Frequently Asked Questions
- What is ePlanLA?
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ePlanLA, short for Electronic Plan Review Los Angeles, is an online service for submitting plans for plan check, applying for permits, and tracking the progress of these applications. Plans submitted must be scaled pdf drawings. Plan review and correspondence will be done through the online service.
- What are the steps of the ePlanLA application process?
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The steps of an ePlanLA application are:
1. Submit Application for Screening
2. Application Review
3. Plan Check
4. Corrections Issued
5. Plan Check Complete
6. Permit Issued
- What type of plan check applications are eligible for ePlanLA?
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LADBS currently provides electronic plan review services for following application types:
- Tenant Improvement
- Soft-Story Retrofit
- Fire Sprinkler
- HVAC
- Plumbing
- Elevator
- Residential Solar Photovoltaic
- Electrical
- What are the requirements for a Tenant Improvement application?
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Tenant Improvement projects that qualify for ePlanLA must meet all of the following conditions:
- The project is in a commercial building; and
- The project is above the ground floor; and
- The project must have no changes in use; and
- The project must have no changes to the exit components; and
- The project must have no increase in occupant load.
- What are the requirements for a Soft-Story Retrofit application?
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Soft-Story Retrofit projects that qualify for ePlanLA must meet all of the following conditions:
- The project is an apartment or commercial building; and
- The building is 2 stories or more; and
- The building is 4 units or more; and
- The project does not add new floor area; and
- The project must have no changes in use; and
- Only one building is allowed per plan check application.
- What are the requirements for a Fire Sprinkler application?
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Fire Sprinkler projects that qualify for ePlanLA must meet one of the following conditions:
- Installation of Fire Sprinkler for a single Family Dwelling or Duplex.
- Installation of Fire Sprinkler in a Commercial Building that is a. Four (4) stories or less and b. No more than a total of four (4) hydraulic calculations.
- Installation of fire Sprinkler in an Apartment that is a. Four (4) stories or less and; b. No more than a total of four (4) hydraulic calculations.
- What is the format requirement for plans and drawings?
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All plans and drawings need to be uploaded and submitted as single files in any of the following file formats/extensions: ADOBE, Vectored .PDF, .PDF
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All plans and drawing files must be saved and uploaded in LANDSCAPE page layout.
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Drawing should be true-type fronts.
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The PDF files should have bookmarks based on sheet numbers for each sheet numbers for each sheet of the drawing set.
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Properly formatted and compressed PDF files should not exceed 50 megabytes (50MB) per file.
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A Plan Title (Cover) Page is require for each plan set.
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A Sheet Index must be included on the Plan Title Page.
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The upper right corner of ALL Plan and Title pages must be reserved for LADBS approval stamp (2.25” from the right edge, 0.25” from the top). See below sample for the Approval Stamp space and Sheet Index placement on the Tittle page.
- What are the requirements for a HVAC application?
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HVAC projects that qualify for ePlan must meet one of the following conditions
- Installation of HVAC system for one restaurant with up to 2 commercial kitchen hoods;or
- Installation of HVAC system for up to 2 levels of garage ventilation;or
- Installation of HVAC system for residential buildings up to 3 stories including garage ventilation;or
- Installation of HVAC system for commercial tenant improvement.
- What is the required size and format for supporting document?
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Supporting Documents may be submitted as multi-pages in Portrait page layout, no larger than 8 ½” x 11” per page, in PDF format.
Example documents:
- Structural calculations
- certificates
- plot plan
- reports
- Any other relevant, non drawing project documentation.
- What are the requirements for a Plumbing application?
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Plumbing Plan Check projects that qualify for ePlan must meet the following condition:
- Plumbing systems for buildings of 4 stories or less and up to 5 sheets of riser diagrams.
- Do I need to be an engineer, contractor, or architect to submit an application for plan check?
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No, an agent, homeowner, engineer, contractor or architect can submit an application.
- Can I submit more than one plan file?
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No, all plan sheets must be combined into one PDF document.
- What are the requirements for a Elevator application?
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Elevator Plan Check projects that qualify for ePlan must meet all of the following:
- Installation of one Residential Elevator; or
- Installation of one Cabled Traction Elevator; or
- Installation of one Hydroelectric Elevator.
- Where can I view my application status?
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Application status will be displayed on your dashboard, which is accessible after login to your ePlanLA account.
- What should I do after my plan and application have been approved?
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Visit the Department of Building and Safety Metro (Main) Office to pay the permit fees due.
LADBS Metro Office
201 North Figueroa Street, 4th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90012
The person who will pay for the permit fee will need to do the following to complete the permit information:
- Provide and verify the contractor, engineering and/or architect information.
- Provide the authorization agency document if the payee is an agent.
After the permit fee is paid, an LADBS Plan Check Engineer will stamp your plans and you will be able to download the stamped plans from your dashboard.
- How do I download the approved stamped plans and permit?
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After the permit fee is paid, an LADBS Plan Check Engineer will stamp your plans and you will be able to download the stamped plans from your dashboard.
- What web browsers are compatible with ePlanLA Application?
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ePlanLA is compatible with all commonly used web browsers, including: Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Apple Safari and Firefox.
- Can I change my email address for my ePlanLA account?
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No, you may not change your email. The email provided at registration serves as your account name.
- Whom can I contact for ePlanLA assistance?
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Contact information for plan review questions
Online: https://buildla.lacity.org/contact-form
Call Center: (213) 473-3231
IT Support: (213) 275-3434