Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Valley have layers: hillside lots, coastal zones, and neighborhood overlays. Many owners assume a vanity swap is always Express. It is not when circuits change or walls move. This guide shows how to avoid the common LADBS mistakes across Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks, Pasadena, Irvine, Anaheim, and Mission Viejo.

Most LA kitchen remodels need LADBS permits when moving walls, plumbing, gas, or circuits. Plan 8–12 weeks from plan submittal to final, longer with structural changes or hillside homes. Start in Q4 to avoid holiday backlogs and prep for 2025 Title 24 standards that apply to permits filed Jan 1, 2026 and later.