El Segundo Building Permits Guide for Homeowners
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Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team.
El Segundo takes building permit applications, plans and payments through its online E-Z Permit Hub, and the city’s Building and Safety Division can be reached at 310-524-2380. This guide explains how the process works, what plan check timelines the city publishes, how inspections are requested, and what permit history means if you plan to sell an El Segundo home.
El Segundo permits at a glance
| Department | Building and Safety Division, Community Development Department, City Hall, 350 Main Street, El Segundo, CA 90245 |
| Phone | 310-524-2380 (building); 310-524-2350 (planning); City Hall 310-524-2300 |
| How to apply | Register and apply on the El Segundo E-Z Permit Hub; attachments must be PDF or JPG |
| Accelerated plan check | Aimed at 7 working days from the date plan review fees are paid |
| Regular plan check | One to four weeks depending on scope, from payment of plan review fees |
| Inspections | Requested through the online service; inspection line 310-524-2379 |
| Code in effect | The city notes a 2025 California Building Code update effective January 1, 2026 |
| Solar | Automated residential solar permitting page |
What the city says a permit does
El Segundo’s Building and Safety Division reviews construction plans, issues permits and performs inspections. The city describes inspection as the step that confirms the finished work conforms to the permit, the local codes and the submitted plans. In other words, the permit is the record that your project was built the way the plans said it would be, and the final inspection is what closes that record.
Typical homeowner projects that call for a permit include additions, garage conversions, new or relocated walls, new electrical circuits and panels, plumbing and water heater changes, new heating and cooling equipment, re-roofs with structural work, and detached accessory buildings above the exempt size. The city’s online pages do not publish a complete exemption list, so call the division before you assume a small job needs none.
Step by step: how an El Segundo permit works
1. Prepare your documents
Gather a site plan, drawings, calculations and any engineering or energy reports your project needs. The city’s building codes and regulations page notes that proposed projects are checked for compliance with the California Building Code, with a 2025 update effective January 1, 2026, so ask which edition governs your application date.
2. Register and apply online
Create an account on the E-Z Permit Hub and submit the application, plans and documents electronically. The city accepts only PDF and JPG file formats for attachments. Once staff receive the submission, a plan check number is created and an invoice for plan check fees is emailed to you.
3. Plan check
The city routes plans at the same time to all departments that need to review them. Accelerated plan check is aimed at 7 working days from the date the plan review fees are paid. Regular plan check takes one to four weeks depending on the scope. Questions about a review comment go to the department named on the review step in your record workflow, not to a single general line.
4. Permit issuance and fees
After approval you pay permit fees and receive the permit through the same hub. The city’s pages describe fee payments and plan review fees without publishing a full schedule, so ask the division for an estimate before you commit to a contractor bid. The ADU fee calculator on the hub is one example of how the city lets you price a project up front.
5. Inspections and final
Request inspections through the E-Z Permit Hub, which the city describes as the communication point for permit issuance and inspection requests. The Building and Safety Division lists 310-524-2379 for inspection calls. Keep the permit card and approved plans on site, because inspectors will check the work against them. A passed final is the document you want in your file when you sell.
Planning approvals that come first
Some projects need Planning Division review before building plans are accepted. The Planning Division, 310-524-2350, handles planning applications, guides and forms, and planning inspections are also requested through the hub. If your project changes the exterior of the home or adds square footage, ask Planning what is needed before you pay for full drawings. Our El Segundo zoning and ADU guide covers accessory units in more detail.
Solar projects
El Segundo has an automated residential solar permitting page. Solar is a common upgrade before a sale or refinance, and the automated process is designed to speed up standard residential systems. Confirm eligibility on that page before you sign a contract with an installer.
Permits and selling an El Segundo house
Permit history matters at sale time. Buyers, lenders and appraisers often ask whether additions, garage conversions and remodels were permitted, and California sellers generally disclose known unpermitted work. Our statewide guide to selling as-is with unpermitted work explains the disclosure rules, and the seller closing costs guide covers what else to budget.
With open, expired or missing permits you generally have three paths: finish and close the permit before listing, disclose and discount on the open market, or sell as-is to a cash buyer who takes the property in its present condition. Before choosing:
- Look up what permits exist for the address and note anything open.
- List improvements made without a permit, such as converted garages, enclosed patios or added bathrooms.
- Collect final inspection records and invoices for permitted work.
- Ask the division what it would take to legalize or close out each item.
- Compare that cost and time with a no-repairs cash sale.
How to sell a house in El Segundo
- Review which work on the property was permitted and which was not.
- Collect permits, final inspection records and any city notices.
- Request a no-obligation cash offer for the house as it stands.
- Choose your closing date.
- Close with no repairs, permit cleanup or showings required.
See also our El Segundo cash buyer page.
Own an El Segundo home with unpermitted work? Sell as-is for cash.
Get My Cash OfferFrequently asked questions
How do I apply for a building permit in El Segundo?
Register and apply on the El Segundo E-Z Permit Hub. The city accepts PDF and JPG attachments only.
How long does plan check take?
Accelerated plan check is aimed at 7 working days from payment of fees. Regular plan check takes one to four weeks depending on scope.
Who do I call with permit questions?
Building and Safety at 310-524-2380. Planning is 310-524-2350.
How do I schedule an inspection?
Through the E-Z Permit Hub. The inspection line is 310-524-2379.
Which building code applies?
The city notes a 2025 California Building Code update effective January 1, 2026. Ask the division which edition applies to your application.
Can I sell my El Segundo house with unpermitted work?
Yes. Disclose it and sell as-is, including to a cash buyer.
More guides
- We Buy Houses in El Segundo
- We Buy Houses in Los Angeles County
- El Segundo Code Enforcement Guide
- El Segundo Zoning and ADU Guide
- All California Guides
Sources
- City of El Segundo: Building and Safety Division
- City of El Segundo: Apply for a Building Permit
- City of El Segundo: Building Codes and Regulations
This guide is general information from public sources, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with the city.