Work In Progress

Navigating the permitting process in Los Angeles often feels like an uphill battle. Applicants face a maze of approvals, conflicting department requirements, and inefficient clearance processes. Recognizing the urgent need for reform, the Los Angeles Builders Association (LABA) has been actively collaborating with various City of LA departments to identify and address inefficiencies within the clearance process. LABA’s goal is to bridge the gap between the user experience and the internal workflows of often understaffed city agencies, ensuring a smoother, more transparent, and timely permitting process.

Navigating the permitting process with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has long been a challenge for developers, contractors, and property owners. Unlike many other city departments that have embraced online permitting systems to improve efficiency and transparency, LADWP still relies on a largely manual, paper-based process. This outdated approach causes unnecessary delays, increases costs, and introduces inefficiencies that ultimately hinder the city’s housing and infrastructure development goals.

The Los Angeles Builders Association (LABA) has been actively working with city officials to address this issue, emphasizing that transitioning to an online permitting system is not merely a matter of modernization but a legal obligation. Under California Government Code Section 65940.1, local agencies are mandated to provide an online platform for development applications and permit processing to enhance transparency and accessibility. The law stipulates that municipalities must ensure permit application requirements, checklists, and processing timelines are available online, making it easier for applicants to track their submissions and comply with local regulations.