GUIDE TO THE
VAN NUYS
CONSTRUCTION SERVICES CENTER

Welcome to the Van Nuys Construction Services Center

This guide was designed to identify the various services and agencies available at the Center to assist you in obtaining information, permits, clearances or approvals.

We hope that you find this guide informative and we encourage you to share any comments or suggestions you may have for us to improve our service by completing a Customer Satisfaction Survey.

Thank you.

FUNCTIONS

THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES

PERMITTING AND PLAN CHECK
OFFICE LOCATIONS AND HOURS:

METRO
201 N. Figueroa Street, 4th Floor

COUNTER HOURS
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 4: 30 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. - 4: 30 p.m.

FOR INFORMATION, INCLUDING INSPECTION REQUESTS, CALL:
1-888-LA4-BUILD (within L.A. County)
1-213-977-6941 (outside of L.A. County)
1-888-833-8389 (TDD)

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Customers need to obtain a Q-MATIC ticket at this station before service can begin. The Q-MATIC ticket system allows customers to be transferred from one counter to another counter using the same ticket.

We provide general information for City agencies that are involved in the development and construction permitting processes.

As a courtesy to Construction Services Center customers, we provide 30 minutes of free parking validation. Validations are available at this station.

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We issue Express Permits for construction work that does not require the submission of building, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical plans. For example:

· Installing a water heater

· Adding new plumbing fixtures in a house

· Installing a new electrical service panel

· Installing Seismic Gas Shut-Off Valves (SGSOV)

· Replacing a door or window of the same size

· Re-roofing, new stucco or re-stuccoing a house

· Changing ownership or the contractor on a permit

· Anchor bolting/bracing of foundation, per L.A. Standard Plan

· Installing heating and air conditioning systems, up to 500,000 BTU

· Complying with an LADBS or Housing Department Order to Comply (General Rehab, only)

If you prefer, you may fax your application for an "Express Permit" to (213) 977-6411, (310) 575-8053, or (818) 756-9465. You can obtain the Fax Permit Forms by accessing the LADBS website www.ladbs.org, at Station #1, or by calling (888) LA4-BUILD.

Pre-registered Contractors can obtain "Express Permits" on-line via the Internet at the LADBS website www.ladbs.org. Any customer can use this website to calculate their permit fees before obtaining a permit.

www.ladbs.org

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We review mechanical plans that can be completed within 60 minutes. Mechanical plans include Elevator, Fire Sprinklers, HVAC, and Plumbing plans. For example:

· Type I or Type II hoods or new HVAC system in a restaurant

· Natural gas systems or Sump pumps & sewage ejectors

· New HVAC system in a 2 story office building

· Installation of fire sprinklers for tenant improvement

· Plumbing systems in office buildings up to 3 stories in height

· Hydraulic elevators, residential elevators & wheelchair lifts

· New fire sprinkler system in office buildings up to 4 stories in height

· HVAC or Plumbing Tenant Improvement in residential and commercial buildings

We process mechanical plans that cannot be reviewed at the counter and must be submitted for regular plan check. Following are examples:

· New smoke control system or new stair pressurization system

· New or retrofit high-rise fire protection system

· New plumbing/HVAC system in a high-rise building, mall, arena or large apartment complex

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We review electrical plans that can be completed within 60 minutes or less. Electrical plans include electrical services & distribution, energy conservation, and fire life safety systems plans. For example:

· T-24 lighting conservation

· Service and fault current calculations

· Emergency lighting ·Fire warning system

· Tenant improvement in commercial & residential buildings

We process electrical plans that cannot be reviewed at the counter and must be submitted for regular plan check. Examples are:

· New buildings exceeding 30,000 square feet

· High voltage and electrical installations in hazardous locations

· Electrical installations in theatres ·Electrical installations in health care facilities

· Electrical installations in assembly rooms with seating capacity exceeding 500 persons

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We review plans for fire alarms and tenant improvements that can be processed within 20 minutes.

We accept plans to review and process for:

· Exiting Systems

· Fire Alarm Systems

· Occupancy/Area Separations

· Uses of Roofs for Occupancy

· Emergency egress windows in single, family dwellings

· Removal & reapplication of fireproofing materials on structural members in a building, as a result of asbestos abatement

In accordance with State Codes, we review plans for schools, day care facilities, high rise buildings, enclosed malls, residential facilities over 15 units, public assemblies, where the occupancy level will be equal to or greater than 50 persons, and hazardous occupancies, such as auto body shops.

