Cudahy, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Building & Safety administers building, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits inside the incorporated City of Cudahy. Planning/zoning review is handled separately by the Planning Division, and some projects also require Public Works permits or outside-agency approvals before permit issuance.

Department

City of Cudahy Building & Safety

Address

5220 Santa Ana Street, Cudahy, CA 90201

Phone

323-773-5143 ext. 243

Email

buildingdepartment@cityofcudahyca.gov

Website

https://www.cityofcudahyca.gov/179/Building-Safety

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm whether the project needs only Building & Safety review or also a Planning Division zoning clearance before plan check. Cudahy's July 2024 pre-plan-check zoning clearance form says many common projects, including interior remodels, additions, facade work, pools, mechanical equipment, ADUs, tenant improvements, parking lot restriping, and solar installations, require zoning clearance before building permits.
2. Download and complete the required permit application plus the Permit Worksheet from the City's Applications and Forms page. Separate electrical, mechanical, and plumbing applications are posted, and grading uses the building permit application.
3. Prepare required supporting materials. The city states applications must be submitted with the Permit Worksheet; zoning-clearance materials may include owner approval, photos, detailed plan sets, elevations, roof plans, line-of-sight diagrams for roof equipment, and other project-specific documents.
4. Submit to the City. The public city guidance says general permit applications are submitted to the Building Division and that applicants must visit City Hall in person to make Building Division payments or to issue permits. Planning applications can be submitted by email, mail, or at the public counter, but planning fees are not payable online.
5. Complete plan review and outside-agency clearances. The city permit form itself lists possible sign-offs including school fees, Health Department, sanitation district, Fire Department, Public Works, SCAQMD, planning approval, industrial waste approval, and OSHA permit where applicable.
6. Pay fees and obtain issuance. The city does not publish a full current general building fee schedule on the public site, so confirm fees with Building & Safety before filing.
7. Schedule inspections after issuance. Inspections can be requested online or by phone with at least 24 hours' notice.

Typical processing time: No general published turnaround was found for standard building permits. For eligible residential rooftop solar, Cudahy states contractors can use SolarAPP+ for instantaneous permitting.

Source: City of Cudahy Building & Safety

General Requirements

Cudahy states a building permit must be obtained before building a new structure or remodeling an existing structure. Because Cudahy adopts Los Angeles County building-code titles, permits are generally required for new buildings, additions, tenant improvements, ADU conversions, decks, patios, fences over 6 feet, fireplaces, pools, retaining walls, remodels and renovations, new or replaced electrical/mechanical/plumbing work, and grading, unless specifically exempt.

Required Documents

• At minimum, the city requires the applicable permit application and Permit Worksheet. Depending on scope, supporting documents can include plan sets, site plans, floor plans, elevations, owner approval, photos, roof plans, technical details, and any required agency approvals. Planning pre-check applications list the project-specific submittals commonly required before building permit review.

Permit validity

The City's building permit application says every permit becomes null and void if work is not commenced within 180 days from permit issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after commencement. Los Angeles County's current permit guidance, which is relevant because Cudahy adopts LA County code titles, says permits expire if work has not started within 12 months or lapses for more than 180 days, with written extensions potentially available. Because the city form and county guidance differ, confirm the current rule with Cudahy Building & Safety before relying on an expiration date.

Building code

Cudahy Municipal Code section 15.04.010 on the public code site still shows adoption of the 2022 California Building Code as amended by Title 26 of the 2022 Los Angeles County Building Code. However, an official City Council agenda/staff report dated February 17, 2026 states the City Council was considering second reading of Ordinance 765 to adopt Titles 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and 33 of the 2025 Los Angeles County amendments to the 2025 California codes. The public municipal code appears not yet updated, so verify the current code edition with the city before design submittal.

Owner-builder

The city permit application includes an owner-builder declaration and cites Business and Professions Code sections 7031.5 and 7044. LA County homeowner guidance defines an owner-builder as the property owner of a one- or two-family residence acting as their own general contractor at their principal residence.

