LADBS Express Permits for Re-Roofs and A/C Replacement

Quick Facts

From our city pages and each city's open permit data (refreshed October 30, 2026).

Re-Roof Express Permits

Re-roofing with Class A or B coverings weighing under 6 lb/sq ft is an Express Permit. Class A roofing is required in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Replacing more than 50% of a roof triggers the cool-roof requirement for a rated product.

Every Project Type in Los Angeles

These summaries come from the same official sources as our city pages and were last checked October 30, 2026. Permit counts are the city's own open-data records for the last 12 months.

Roofing: Yes

LADBS issues re-roofs as Express Permits with no plan check, for Class A or B coverings under 6 lb/sq ft. Class A roofing is required in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, and replacing more than 50% of the roof triggers the cool-roof requirement.

• Re-roof is an Express Permit (no plan check) for Class A/B coverings under 6 lb/sq ft.
• Class A is required in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
• Replacing more than 50% of the roof requires a CRRC-rated cool-roof product.
• Los Angeles issued 14,845 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 49 days from application to issue.

Source: LADBS Information Bulletin P/GI 2020-003: Express Permits

HVAC: Yes

Replacing an A/C unit with one of the same size and type, and gas furnaces under 500,000 Btu/h, are on the LADBS Express Permit list: you still need a mechanical permit, but no plan check.

• Same size and type A/C replacement: Express Permit.
• Gas furnaces and heaters under 500,000 Btu/h: Express Permit.
• Duct alterations in buildings without smoke control: Express Permit.
• Los Angeles issued 15,929 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 147 days from application to issue.

Source: LADBS Information Bulletin P/GI 2020-003: Express Permits (linked above)

Step-by-Step: What to Do

1. Confirm the job is on the Express list in IB P/GI 2020-003.
2. Hire a California-licensed contractor (or apply as owner-builder).
3. Apply online through LADBS ePermit.
4. Do the work, meeting cool-roof and fire-zone rules where they apply.
5. Pass the inspection and keep the record.

HVAC Express Permits

Replacing an A/C unit with one of the same size and type, and gas furnaces or heaters under 500,000 Btu/h, are on the Express list.

Los Angeles Permit Pages

See Los Angeles Roofing Permits, Los Angeles HVAC Permits and Los Angeles Building Permits.

What "Express" Means in Los Angeles

LADBS Information Bulletin P/GI 2020-003 lists the work that can be issued as an Express Permit: the permit is issued without plan check because the scope is routine. You still apply, pay fees and pass inspections. The two most common home projects on the list are re-roofing and replacing an air-conditioning unit with one of the same size. Because there is no plan review, Express Permits are typically much faster than standard permits, though LADBS does not promise a fixed turnaround on the bulletin.

The Cool Roof Rule

The LADBS cool roof fact sheet explains that when more than 50% of a roof is replaced, the new roofing must meet cool-roof requirements, which set minimum solar reflectance and thermal emittance for the roofing product. Most roofing manufacturers rate their products, so ask your roofer to confirm the product meets the requirement and to list it on the permit. Repairs that replace less than half the roof are not caught by this rule.

When You Need Plan Check Instead

Anything structural, any change in roof framing, a larger or relocated HVAC system, additions and ADUs fall outside the Express list and need plan check. California's statewide ADU laws, explained by the state housing department, limit how cities can restrict ADUs; see ADU Permit Requirements: What Homeowners Need to Know. For solar, see Solar Panel Permit Rules for Homeowners.

Questions to Ask a Los Angeles Contractor

• Is this job on the LADBS Express Permit list, or does it need plan check?
• If more than half the roof is being replaced, which cool-roof product will you use?
• Who will pull the permit and schedule inspections?
• Will you provide proof of the final inspection before final payment?

See Hiring a Licensed Contractor: Permit Rules That Depend on Licensing for more.

Checking a Los Angeles Permit Record

Los Angeles publishes issued building permits as open data. Search by address to confirm a permit was issued and finaled; How to Look Up Building Permits for a House explains how.

How to Apply for an LADBS Express Permit

1. Confirm the job is on the Express list in Information Bulletin P/GI 2020-003.
2. Gather details: address, scope, and for re-roofs the roofing product and whether more than half the roof is being replaced.
3. Apply through LADBS (typically by the contractor) and pay the fees.
4. Do the work and request inspections as the permit requires.
5. Get the final and keep the permit and product information.

If LADBS determines the work is outside Express scope, it will be routed to plan check. Ask early to avoid surprises. For what to expect at each inspection, see Building Permit Inspections: What Inspectors Check and When.

Express Permits and Home Sales

Because Express Permits are recorded like any other permit, they show up in the city's permit history for the address. A re-roof or A/C replacement with a finaled Express Permit is easy for a buyer to verify, while the same work without one raises questions. That is one more reason to make sure your contractor pulls the permit and books the final.

Reading the Los Angeles Timeline Data

The city's open data shows a median of 49 days from application to issue for roofing permits and 146.5 days for HVAC permits over the last 12 months. Those medians include every matching permit, not only Express ones, so jobs that needed plan check pull them up. A true Express Permit is usually issued much faster, so a long wait is a sign the job may have been routed to plan check.

Who Issues Permits in Los Angeles

Residential permits in Los Angeles are issued by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Its website has the current application portal, fee schedule and inspection scheduling. Issued permits are published as open data in LADBS Building Permits Issued 2020–Present, which is the source of the permit counts and recent permits shown on our Los Angeles pages. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the department before you start work.

Frequently Asked Questions