Do I Need a Permit?

A sheet of paper on a clipboard The intent of this page is to inform residents when permits will be required before commencing any type of work or repairs on their property.

For more information on what work requires a permit, or if approved plans are required before permit issuance, call (310) 973-3230 for work being done on private property.

Call the Public Works Department at (310) 973-3260 for work being done out on the public right-of-way.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why Are Permits Required?

  1. Building permits are essential for allowing local jurisdictions to verify that any work done complies with the building and construction process based on the current building and safety requirements.

  2. It improves safety for the building occupants and the surrounding community.

  3. It is required by the State and County building code!

  4. It helps keep track of what repairs and alterations were made to a building if the property where to be sold or transferred.

  5. Insurance companies may not cover damages or work caused by unpermitted changes or repairs.

  6. Building permits help ensure that all structures meet minimum building standards and regulations to protect the occupants and surrounding neighbors.

• Items That Don't Require Permit

  1. painting interior or exterior walls (except for exterior paint for businesses located within the Hawthorne Blvd. Specific Plan area),

  2. changes to flooring that does not involve breaking the floor slab,

  3. replacement of portable electrical equipment,

  4. portable heating, cooling and ventilation devices,

  5. non-fixed and movable fixtures, cases, racks,

  6. installation of radio or television transmission equipment (satellite dish, antenna),

  7. changing out counter or cabinets that are not attached to electrical, mechanical, or plumbing fixtures/apparatuses, or altering the configuration of a room.

  8. nonfixed and movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters, and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches in height,

  9. low-energy power, control, and signal circuits that are not an integral part of an appliance and in which the power is limited from a source having a rated output of not more than 30 volts and 1000 volt-amperes,

  10. Electrical wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus, or equipment operating at less than 25 volts and not capable of supplying more than 50 watts of energy,

  11. the repair or replacement of an existing fence or wall provided that all of the following conditions are met:

    • the fence or wall is in compliance with the height limit requirement for its location on the lot,

    • the repair or replacement of such fence or wall, within any twelve-month period, affects less than twenty-five percent of the straight line horizontal linear dimension of that segment of the fence or wall that is being repaired or replaced, and

    • the repair or replacement of such fence or wall utilizes the same materials and style as the existing fence.

  12. papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops, and similar finish work where disabled access requirements do not apply,

  13. Temporary decorative lightning,

  14. Private telephone, intercom, sound and communication systems; provided, however, that the above system(s) do not exceed the value as indicated in (9) and (10) of this section.

Exemption from the permit requirements of the building and zoning codes shall not deem to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of these Codes or other laws or ordinances.

• Other Items That Require Permits

Finance Department- (310) 973-3246 / (310) 973-3244
  • Yard/garage sales
  • Residential rentals
  • Conducting business inside the city
  • Home occupation business
  • Security alarms
Public Works Department - (310) 973-3260
  • Conducting work on the public right-of-way
  • Storing construction waste bins on the street
  • Alterations to the parkway
  • Parking passes for the Hawthorne Boulevard median
  • Underground utilities
Municipal Services - (310) 973-3220
  • Neighborhood block parties
  • Registration/license renewals for dogs
  • Street parking for oversized vehicles/RV's (up to 7 days, twice a year)

• Penalties for Doing Work Without Permits

If a code enforcement officer, or the building inspector, observe work being done without permits, a stop-work order will be issued to the job site.

An investigation fee will be applied to a permit when pulling permits for the unpermitted work after the fact. The investigation fees are:

  • Permits pulled by an ownner-builder: $487.88
  • Permits pulled by a contractor: $975.78

Separate code enforcement fines may be issued for non-compliance. For more information on Administrative Citations please call the Code Enforcement Department at (310) 973-3220.

List of Items That Require Permits (By Application Type)

Review the following list to verify if the work you are planning to do will require a permit. Click on the permit name to download the application.

Building permits are valid for up to a year. Permits can be extended twice (six months per extension) after the permit extension fees are paid.

Planning Permits (Fence, Flatwork, and Shed) are valid for up to six months. The Planning Department may extend these permits for six additional months, depending on the circumstances.

Plans to Permits Process

If your project requires plans to be reviewed and approved by both the Planning and Building & Safety departments, the flowchart linked below will give you a general overview of the process and timelines.

Timelines may vary based on the scope of work, staff workload, and if the plans comply with submittal requirements, zoning regulations, building code regulations, etc. Additional clearances may also be required.

