City of Lawndale, CA

Explore the Permit Center!

Visit our Permit Center to get information on:

• Permit FAQs
• Requesting Inspections
• When and Why Permits Are Required
• Viewing Permit Records Online
• When Are Plans Required
• Submitting Plans and Applications
• Construction Hours

Access the Permit Center Online

Who Can Obtain a Permit?

Building & Planning permits can be issued to:

1. A property owner whose job site is their principal residence and who has occupied the property for at least twelve months prior to completion of the work.
2. A licensed contractor registered with the Contractor State License Board (CSLB).

When a permit is obtained, the applicant’s signature and identity must be verified. Acceptable forms of identification include a California driver’s license, State of California Identification Card, or other valid identification.

Look Up Contractor Information

Residents can visit the CSLB website to search for a contractor's license or view a database of registered contractors in the state.

Learn About Hiring a Contractor (CSLB)

Contractor License Lookup (CSLB)

Owner-Builder Requirements

Property owners who wish to obtain building permits for their property must meet the following criteria:

Owner-Builder minimum requirements:

• Subject address must be their primary residence
• The property owner must reside on the property for a minimum of twelve months before they can apply for building permits
• Provide a valid copy of their driver's license
• Provide a copy of a recent utility bill (trash, water, gas, electricity) under their name
• Fill out and turn in an Owner-Builder Declaration Form

Note: These requirements do not apply to Planning Permits.

Owner-Builder Information (CSLB)

Download Owner-Builder Declaration Form (PDF) (145 KB)

Download Know Your Responsibilities as an Owner-Builder Flyer (PDF) (234 KB)

Download A Word of Caution from the CSLB Flyer (PDF) (64 KB)

Licensed Contractor Requirements

Licensed contractors must provide the following documents and information to the Building & Safety Department when obtaining permits:

Required documents from licensed contractors:

• A valid copy of their contractor's license
• A valid copy of their driver's license/ID
• Proof of having an active city-issued business license
• Complete a Licensed Contractor Declaration form
• Workman's compensation documents
• If using an authorized agent, a notarized letter of authorization on the company letterhead
• If using an authorized agent, a copy of the agent's driver's license/ID

Apply for a Business License

Download Licensed Contractor Declaration Form (PDF) (237 KB)