West Hollywood, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Building permits for work in the incorporated City of West Hollywood are handled by the City's Building & Safety Division. The City notes that some projects also require review/approval from other City departments and outside agencies, including some County agencies under separate processes.

Department

City of West Hollywood Community Development Department, Building & Safety Division

Address

8300 Santa Monica Boulevard, 2nd Floor, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Phone

(323) 848-6320

Email

building@weho.org

Website

https://www.weho.org/city-government/city-departments/community-development-department/building-and-safety

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the property is in West Hollywood and determine whether the scope needs only a permit or also planning/outside-agency approvals.
2. Create a Permit & License Portal account. The City requires applicants to register, and it instructs users with older projects already in plan check to register with the same email used on the original application.
3. Prepare a complete electronic submittal package. West Hollywood accepts electronic plan/doc submissions through the portal and does not accept physical plans for Building & Safety plan check.
4. Submit the application through the portal, upload documents, and pay applicable initial fees. The City says a submittal is formally processed only after the application is completed, fees are paid, and a complete set of construction documents is uploaded.
5. Wait for prescreening. The City asks applicants to allow at least 3 business days after upload for prescreening; incomplete packages or noncompliant e-plan files will delay review.
6. Respond to corrections and resubmit through the portal if reviewers issue comments.
7. After approvals and invoicing, pay remaining fees through the portal. The permit and approved plans are then released through the online system.
8. Keep printed approved plans at the jobsite and schedule required inspections through the portal before covering work.

Typical processing time: Permit applications are processed within about 3 business days for intake per the permitting services page snippet; projects requiring plan check are generally contacted within 4-6 weeks of submittal, with at least 3 business days for prescreening before review starts. No expedited service is offered.

Source: City of West Hollywood Community Development Department, Building & Safety Division

General Requirements

West Hollywood Building Code section 106.1 requires a permit before a person erects, constructs, enlarges, alters, repairs, moves, improves, removes, connects, converts, demolishes, or equips a building or structure. Separate trade permits are also required for covered electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work unless a specific exemption applies.

Required Documents

• At minimum, a complete application, applicable fees, and a complete electronic set of construction documents uploaded through the portal. Depending on project type, the City also references calculations, geotechnical reports, outside-agency approvals, contractor license information, workers' compensation documentation, business tax certificate information, and authorization letters for agents. Owner-builder applications require ID and proof of ownership
• trust/entity ownership requires signatory documentation.

Permit validity

A plan check application expires if no permit is issued within 1 year, with up to two 180-day extensions on written request and an extension fee not exceeding 25% of the plan check fee. A building permit expires if work is not commenced within 12 months, if work is suspended/abandoned for 180 days, or if required inspections are not obtained for 180 days. Extensions of up to 180 days may be granted on written request, with a fee not exceeding 25% of the permit fee; otherwise a new full permit fee is required after expiration.

Building code

As of projects submitted on or after January 1, 2026, the City states they must comply with the statewide 2025 California Building Codes and 2026 Los Angeles County Amendments, as adopted by West Hollywood. The FAQ page still lists the prior 2023-effective code set for earlier projects.

Owner-builder

Owner-builder permits are limited to single-family dwellings and duplex projects only. ADUs, multifamily projects, and commercial developments require a licensed contractor. The owner must be improving their principal residence, must have lived there at least 1 year, and the work cannot be intended for sale within 1 year after completion.

Contractor requirements

The City directs applicants to provide California contractor license information, requires a business tax certificate for contractors, and states that commercial-property building permits require a licensed contractor. The City also notes that all projects outside the limited owner-builder allowance require a licensed contractor.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

The FAQ states each permit type carries a processing fee of $38.60.

Plan check fee

Not stated as a single universal rate in the public pages reviewed; plan check extension fees may be charged up to 25% of the original plan check fee. Qualifying residential rooftop solar and qualifying EV charging station projects may have building/electrical/plumbing plan check and permit fees waived, though planning zone clearance and state/outside-agency fees may still apply.

Permit fee formula

Building permit fees are valuation-based. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits are generally charged per item. Grading permit fees are based on the larger of cut or fill volume. Swimming pool valuations use a predetermined cost per square foot. Miscellaneous permits not specifically listed are charged on an hourly estimate.

Trade permit fee

Building permit fees are valuation-based. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits are generally charged per item. Grading permit fees are based on the larger of cut or fill volume. Swimming pool valuations use a predetermined cost per square foot. Miscellaneous permits not specifically listed are charged on an hourly estimate.

Reinspection fee

No general reinspection fee was clearly published in the pages reviewed.

Payment note

West Hollywood invoices fees through the portal. Applicants can add invoices to the cart and pay online once fees have been invoiced by the jurisdiction.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• A one-story detached residential accessory building used as a shed, playhouse, or similar use if projected roof area does not exceed 120 square feet and height does not exceed 12 feet
• Fences and walls not over 6 feet high
• Retaining walls not supporting more than 4 feet of earth, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding flammable liquids
• Flagpoles not erected on a building and not more than 15 feet high
• Residential canopies or awnings projecting no more than 54 inches and not encroaching into setbacks
• Light standards not over 30 feet high, although electrical permits are still required for the wiring
• Playground equipment
• Minor electrical repair work such as replacement of lamps, switches, receptacles, and sockets
• Electrical work under 25 volts and not capable of supplying more than 50 watts
• Temporary Christmas decorative lighting
• Replacement of overcurrent devices of the same type and rating
• Plumbing leak repairs or clearing stoppages where regulated piping is not being replaced
• Repairing leaks in water piping, valves, or fixtures
• Portable heating appliances
• Portable ventilating appliances
• Portable comfort cooling units
• Replacement of an appliance component or assembly that does not alter its approval and otherwise complies with code
• Unit refrigeration systems

Important: The City says some work exempt from a Building & Safety permit still requires Planning Division approval. Trade-specific exemptions are narrow; if replacement becomes installation/reconfiguration, a permit may be required.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Inspections are scheduled through the Permit & License Portal at (online)
• Inspections are scheduled through the Permit & License Portal at https://www.weho.org/services/online-services/permits and the direct Tyler portal at (online)
• inspector@weho.org (email)
• (323) 848-6335 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Inspection requests must be scheduled before 4:00 PM for coordination the next business day.

Inspection hours

Inspection requests must be scheduled before 4:00 PM for coordination the next business day. The jobsite must be available within 3 hours of the time shown on the inspection record. Construction hours are generally 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday through Friday, with interior work only on Saturdays; no construction on Sundays or City holidays.

Time windows

Inspection requests must be scheduled before 4:00 PM for coordination the next business day. The jobsite must be available within 3 hours of the time shown on the inspection record. Construction hours are generally 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday through Friday, with interior work only on Saturdays; no construction on Sundays or City holidays.

Typical inspection sequence: Permit issuance, keep approved 24 x 36 plans onsite, request inspections as the work reaches required stages, resolve any corrections, and obtain final inspection. Inspection results/history are posted in the portal; the City does not issue paper inspection cards.

Additional Resources

• Building code: As of projects submitted on or after January 1, 2026, the City states they must comply with the statewide 2025 California Building Codes and 2026 Los Angeles County Amendments, as adopted by West Hollywood. The FAQ page still lists the prior 2023-effective code set for earlier projects.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Owner-builder rules: View rules
• Municipal Code and Zoning Ordinance hub
• Building & Safety FAQ
• Plan check services
• Inspection services
• Owner-builder requirements handout
• Permits portal landing page
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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