Do you need a permit to remodel a kitchen or bathroom in unincorporated Los Angeles County?

Do you need a permit to remodel a kitchen or bathroom in unincorporated Los Angeles County?

Usually yes: in unincorporated Los Angeles County, a kitchen or bathroom remodel that involves structural, plumbing, electrical or mechanical work needs a permit from LA County Public Works Building and Safety, while painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work can be exempt from a building permit.13 Even when the building permit is exempt, separate plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits may still be required.1

Home Pro Green Remodeling Inc. is based in Tarzana and serves the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles. This page is for homes the County permits. If your home is inside the City of Los Angeles, LADBS issues the permit instead, and our permit guide for kitchen and bathroom work in Los Angeles applies.

Is your home in unincorporated Los Angeles County?

Check the address in ZIMAS. LADBS says a property that cannot be found there may be outside the City of Los Angeles, and LA County Public Works has a service locator that shows which department serves an address.76 County permits for unincorporated areas can be applied for online through EPIC-LA.5

What kitchen and bathroom work is exempt from a County building permit?

Title 26 of the County code exempts "painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops, and similar finish work" from a building permit, unless accessibility requirements apply to the work.1 That is different from the City of Los Angeles, where LADBS covers cabinets, counters and tile on its combined kitchen and bathroom e-permit.9 The County adds that exempt work does not authorize anything that violates the code, and that zoning and other rules still apply.1

What plumbing and electrical work is exempt?

• Plumbing: repairing leaks in drains, soil, waste or vent pipe where no trap or pipe is replaced, and clearing stoppages or repairing leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures when that does not involve replacing or rearranging valves, pipes or fixtures.1
• Electrical: minor repair work such as replacing lamps, switches, receptacle devices and sockets.1

Moving a sink, adding a fixture or running a new circuit is not on those lists.

When does a kitchen or bathroom remodel need plan check in the County?

The County says plan check is usually required, but not limited to, new and expanded electrical systems, significant plumbing system changes, and remodels and renovations such as kitchen remodels.2 Not every permit needs plan check: the County's example is replacing a residential water heater, which can be issued after the application and fee.3 Contacting the Building Official at your local Building and Safety District Office is the County's suggested way to find out whether your job needs plan check.2

How long does County plan check take?

The County gives no fixed number. Projects that can be checked in 15 minutes or less may be reviewed over the counter during morning counter hours, and the County lists residential remodels of 600 square feet or less that meet conventional framing among typical over-the-counter projects.2 More complex projects are taken in and reviewed in the order received, and turn-around time varies with the volume of plans.3 If the plans need corrections, you resubmit them, and recheck times vary with the extent of the corrections.2

What is an Express Permit in LA County?

It is a self-issued permit for simple residential projects that do not need plan review, such as water heater replacement, air conditioning or heating unit replacement, drain repair, lighting and electrical panel replacement. County Express Permits are available online only through EPIC-LA, and are for standalone work or for projects where the building permit has already been issued.4

Who can pull the permit?

A property owner of a one- or two-family home can obtain permits as an owner-builder for their principal residence when none of the improvements are intended for sale within one year after completion.3 The County also says it is advantageous to have permits issued to a licensed contractor, so that Building and Safety can verify the contractor's license and insurance.3 We pull the permits, and the contract should name who does.

How is the work inspected?

When the work reaches a certain phase, the permit holder requests an inspection online through EPIC-LA for projects in unincorporated areas. The project is complete when the work passes final inspection.3

How do you check a contractor's license?

Use the CSLB Check a License page.8 Ours is 1003187.

Written by Home Pro Green Remodeling Inc., a general contractor in Tarzana with over 30 years of combined experience. CSLB #1003187.

Next step

Call (213) 770-6727 or use the contact form to talk about your kitchen or bathroom remodel. We will tell you which permit path applies to your address. Home Pro Green Remodeling Inc., CSLB #1003187.

Related reading

• What kitchen and bathroom work needs a permit in Los Angeles
• Kitchen remodel permit in Los Angeles
• Bathroom remodel permit in Los Angeles
• How to check a contractor license in California

Home Pro Green Remodeling Inc. | CSLB #1003187 18375 Ventura Blvd Ste 378, Tarzana, CA 91356 (213) 770-6727

Sources (all pages opened and read on 2026-11-09)

1. LA County Public Works Building and Safety, Work Exempt from Permits (Title 26 Sec. 106.3 building permit exemptions; electrical, plumbing and mechanical exemptions). https://pw.lacounty.gov/building-and-safety/permits/workexempt
2. LA County Public Works Building and Safety, Building Plan Check (where to submit, when plan check is required, over-the-counter review, corrections). https://dpw.lacounty.gov/building-and-safety/plancheck/building
3. LA County Public Works Building and Safety, Homeowner (5 steps of the permit process, owner-builder, who can obtain permits, EPIC-LA and contract cities). https://www.pw.lacounty.gov/building-and-safety/homeowner
4. LA County Public Works Building and Safety, Express Permits (online only through EPIC-LA). https://dpw.lacounty.gov/building-and-safety/permits/express
5. LA County Public Works, EPIC-LA (Electronic Permitting and Inspections for unincorporated areas). https://dpw.lacounty.gov/permits/epicla/
6. LA County Public Works, Service Locator (find which department serves an address). https://dpw.lacounty.gov/general/servicelocator/
7. LADBS, Homeowner Step-By-Step (ZIMAS check, LA County service locator, Express Permits, plan check, inspections). https://dbs.lacity.gov/services/homeowner-step-by-step
8. CSLB, Check a License. https://www.cslb.ca.gov/onlineservices/checklicenseII/checklicense.aspx
9. LADBS Information Bulletin P/GI 2026-003, Express Permits (No Plan Check Required), effective Jan 1, 2026, revised Jun 10, 2026. https://dbs.lacity.gov/sites/default/files/efs/forms/pc17/ib-p-gi-2020-003-express-permits_rev-5-28-2024.pdf