Contractor requirements

The city permit application requires either a licensed contractor declaration or an owner-builder exemption statement. LA County guidance says permits may be issued only to a properly licensed contractor, a property owner in limited cases, or an authorized agent, and unlicensed work is generally limited to minor work under $500 under Business and Professions Code section 7048.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Not publicly posted for general building permits on the city site.

Plan check fee

Not publicly posted for general building permits on the city site. For expedited residential solar PV systems 10 kW or less, the city's published Submittal Requirements Bulletin lists a plan check fee of $204.48.

Permit fee formula

Not publicly posted for general building permits on the city site. Planning fees are flat-fee based, and some development impact fees are collected by the Building Division before permit issuance.

Reinspection fee

No current public city schedule was found for general reinspection or permit-penalty fees.

Penalty (no permit)

No current public city schedule was found for general reinspection or permit-penalty fees.

Payment note

The city says applicants must visit City Hall in person to make Building Division payments or to issue permits. Planning states there is no online payment option; planning payments may be made in person or mailed, and accepted methods are cash, check, and credit/debit except American Express.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory buildings such as small tool sheds, storage sheds, playhouses, and shade structures when they do not exceed 120 square feet, 12 feet in height, and 24-inch roof projection.
• Fences not used as swimming-pool barriers when they stay within the county-code height and setback limits.
• Minor electrical repair work such as replacing lamps, switches, receptacles, sockets, and similar devices.
• Certain low-voltage and low-energy electrical work, temporary decorative lighting, temporary test wiring, and like-for-like overcurrent device replacement.
• Plumbing leak repairs and drain clearing when pipes, valves, or fixtures are not replaced or rearranged.
• Portable heating, ventilating, and cooling equipment, portable evaporative coolers, and certain appliance component replacements under the mechanical code.
• Limited minor grading, trenching for utilities, well excavations, cemetery graves, and small excavations/fills meeting county-code thresholds.

Important: Cudahy/LA County guidance says exempt work still must comply with zoning and all other applicable laws, and separate electrical, plumbing, or mechanical permits may still be required even when a building permit is not.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Online at (online)
• 323-773-5143 (phone)

Inspection hours

Building & Safety says inspections are available Monday through Thursday with 24-hour notice. The department page lists morning inspections from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM and afternoon inspections from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The online request form says inspection time slots are 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Monday through Thursday, subject to change.

Time windows

Building & Safety says inspections are available Monday through Thursday with 24-hour notice. The department page lists morning inspections from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM and afternoon inspections from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The online request form says inspection time slots are 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Monday through Thursday, subject to change.

Typical inspection sequence: The city does not post a standard inspection card online. In practice, inspections occur as work reaches each required stage, and final approval is required before completion. For solar, the city's bulletin says the inspector verifies field compliance with the approved plans and code requirements before final approval.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Cudahy Municipal Code section 15.04.010 on the public code site still shows adoption of the 2022 California Building Code as amended by Title 26 of the 2022 Los Angeles County Building Code. However, an official City Council agenda/staff report dated February 17, 2026 states the City Council was considering second reading of Ordinance 765 to adopt Titles 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and 33 of the 2025 Los Angeles County amendments to the 2025 California codes. The public municipal code appears not yet updated, so verify the current code edition with the city before design submittal.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• https://www.cityofcudahyca.gov/478/Planning-Applications
• https://www.cityofcudahyca.gov/179/Building-Safety
• https://www.cityofcudahyca.gov/459/Applications-and-Forms
• https://www.cityofcudahyca.gov/460/Residential-Solar-Panel-Requirements
• https://www.dpw.lacounty.gov/building-and-safety/permits/workexempt
• https://cudahy.municipal.codes/CMC/15.04.010
• https://www.cityofcudahyca.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02172026-497
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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