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Long Beach building permits

Verified

Long Beach, California — as published 2026-09-13.

Verified 2026-09-11 · Source

Codes adopted

California Building Standards Code as adopted locally, administered through Long Beach Municipal Code Section 18.04 - the City points readers there 'For additional information regarding building permit requirements and exceptions'. NO EDITION YEAR IS ASSERTED: this record does not state the adopting ordinance's edition.

Permit types & fees

Building Permit

Verified

Long Beach requires permits broadly and says so plainly: 'most construction activities, including alterations, replacements, and repair work in dwellings require permits and inspections.'

Verified 2026-09-11 · Source

Requirements

Permits issue at the Development Permit Center to 'A licensed contractor who has a valid California State Contractor's License and an active Long Beach Business License .' or to 'A Homeowner of a one- or two-family dwelling and related accessory building or structure in accordance with Information Bulletin BU-029 / Eligibility to Obtain a Construction Permit .'
A Combination Permit is available where the work spans trades - it 'is required to construct, install, or modify all building, electrical, plumbing, and/or mechanical structure/systems.'
Some work is exempt at the Building Official's discretion: 'Minor installations, repairs, or replacements may be exempt from obtaining building permits, as determined by the Building Official.'
Named exemptions include detached sheds and playhouses that 'should not exceed 120 square feet and 8 feet in height from floor to roof; and should not include any plumbing, electrical, or mechanical installations.', fences 'up to 6 feet and six 6 inches in height', retaining walls or planter boxes 'up to 4 feet in height, not supporting a surcharge or sloping earth', and decks 'up to 30 inches above adjacent ground level'.
Location can add requirements: 'Additional requirements may apply in historic districts and coastal zones, in accordance with the City's Zoning Regulations.'

Required documents

RequiredAPP-001 Development Permit ApplicationLong Beach's consolidated application. The City says it 'should be used for all projects that involves more than one of the following scopes of work' - building, grading, fire and electrical among them.

Fee schedule

Fee type	Amount	Notes
Building Permit fees	Per the City's published fee schedules	Long Beach links Fee Schedules from the Building Permits page rather than printing amounts inline; no figure is asserted here because none was read.

Electrical Permit

Verified

Long Beach names this permit in its own right: 'Electrical Permit is required to install or modify an electrical system'

Verified 2026-09-11 · Source

Requirements

Permits issue at the Development Permit Center to 'A licensed contractor who has a valid California State Contractor's License and an active Long Beach Business License .' or to 'A Homeowner of a one- or two-family dwelling and related accessory building or structure in accordance with Information Bulletin BU-029 / Eligibility to Obtain a Construction Permit .'
A Combination Permit is the alternative where the job spans trades - it covers 'all building, electrical, plumbing, and/or mechanical structure/systems.'
The consolidated APP-001 application is used where a project 'involves more than one of the following scopes of work'.

Required documents

RequiredAPP-001 Development Permit ApplicationLong Beach's consolidated application. The City says it 'should be used for all projects that involves more than one of the following scopes of work' - building, grading, fire and electrical among them.

Fee schedule

Fee type	Amount	Notes
Electrical Permit fees	Per the City's published fee schedules	Long Beach links Fee Schedules from the Building Permits page rather than printing amounts inline; no figure is asserted here because none was read.

Plumbing Permit

Verified

Long Beach names this permit in its own right: 'Plumbing Permit is required to install or modify a plumbing system.'

Verified 2026-09-11 · Source

Requirements

Permits issue at the Development Permit Center to 'A licensed contractor who has a valid California State Contractor's License and an active Long Beach Business License .' or to 'A Homeowner of a one- or two-family dwelling and related accessory building or structure in accordance with Information Bulletin BU-029 / Eligibility to Obtain a Construction Permit .'
A Combination Permit is the alternative where the job spans trades - it covers 'all building, electrical, plumbing, and/or mechanical structure/systems.'
The consolidated APP-001 application is used where a project 'involves more than one of the following scopes of work'.

Required documents

RequiredAPP-001 Development Permit ApplicationLong Beach's consolidated application. The City says it 'should be used for all projects that involves more than one of the following scopes of work' - building, grading, fire and electrical among them.

Fee schedule

Fee type	Amount	Notes
Plumbing Permit fees	Per the City's published fee schedules	Long Beach links Fee Schedules from the Building Permits page rather than printing amounts inline; no figure is asserted here because none was read.

Mechanical Permit

Verified

Long Beach names this permit in its own right: 'Mechanical Permit is required to install or modify heating, ventilation, refrigeration, air conditioning and other related systems.'

Verified 2026-09-11 · Source

Requirements

Permits issue at the Development Permit Center to 'A licensed contractor who has a valid California State Contractor's License and an active Long Beach Business License .' or to 'A Homeowner of a one- or two-family dwelling and related accessory building or structure in accordance with Information Bulletin BU-029 / Eligibility to Obtain a Construction Permit .'
A Combination Permit is the alternative where the job spans trades - it covers 'all building, electrical, plumbing, and/or mechanical structure/systems.'
The consolidated APP-001 application is used where a project 'involves more than one of the following scopes of work'.

Required documents

RequiredAPP-001 Development Permit ApplicationLong Beach's consolidated application. The City says it 'should be used for all projects that involves more than one of the following scopes of work' - building, grading, fire and electrical among them.

Fee schedule

Fee type	Amount	Notes
Mechanical Permit fees	Per the City's published fee schedules	Long Beach links Fee Schedules from the Building Permits page rather than printing amounts inline; no figure is asserted here because none was read.

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit

Verified

Long Beach routes ADUs through its over-the-counter plan review: OTC Plan Review Permits 'can be obtained for minor construction projects requiring in-person plan reviews such as one one-story residential additions, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and relocation of 50 or less fire sprinkler heads.'

Verified 2026-09-11 · Source

Requirements

The review is in person at the counter - OTC permits 'can be obtained in person by visiting our Permit Center located at City Hall (411 W. Ocean Blvd., 2nd Fl.)'
Appointment slots are published: 'Appointments are currently available on Monday - Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., excluding holidays.'
ONE PROJECT PER VISIT: 'for each appointment scheduled we are limiting the number of projects that will be processed and reviewed to one (1) per visit.'
The qualifying list is published separately in 'Information Bulletin IB-002 Over-the-Counter (OTC) Plan Review Service for Minor Projects .'
Permits issue at the Development Permit Center to 'A licensed contractor who has a valid California State Contractor's License and an active Long Beach Business License .' or to 'A Homeowner of a one- or two-family dwelling and related accessory building or structure in accordance with Information Bulletin BU-029 / Eligibility to Obtain a Construction Permit .'

Required documents

RequiredAPP-001 Development Permit ApplicationLong Beach's consolidated application. The City says it 'should be used for all projects that involves more than one of the following scopes of work' - building, grading, fire and electrical among them.

Fee schedule

Fee type	Amount	Notes
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit fees	Per the City's published fee schedules	Long Beach links Fee Schedules from the Building Permits page rather than printing amounts inline; no figure is asserted here because none was read.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.

City of Long Beach - Community Development Department, Building and Safety Bureau — official building department

Checklists & handouts

Long Beach - Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Code Requirements

Department & other records

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Long Beach building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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