Building Permits

Building Permit Application

  • new construction
  • installing, repairing, or replacing drywall, insulation, lath, or sheathing
  • repairing and replacing stucco, siding, or other exterior finishes (not including stucco patching)
  • any expansion, modification, and/or alteration of floor area, to a structure, garage, and/or accessory building
  • roof repair and alterations
  • change out or replacement of any doors and windows (like-for-like, retrofits, or changes in size and location) (a door schedule and window schedule must be attached with the permit application)
  • demolition of structures
  • installation, alteration, and re-installation of commercial and residential solar PV systems
  • counters and cabinets with electrical, plumbing, or mechanical fixtures attached
  • conversion or legalization of any structures, rooms, etc.
  • residential remodels
  • installation and repairs for garage doors
  • tenant improvements for commercial properties
  • installation of fire sprinklers
  • installation of swimming pools

Electrical Permit Application

  • installation, repair, or replacement of major appliances (such as dishwashers, clothes washer and dryer, air conditioners, etc).
  • installation, repair, or replacement of light fixtures, light switches, outlets, branch circuits, or conduits
  • installation, repair, or replacement of electrical wiring
  • installation, repair, or replacement of vehicle charging systems
  • installation, repair, replacement, or upgrade of electrical service panels
  • other appliances, motors, or apparatuses that are above 3HP
  • temporary power pole
  • electrical-related work for signs
  • electrical-related work for pools, spas, hot tubs, whirlpools, and other comparable items
  • lighting fixture for pole, platform-mounted, or theatrical type
  • capping off electrical connections 

Grading Permit Application

  • cutting, filling, or moving more than fifty cubic yards of soil

Mechanical Permit Application

  • installation, repair, or replacement of air conditioning units, air inlets and outlets, air handling units, absorption units, boilers, compressors, evaporative coolers, fireplaces, fire dampeners, furnaces, heaters
  • installation, repair, or replacement of appliance vents, standard vents, commercial kitchen hoods, spray booths, standard and convectional duct systems
  • installation, repair, or replacement of duct systems and ventilation systems

Miscellaneous Permit Application

  • certificate of occupancy
  • temporary certificate of occupancy
  • special inspections

Plumbing Permit Application

  • installation, repair, or replacement of bathroom and kitchen sinks, bathtubs, and showers, drinking fountains, hose bibs, roof drains, shower valve, toilets, urinals, water closets, waste inlet
  • installation, repair, or replacement of low, medium, or high-pressure gas systems, and gas outlets, gas meter, gas pressure regulators
  • trap primers, waste inlet, backflow prevention device/sprinklers, backwater valves, drainage or sewage back valve
  • installation, repair, or replacement of water piping, service lines, pressure regulator
  • solar portable water heating system (including heater and vent)
  • installation, repair, or replacement of swimming pool drainage and vent trap interceptor and receptors
  • installation, repair, or replacement of water softening system, pretreatment interceptor, vent, grease interceptors
  • capping off water and gas connections

Sewer Permit Application

  • alter, repair, or abandon house sewer or disposal system
  • connect additional building or work to house sewer
  • disconnect house sewer or disposal system
  • house sewer connecting to private disposal system
  • house sewer connecting to public sewer
  • cesspool, overflow seepage pit, percolation test pit, swimming pool dry well
  • gray water system storage tanks
  • overflow seepage pit, drain field extension, dry well, manhole
  • septic tank, storage tank, seepage pit or pits, and/or drain field
  • tap-and-saddle

Planning Permits

Fence Permit Application (Fee: $50)

  • installation or modifications to gates and fences
  • considerable repair to gates and fences

Flatwork Permit Application (Fee: $75)

  • installation or modifications to concrete or hardscape areas in the front yard (decomposed granite, decorative rocks, pavers, wood chips, parking pads)
  • installing or removing artificial turf
  • installation of drought-tolerant landscaping 

Shed Permit Application (Fee $390)

  • installation or modifications to storage sheds that are no larger than 120 sq. ft., and up to 10 feet in height

Sign Permit Application (Fee: $115)

  • installation or modifications to signs (pole signs, wall signs, window signs, electrical signs, etc.)

Temporary Sign/Banner Permit Application (Fee: $115)

  • installation or modifications to signs, banners, or flags (pole signs, wall signs, window signs, electrical signs, etc.) for up to 120 days

Permitted Construction Hours

Monday - Friday:
7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday:
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday and City observed holidays: 
No work allowed!

Report Unpermitted Construction

To report construction being performed outside of the permitted hours or report work being done without permits, contact the Code Enforcement Department at (310) 973-3220.

Permit Fees

Click on the Fee Schedule link below to view the permit costs for specific work items.

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