We also review requests for modifications that prescribe an alternate means of complying with the fire/life safety requirements for Title 19 Buildings, after you have filed the request with LADBS.

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We accept building plans that can be reviewed and processed within 60 minutes. For example:

· One-story additions to single family dwellings on level lots

· Tenant improvements that do not include any structural changes

· On-site signs, except pole signs

· Changes of use that do not require an increase in parking

· Demolition plans

· New or used car sales lots

· Use of land permits for:

Junk Yards

Parking lots for non-required parking

Christmas tree or pumpkin patch lots.

We accept applications for Grading Pre-inspection (GPI's) in conjunction with a plan check, Sign Pre-inspection (SPI's), and Demolition Pre-inspection (DPI's).

We accept notifications & postings for hillside area projects.

We accept all other building plans and grading plans that cannot be reviewed at the counter and must be submitted for regular plan check.

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We collect fees for the following items:

· CRA CEQA fees

· City Attorney Collection Services Fees

· City Planning fees

· LAFD Expedite fees

· LADBS Pre-inspection fees

· LADBS Non-compliance fees

· LADBS Plan submittal & Plan Check fees

· LADBS Building Trade Applications (License) fees

· LADBS Building, Mechanical and/or Electrical Permit fees

· Office of Finance fees for:

Dwelling Tax

Business Tax

Fire Permits Residential Development Tax

We also provide duplicate Inspection Cards and application forms for refunds of LADBS FEES, only.

We sell the following certificates and informational data at this counter:

Certificates:

· Permit to Operate a Steam Boiler/Pressure Vessel

· Certified Licensed Contractor Certificates

Data on Diskette:

· Plan Check and Inspection System (PCIS) Data on Building, Mechanical and Electrical Permits

· 1994 Northridge Earthquake Data (EQ 1-94)

· Welded Steel Moment Resisting Frame Buildings Data

We accept cash, pre-printed checks, debit and credit card payments, with proper identification. (American Express, VISA, Master Card & Discover Card)

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The Case Manager Unit provides technical and administrative assistance during the design, approval, and construction stages of your project. A network of professionals is available to provide you with their expertise and assistance.

· Provide technical and administrative guidance

· Review a project to identify any required permits, entitlements, and public improvements

· Coordinate pre-design meetings with appropriate agencies

· Facilitate plan check activities, clearances, supplemental permits, and technical verification meetings.

· Resolve issues between the design team and the plan approval authority

· Facilitate inspections

· Resolve issues between the project construction team, the inspection staff, and/or the plan approval authority.

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We provide general zoning information for a specific parcel. This information can include the zone, height district, lot size, hillside area, specific plan area, easements, etc. Copies of a zoning map for a specific parcel are also available.

A staff engineer is available for interpretations and clarifications of the information received at the Express Zoning Information Counter.

By accessing the LADBS website HTTP://www.ladbs.org , you can obtain property information in a Parcel Profile Report that provides you with basic zoning information, parcel legal description information, geographically oriented parcel information, and any City documents associated with the parcel. The system allows you to search by address or Assessor Parcel Number.

We review Police and Fire Permit applications to ensure compliance with the permitted use of the building, for customers referred to us by the Office of Finance, Tax and Permit Section.

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The following types of LADBS records are available for viewing and/or copying:

· Building Permits (from 1905 to present)

· Certificates of Occupancy (from 1940 to present)

· Range Files (property violations)

· Approved Geology/Soils Reports

· Affidavits/ZI's

· Board Files

· Administrative Approvals

· Approved Building Plans*

· Electrical, Plumbing, or Mechanical Permits (from 1985 to 1990 and from 1996 to present)

*You will need written authorization from the property owner, the licensed architect/engineer of record, and a copy of a current grant deed to obtain copies of blueprints (plans).

You may request copies by either mailing or faxing your request to:

LADBS/Building Records Section
14425 Erwin Street
Van Nuys, CA 91401
Fax # 818-756-8465

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We accept the following geological and geotechnical reports for review and approval:

· Soil Reports

· Geology reports

· Combined hillside reports

· Compaction reports

· Liquefaction studies

· Seismology reports

You will need to submit three (3) sets of the report-the original stamped set and two copies.

Staff is available to assist you with project planning in any of the following areas:

· Excavation

· Fill and Slopes

· Foundations

· Retaining walls

We accept applications for Haul Route Hearings.

We intake, review and approve grading plans and issue permits for projects that are not in a hillside area and that do not require a geological or geotechnical report, provided that the plans are for grading, only, and are not in conjunction with building plans.

www.ladbs.org

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Thank you for doing business in the City of Los Angeles.