices
Plumbing leak repairs and drain clearing where no pipe/fixture replacement or rearrangement is involved
Portable heating, ventilating, cooling, and similar limited mechanical items listed by County work-exempt guidance
- Exempt One-story detached accessory buildings such as tool sheds, playhouses, and shade structures up to 120 square feet, up to 12 feet high, with roof projection limits
- Exempt Wire fences not over 12 feet high
- Exempt Other fences not over 6 feet high, except Lakewood specifically requires permits for masonry walls over 42 inches
- Exempt Retaining walls retaining not more than 4 feet unless supporting surcharge or certain liquids
- Exempt Decks, walks, and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade, not over a basement/story below, and not part of an accessible route
- Exempt Prefabricated pools accessory to Group R-3 occupancies that are less than 18 inches deep or not over 5,000 gallons and entirely above grade
- Exempt Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work where disabled-access requirements do not apply
- Exempt Minor electrical repair work such as replacing lamps, switches, receptacles, and similar devices
- Exempt Plumbing leak repairs and drain clearing where no pipe/fixture replacement or rearrangement is involved
- Exempt Portable heating, ventilating, cooling, and similar limited mechanical items listed by County work-exempt guidance
Note: Exemption from a building permit does not authorize work that violates zoning, pool-barrier rules, accessibility rules, or other laws. Separate plumbing, electrical, or mechanical permits may still be required even if a building permit is not.
Required documents
- Varies by scope, but commonly includes the permit application, project description, assessor parcel number, owner/applicant/contractor information, plans, plot/site plan, engineering or structural calculations, Title 24 documents, and any required outside-agency approvals. For many projects, planning approval must precede plan check/permit submittal.
- Building code
- Ordinance No. 2025-2 replaced Lakewood Municipal Code sections to adopt the 2025 California Building Code, 2025 California Plumbing Code, 2025 California Electrical Code, 2025 California Mechanical Code, 2025 California Residential Code, 2025 California Green Building Standards Code, and 2025 California Existing Building Code. Lakewood also locally amended exempt fence/wall provisions.
- Permit validity
- Current Lakewood permit webpages reviewed do not publish a general permit-expiration rule. Lakewood's permit applications state that plan check is valid for 1 year and additional fees may be required after 1 year for renewal.
- Owner-builder
- Owner-builders are allowed in some cases. Lakewood's materials state a homeowner may obtain permits for the homeowner's primary residence if the owner-builder declaration is satisfied; owners of commercial, rental, or second homes are required to use a licensed contractor.
- Contractor requirements
- Contractors must hold the appropriate California contractor license for the trade and, for Lakewood projects, must also hold a City of Lakewood business license before permit issuance. Permit applications require contractor license and workers' compensation information unless an owner-builder exemption applies.
§ 03
Application process
Application → plan check → issuance → inspection → final
- 01 Determine whether the project starts with direct permitting or with planning review and/or building plan check. Lakewood's permit page says many projects need planning approval and/or plan check before a permit application is submitted.
- 02 If planning review is required, obtain Planning approval first through the City's OpenGov workflow before moving into plan check or permit issuance.
- 03 If building plan check is required, submit plans, reports, and specifications through the OpenGov portal after planning approval. Typical plan-check projects include structural remodels, retrofit windows, additions/alterations, patios, pools/spas, walls/fences, and small-scale solar.
- 04 Prepare and upload the required application materials. Lakewood materials commonly call for the permit application, site/plot plan, floor/roof/elevation sheets as applicable, structural calculations, Title 24 energy documents, and other supporting documents for code review.
- 05 Pay plan review and permit fees through the City process. Lakewood states OpenGov can be used to pay plan-review fees, receive comments, track status, resubmit revisions, obtain permits, and request inspections.
- 06 Complete outside prerequisites that may apply before permit issuance, including contractor business licenses, debris recovery plan approval, school developer fees for new dwelling units, and other agency approvals when triggered.
- 07 After issuance, keep the permit/job documentation and approved plans on site and call for required inspections.
Source: City of Lakewood Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division ↗
§ 04
Fee schedule
Effective July 1, 2025
Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
Building permit issuance fee is $47.19 as of the effective July 1, 2025 Lakewood building code fee schedule. The valuation fee table shows minimum building permit amounts beginning at $75.08 to $86.27 depending on occupancy/check type, plus the issuance fee.
02
Plan check fee
Valuation-based; the July 1, 2025 Lakewood valuation fee table states the minimum standard-plan plan-check fee is $257.44.
03
Permit fee formula
Building permit and plan-check fees are largely valuation-based for building permits, with separate trade-fee schedules for electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits.
04
Trade permit fee
Building permit and plan-check fees are largely valuation-based for building permits, with separate trade-fee schedules for electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits.
