How to look up permits for a Los Angeles address

A permit is the City's record that work was approved. The permit history of an address shows what has been built, changed or repaired, and whether the work was finished and inspected. It matters whether you are booking a stay, renting or buying.

Where permit records live

For addresses in the City of Los Angeles, building permits are public records kept by the Department of Building and Safety. You can search them yourself on the City's public records site, parcel by parcel.

What a permit record shows

• The type of work, such as electrical, plumbing, roofing or a structural addition.
• The date the permit was filed and its status, such as issued, finaled or expired.
• Inspections that were recorded.

What to look for

• Work that was permitted and finaled, which shows it passed inspection.
• Permits that were issued and never finished.
• Large changes with no permit on record, such as an addition or converted garage. A missing permit does not prove the work was unpermitted, but it is worth asking about.

The faster way

Deedlore compiles the permit history, recorded inspections and other public records for a City of Los Angeles address into one report, with the date each record was retrieved. Reports may be incomplete and are not legal advice. Deedlore covers the City of Los Angeles only.

Related guides

• How to check an Airbnb address for safety
• Red flags when booking an Airbnb in Los Angeles
• Is an address in a hazard zone?
• How to check an Airbnb before you book, step by step
• How to check if a Los Angeles Airbnb is legal
• Airbnb scams: what public records can and cannot catch
• How to check the area around an Airbnb

Common questions