What a building permit tells you before you hire a contractor

Why permits exist

CSLB summarizes the California Building Standards Code this way: no building or structure may be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted or demolished unless a separate permit for each building or structure has first been obtained from the building official.

Code requirements vary between cities and counties, so the local building department decides exactly which jobs need a permit. In the City of Los Angeles, that is the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS), which handles plan review, permits, inspections and code enforcement.

What a permit records about a contractor

State law ties permits to licenses and insurance. Before issuing a permit, a city or county must get:

• A signed statement from the licensed contractor giving the license number and stating the license is in full force (Business and Professions Code section 7031.5).
• A declaration, signed under penalty of perjury, verifying workers' compensation coverage or an exemption (Labor Code section 3800).

That makes permit history a useful record of a contractor's real work. For example, the City of Los Angeles publishes permit data that includes, for each permit:

• Permit type and sub-type (building, electrical or mechanical, which includes plumbing and HVAC).
• A description of the work and its declared valuation.
• Issue date and current status.
• The contractor's business name and license number on many records.

A long record of permits in the trade you need suggests the contractor regularly does that kind of work through the proper process. Few or no permits is not proof of anything on its own, since some jobs don't need one, but it is a good reason to ask questions.

How to look up permits in Los Angeles

• Search LADBS building records by address with PRISM, LADBS's permit and records search.
• Browse citywide permit data on the Los Angeles Open Data portal, which lists building permits issued since 2020.
• Outside Los Angeles, check your city or county building department's website.

Who should pull the permit

LADBS lets an owner, a contractor or an agent apply for a permit. When you hire a licensed contractor, you can ask the contractor to pull the permit under its own license and put that in the contract. Be careful if a contractor asks you to pull it as an owner-builder:

• CSLB says that when you sign a permit application as an owner-builder, you take on full responsibility for all phases of the project, including passing inspections.
• CSLB warns consumers to be wary of "consultants" or unlicensed people who try to talk them into becoming an owner-builder to save money.
• If workers on an owner-builder project are injured and have no workers' compensation, CSLB says the owner could be asked to pay through a homeowner's policy or face lawsuits.

When work is done without a permit

CSLB says a contractor who performs improvement work without a required local building permit violates Business and Professions Code sections 7110 and 7090. Penalties can include civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, an order to pay permit fees and local penalties, and suspension or revocation of the license. CSLB also notes that construction without a permit can expose a homeowner to additional liability and costs.

You can report suspected unpermitted work by a contractor with CSLB's Building Permit Violation Referral form.

A short checklist

1. Check the contractor's license and classification with CSLB. See how to check a California contractor's license.
2. Look up the contractor's past permits in your city.
3. Ask whether your job needs a permit and who will pull it. Get the answer in the contract.
4. Keep the permit number and make sure inspections are scheduled and the permit is finaled when the work is done.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm current requirements with the agency that issues the license or permit. Last reviewed Sep 29, 2026.