Lakewood states OpenGov can be used to pay plan-review fees. Business-license fees may also be required for contractors working on the project.
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective July 1, 2025) before budgeting.
§ 05
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
How to schedule
- Current City inspection page says to schedule by phone at 562-866-9771 ext. 2350. The Building/Development Services pages also state OpenGov is intended to support inspection requests. Inspection page (online)
- 562-866-9771 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Inspectors are available for phone or in-person consultations between 7 and 8 a.m. Monday through Thursday and on open Fridays. Help with scheduling is available by phone from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and on open Fridays. City Hall is closed on alternating Fridays.
- Time windows
- Inspectors are available for phone or in-person consultations between 7 and 8 a.m. Monday through Thursday and on open Fridays. Help with scheduling is available by phone from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and on open Fridays. City Hall is closed on alternating Fridays.
Typical sequence: Inspections occur after permit issuance as the work reaches required stages. Permit holders should keep approved plans/job documents on site and request inspections as each stage is ready; final inspection closes out the permit.
§ 06
Frequently asked
Common questions about Lakewood permits
01 Do I need a building permit in Lakewood, CA? ▸
Lakewood issues permits for new and remodeled home and commercial construction. The City and County guidance cover new buildings, additions, tenant improvements, structural remodels, reroofing, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, pools/spas, certain walls/fences, sewer work, grading, and other alterations not specifically exempt.
02 How much does a building permit cost in Lakewood, CA? ▸
Building permit fees in Lakewood, CA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is Building permit issuance fee is $47.19 as of the effective July 1, 2025 Lakewood building code fee schedule. The valuation fee table shows minimum building permit amounts beginning at $75.08 to $86.27 depending on occupancy/check type, plus the issuance fee.. Fees are calculated as: Building permit and plan-check fees are largely valuation-based for building permits, with separate trade-fee schedules for electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits.. Plan check fee: Valuation-based; the July 1, 2025 Lakewood valuation fee table states the minimum standard-plan plan-check fee is $257.44..
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Lakewood, CA? ▸
To apply for a building permit in Lakewood, CA, follow these steps: 1. Determine whether the project starts with direct permitting or with planning review and/or building plan check. Lakewood's permit page says many projects need planning approval and/or plan check before a permit application is submitted. 2. If planning review is required, obtain Planning approval first through the City's OpenGov workflow before moving into plan check or permit issuance. 3. If building plan check is required, submit plans, reports, and specifications through the OpenGov portal after planning approval. Typical plan-check projects include structural remodels, retrofit windows, additions/alterations, patios, pools/spas, walls/fences, and small-scale solar. 4. Prepare and upload the required application materials. Lakewood materials commonly call for the permit application, site/plot plan, floor/roof/elevation sheets as applicable, structural calculations, Title 24 energy documents, and other supporting documents for code review. 5. Pay plan review and permit fees through the City process. Lakewood states OpenGov can be used to pay plan-review fees, receive comments, track status, resubmit revisions, obtain permits, and request inspections. 6. Complete outside prerequisites that may apply before permit issuance, including contractor business licenses, debris recovery plan approval, school developer fees for new dwelling units, and other agency approvals when triggered. 7. After issuance, keep the permit/job documentation and approved plans on site and call for required inspections.
04 What work is exempt from building permits in Lakewood, CA? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in Lakewood, CA. The following work is generally exempt: One-story detached accessory buildings such as tool sheds, playhouses, and shade structures up to 120 square feet, up to 12 feet high, with roof projection limits; Wire fences not over 12 feet high; Other fences not over 6 feet high, except Lakewood specifically requires permits for masonry walls over 42 inches; Retaining walls retaining not more than 4 feet unless supporting surcharge or certain liquids; Decks, walks, and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade, not over a basement/story below, and not part of an accessible route; Prefabricated pools accessory to Group R-3 occupancies that are less than 18 inches deep or not over 5,000 gallons and entirely above grade; Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work where disabled-access requirements do not apply; Minor electrical repair work such as replacing lamps, switches, receptacles, and similar devices; Plumbing leak repairs and drain clearing where no pipe/fixture replacement or rearrangement is involved; Portable heating, ventilating, cooling, and similar limited mechanical items listed by County work-exempt guidance. Note: Exemption from a building permit does not authorize work that violates zoning, pool-barrier rules, accessibility rules, or other laws. Separate plumbing, electrical, or mechanical permits may still be required even if a building permit is not. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
05 How do I schedule a building inspection in Lakewood, CA? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Lakewood, CA via: Current City inspection page says to schedule by phone at 562-866-9771 ext. 2350. The Building/Development Services pages also state OpenGov is intended to support inspection requests. Inspection page, 562-866-9771.
last verified April 2026
source City of Lakewood Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division ↗
entry id permits/california/los-angeles/lakewood
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with City of Lakewood Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.