The Complete PermitLA Walkthrough
Real screenshots from the LADBS PermitLA portal, pulled from Jorge’s own contractor account. These screenshots show the EV charger permit flow, which is the most common residential electrical Express Permit in Los Angeles.
Navigate to permitla.lacitydbs.org in any browser. You will land on the “Get Your Permit Online” page. A notice about the Angeleno Account system will appear — this is expected. The Angeleno Account is the City of Los Angeles single sign-on system that replaced the old username/password login. It is free to create and works across multiple city services. If you used the old PermitLA system, create your Angeleno Account using the same email address you used before.
Click Sign in with Angeleno. You will be redirected to the City of Los Angeles login screen. Enter your email address and password. If you are new to the system, click Create an Angeleno Account — you will need to verify your email, then set a password. The whole process takes under 2 minutes. Once created, use those credentials for all future LADBS Express Permit applications.
After login, you land on the PermitLA dashboard. The dashboard has three sections: Obtain a Permit, Modify a Permit, and Permit Information & History. Under Obtain a Permit, click Apply for a Permit. This starts a new permit application workflow. The navigation breadcrumb at the top of each subsequent screen shows where you are in the process: Search Address › Applicant Information › Project Selection › Permit Type › Certify Ownership › Work Description › Questionnaire › Scope of Work › Permit Fees Review › Declaration › Permit Cart Review.
Enter the property street number and street name in the search box. Do not include directional prefixes (N, S, E, W) or street suffixes (Ave, St, Blvd). The portal searches its own address database and will show matching results. For 6641 N Kester Ave, enter 6641 Kester. Select the correct address from the results list. If the address does not appear, call the LADBS Help Desk at (213) 275-3434 — some newly constructed addresses or properties with recent lot splits may need in-person processing.
The Applicant Information screen captures who is applying: Contractor (requires C10 license number and BTRC number) or Owner (for owner-builder permits). If applying as a contractor, your license is verified live against the CSLB database. After applicant info, the Project Selection screen asks whether this is a New Project or an Existing Project. Choose New Project. Give the project a clear name — for example, EV LEVEL 2 CHARGER or 200A PANEL UPGRADE. Click Submit, then Next.
The Permit Type screen lists all available permit categories. Select Electrical. You will then be asked to choose the permit sub-category. For EV charger circuits, NEMA outlets, and simple receptacle or fixture work, select Express Permit (no plan check, issued instantly online). For panel upgrades, new subpanels, or solar interconnection, select Counter Plan Check Electrical — those require an in-person appointment at the LADBS Construction Services Center at 201 N Figueroa St. A licensed C10 electrician can handle the Counter Plan Check application on your behalf.
The Work Description screen has two fields. Permit Sub Type: choose the occupancy type for the property — Single-Family Dwelling for a house, Multi-Family for apartments/condos. Work Description: enter a brief, factual description of the electrical work to be performed. For an EV charger: “Install an electrical vehicle charger(s) in a single-family dwelling.” Keep it concise and accurate. Exaggerating scope can push the application into a plan-check category and delay the permit. Click Next to continue through the Questionnaire and Scope of Work screens.
The Permit Fees Review screen shows the itemized fee breakdown calculated automatically by the system based on your project type and property service size. Review the line items carefully — the permit type and address are displayed at the top of the screen. If anything looks wrong, click Back to correct it before paying. Once you click Next to proceed to Declaration and then Permit Cart Review, you will be prompted to pay by credit or debit card. The permit is issued immediately upon successful payment. Download the PDF right away. A copy will also be emailed to you, though LADBS advises allowing up to 2 business days for the email to arrive.
After payment, the permit PDF is available for immediate download from the portal. California Building Code requires the permit to be posted visibly at the job site before any work begins. Print the permit and tape it to a window or wall near where the work will be performed. The LADBS inspector will look for the posted permit when they arrive for the final inspection. Do not begin any electrical work until the permit is in hand and posted. Keep the permit until the final inspection is signed off and closed.
