City Building Permits

Lakewood, CA Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in Lakewood, California. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

California Los Angeles County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Applies within the incorporated City of Lakewood. Lakewood transitioned Building & Safety services from Los Angeles County to TRB+ Associates, launched its OpenGov Building & Permitting portal on October 9, 2025, and now issues permits through the City.

Department
City of Lakewood Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division
Address
5050 Clark Avenue, Lakewood, CA 90712
Phone
562-866-9771 ext. 2350
Website
https://www.lakewoodca.gov/Development-Services/Building/Building-Permits

Online Permit Portal

Open OpenGov Building & Permitting

Platform: OpenGov Building & Permitting • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only

Application Process

  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.

Source: City of Lakewood Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division

General Requirements

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.

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.
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.
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.
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.

Fees

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.
Plan check fee
Valuation-based; the July 1, 2025 Lakewood valuation fee table states the minimum standard-plan plan-check fee is $257.44.
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.
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.
Payment note
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. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective July 1, 2025).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

  • 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

Important: 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.

Inspections

How to Schedule

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 inspection 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.

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the City of Lakewood Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division before applying.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.

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