Plan Check & Permit Special Assistance

The Development Services Case Management office (DSCM) supports economic development by providing a special service to major and exceptional projects that require specific assistance and problem solving. For other types of projects, we also provide Preliminary Plan Check service to address Code-related questions raised by design professionals. Our goal is to make it as easy as possible to move your business to, or expand it within, the City of Los Angeles.

See more about Development Services Case Management

The Preliminary Plan Check Service provides applicants with an opportunity to meet with a plan check engineer to answer questions on Los Angeles Municipal Code requirements or obtain other information concerning their project, prior to plan check submittal.

Preliminary Plan Check can assist permit applicants with code requirements and identify major site-specific issues prior to plan check submittal. Preliminary plan check service also helps applicants to navigate efficiently through the various permitting and application processes.

To apply for this service, please do the following:

1. Complete a Case Management Service Request application. Applications are available online, or at all Building and Safety public counters.
2. Submit the completed application form via email at DevelopmentServices.CM@lacity.org, via fax at (213) 482-6874 or in person at 201 N Figueroa St., Suite 1030, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
3. LADBS staff will contact you to schedule the appointment time within 5 business days.
4. Take the completed Case Management Service Request form to any LADBS cashier and pay the required $208.00 plus a 3% Development Service Center Charge and a 6% Systems Surcharge fee prior to the scheduled appointment time.
5. Bring the Preliminary Plan Check application, proof of payment, a detailed list of questions and any available drawings to the scheduled appointment.
6. Each appointment will be limited up to a maximum of 1.5 hours.

View Case Management Service Request Form (pdf)

View DSCM services list (pdf)

Special Assistance DSCM

In the Parallel Design and Permitting Process, LADBS will start to plan check your plans at the conceptual design phase and continue to provide plan check, correction verification, and code consultation services to you throughout your various design phases. When you complete your final drawings, the building permit is ready to be issued. 

The benefits for a development project are:

• Identify and correct code violations early on and avoid cumbersome revisions to finished design.
• Identify clearances and obtain sign-offs from other agencies early on and avoid unexpected clearances.
• Reduce overall permit processing time, start and complete construction ahead of schedule.
• Reduce project cost due to time savings.

To initiate this process, email the following address at Metro office Plan Check:

• engineering-research@lacity.org, for non High Rise projects

Read more about the Parallel Design - Permitting Program (pdf)

The Case Management Network includes the City Planning Department, Fire Department, Bureau of Sanitation, Public Health Department, Department of Water and Power, and the Department of Building and Safety. The Restaurant & Small Business Express Program (RSBEP) helps facilitate the approval process for restaurants and other small businessses, such as retail shops, barber shops, nail salons, etc.

The goal of the RSBEP is to make the permitting and inspection process more efficient, enabling new businesses to open on time and on budget. The Program streamlines the approval process, providing assistance to the business owners, their design and construction teams, enhancing the coordination in permitting, construction and inspection.

Read more about the Restaurant & Small Business Express Program

Adaptive Reuse refers to the process of reusing an old site or building for a purpose other than which it was built or designed for.

The City’s Adaptive Reuse Program works by streamlining the process developers must follow to get their projects approved, resulting in substantial time saving.