Beverly Hills, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies to building permits issued by the City of Beverly Hills for work within incorporated Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County.

Department

City of Beverly Hills Community Development Department, Building & Safety Division

Address

455 North Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Phone

310-285-1000

Email

cdpermits@beverlyhills.org

Website

https://beverlyhills.gov/300/Building-Safety

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the scope requires a permit. Beverly Hills requires permits for structural alterations, internal and external improvements, general repairs, new construction, demolition, and other work listed in BHMC 9-1-107.
2. Submit the Online Plan Review and Permit Application for new permits. For some projects, start with a Permit Center consultation or appointment; revisions to approved permits are handled outside the OPA portal by application form plus email to cdpermits@beverlyhills.org.
3. Provide required submittals, which commonly include the permit application, plans, valuation, and any supporting documents the City requires under BHMC 9-1-107 and 9-1-108. Depending on project type, Beverly Hills may also require structural calculations, Title 24 documentation, asbestos report/survey, HOA or contractor authorization letters, and a means and method plan.
4. Staff reviews the application, assigns a reference number, and sends instructions. For new electronic plan review projects, staff applies fees and sends the upload link for plan files. For permit modifications, City staff states a 2 to 3 business day processing time to send the ProjectDox upload invitation.
5. Pay plan review and permit fees through the City's payment process. The CitySmart notification email includes the fee breakdown and online payment link.
6. Complete plan review corrections if required, obtain permit issuance, keep approved plans on site, and schedule inspections as work progresses.

Typical processing time: Permit modification intake is stated as 2 to 3 business days for staff processing; published electronic plan review targets are about 3 weeks for small projects, 5 weeks for intermediate projects, and 7 weeks for complex or large projects, with shorter expedited targets for some categories.

Source: City of Beverly Hills Community Development Department, Building & Safety Division

General Requirements

Except where exempt, Beverly Hills requires a permit before a building, structure, or building service equipment is erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, installed, improved, removed, converted, or demolished; grading also requires a grading permit.

Required Documents

• Application form, description of work, property identification, intended use or occupancy, valuation, plans, diagrams, computations, specifications, and other data required by the Building Official. Common project-specific items listed by the City include structural calculations, Title 24 energy documents, asbestos report or survey, roofing ICC report, authorization letters, and means and method plans where applicable.

Permit validity

Permit applications expire if no permit is issued within 545 calendar days (18 months) after application. Issued permits expire if work does not begin within 365 calendar days, or 180 calendar days after the last successful inspection once work has started. One extension of up to 180 days may be granted on written request; the fee schedule lists a permit extension fee of $130. Some unlawful-construction compliance permits have a 90-day expiration rule.

Building code

The Building & Safety page states the following codes, with Beverly Hills amendments, became effective January 1, 2026: 2025 California Building Code, Residential Code, Green Building Standards Code, Existing Building Code, Mechanical Code, Electrical Code, Plumbing Code, Energy Code, Historical Building Code, Fire Code, and Referenced Standards Code.

Owner-builder

Beverly Hills limits owner-builder projects to owner-occupied single-family residences and owner-occupied condos for interior work only. The owner-builder consent and acknowledgment forms must be completed, and the City states it will not issue the permit until the required owner-builder forms are returned; owner signature verification is required at issuance.

Contractor requirements

Beverly Hills states a licensed contractor is required for all projects with a valuation of $500 or more. Contractors must list license numbers, and the City verifies contractor licenses. If the applicant is not the license holder, the City says to provide an agent authorization letter.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Building, grading, shoring, or demolition permit fee is $77.00 at $500 valuation; MEP permit fee is $6.41 at $500 valuation. There is also a $92.00 permit issuance fee.

Plan check fee

Building, grading, shoring, or demolition plan check is $61.60 at $500 valuation; MEP plan check is $51.00 at $500 valuation. Additional charges include Energy Plan Check at 10% of permit fee and other project-specific fees where applicable.

Permit fee formula

Core building, grading, shoring, demolition, and MEP plan check and permit fees are valuation-based under the development fee schedule, with separate add-on fees and taxes depending on scope.

Reinspection fee

The fee schedule lists special inspection at $94.50 per hour with a 4-hour minimum; special plan review at 80% of total permit, hourly rate $307.00; permit extension fee $130. The City's stop-work guidance states unpermitted work may lead to double permit fees and municipal fines.

Payment note

CitySmart notification emails provide a fee breakdown and online payment link. For certificates, the inspections page states fees may be paid by check, wire transfer, or credit card online or in person.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory buildings or similar structures up to 120 square feet aggregate projected roof area, not over 7 feet high, with roof projection not over 24 inches; not applicable in Trousdale and Hillside Areas.
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding flammable liquids, and only if they also comply with Title 10.
• Platforms, walks, and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade, not over a basement or story below, not part of an accessible route, and not within any front setback or on top of slopes defined in Title 10.
• Painting, papering, and similar finish work.
• Temporary motion picture, television, and theater stage sets or scenery, except when used as a building.
• Window awnings projecting not more than 54 inches and supported by an exterior wall in Group R, Division 3 and Group U occupancies.
• Prefabricated above-grade swimming pools accessory to Group R, Division 3 occupancy with capacity not exceeding 2,500 gallons, if code requirements are met.
• Antennas under 15 feet high that receive only VHF, UHF, and FM radio signals.
• Movable cases, counters, and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches high.
• Certain electrical work exempt under California Electrical Code article 89.
• Portable heating appliances, portable ventilating equipment, portable cooling units, portable evaporative coolers, certain appliance-part replacements that do not alter approval, refrigerating equipment already covered by a permit, and unit refrigerating systems.
• Limited plumbing repair work such as stopping leaks or clearing stoppages, so long as the repair does not require replacement or rearrangement of concealed piping, valves, pipes, or fixtures.

Important: Exemptions do not authorize work that violates building standards, zoning, or other laws. Separate plumbing, electrical, or mechanical permits may still be required unless that trade work is independently exempt. Emergency repairs still require a complete permit application by the next working business day.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Building inspections can be scheduled online through CitySmart at (online)
• PWInspections@beverlyhills.org (email)
• 310-285-2534 (phone)
• 310-281-2703 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

A limited number of next-day inspections are released beginning at 9:00 a.m. each weekday through the online system, and inspections may be requested up to 10 days in advance.

Inspection hours

A limited number of next-day inspections are released beginning at 9:00 a.m. each weekday through the online system, and inspections may be requested up to 10 days in advance. Building inspector walk-in hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Construction work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Time windows

A limited number of next-day inspections are released beginning at 9:00 a.m. each weekday through the online system, and inspections may be requested up to 10 days in advance. Building inspector walk-in hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Construction work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: Sequence depends on permit scope. Applicants schedule required inspections as work progresses through the approved plans and permit conditions; fire-related inspections may be split between the Building Inspector and Fire Prevention depending on whether the inspection is rough fire alarm versus other rough or final fire inspections.

Additional Resources

• Building code: The Building & Safety page states the following codes, with Beverly Hills amendments, became effective January 1, 2026: 2025 California Building Code, Residential Code, Green Building Standards Code, Existing Building Code, Mechanical Code, Electrical Code, Plumbing Code, Energy Code, Historical Building Code, Fire Code, and Referenced Standards Code.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• https://beverlyhills.gov/300/Building-Safety
• https://www.beverlyhills.org/planreview
• https://beverlyhills.gov/306/Inspections
• https://www.beverlyhills.org/313/General-Applications-Forms
• https://www.beverlyhills.org/1305/Assembly-Bill-2234
• https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/beverlyhillsca/latest/overview
• https://www.beverlyhills.org/zoningmap
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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