Burbank Building Permits Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Information comes from the City of Burbank Community Development Department; sources are listed at the end.

Building permits for homes inside the City of Burbank come from the Building & Safety Division of the Community Development Department. The city sorts permits into tiers, and anything that needs plan check or zoning approval, such as an addition or an accessory dwelling unit, falls into its Tier 2.

Burbank building permits at a glance

Who issues building permits in Burbank?

Inside Burbank city limits, the Building & Safety Division issues building permits. Homes in neighboring cities or unincorporated county areas are permitted by those agencies, and a Burbank mailing address does not always mean the home is inside the city, so confirm the jurisdiction first.

How do I get a building permit in Burbank?

The city’s Building Permits page describes the tiers. Tier 2 permits need plan check and/or zoning approvals. The city’s FAQ tells residents who are unsure whether their work needs a building permit to contact the Building and Safety Division at (818) 238-5225.

1. Confirm the jurisdiction.
2. Check which tier your project falls in and download the application from the Building Permit Applications page.
3. Schedule inspections as the work proceeds.
4. Make sure the permit is finaled after the last inspection.

How do I check the permit history on a Burbank house?

Contact the Building & Safety Division and ask what permit records the city holds for the address. Look for permits opened and never finalized, work you know was done that has no permit, and permits with a completed final inspection. A permit without a final is an open permit, and it is the one buyers and their lenders ask about.

What happens to permit problems when you sell a Burbank house?

In California, sellers generally have to disclose known problems on the transfer disclosure statement, including work known to have been done without a permit. Burbank’s Code Enforcement enforces rules on unpermitted construction; see our Burbank code enforcement guide. On a traditional listing the usual choices are to finish the open permit, apply after the fact, cut the price, or let the buyer take on the problem.

Work Burbank says needs no permit

Burbank publishes a Work Exempt from Permits handout, and the list is useful for sellers who are not sure whether an old project should have a permit. Per the city, building permits are not required for:

• One-story detached sheds, playhouses and similar structures of 120 square feet or less that meet zoning setbacks and have no heating, plumbing, electrical or hazardous materials.
• Masonry or concrete walls not over 6 feet high, and vinyl, wood or metal fences not over 7 feet, subject to Burbank Municipal Code Title 10.
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless they support a surcharge.
• Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade.
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, countertops and similar finish work.
• Prefabricated above-ground pools less than 24 inches deep and not over 5,000 gallons.

Electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing work also have exemptions for minor repairs, such as replacing lamps or clearing stoppages. If your project is not on the list, assume it needed a permit.

Simple permits and plan-check permits

The city sorts permits into two tiers.

Tier 1 covers repair and maintenance work that does not need plan check, such as water heaters, electrical panels and service upgrades, re-roofing, HVAC changeouts, instant residential solar, residential seismic retrofit, kitchen and bathroom remodels with no interior wall demolition, and window replacements that do not enlarge the opening.

Tier 2 covers work that needs plan check or zoning approval, including additions, alterations, new dwellings, new structures, signs and accessory dwelling units. Senate Bill 9 second single-family units are also listed. If your sale involves a remodel, knowing which tier it fell into tells you what paper trail should exist.

Online systems and plan review

Burbank uses an online permits portal, a ProjectDox review portal for plans and a property-information lookup. Plans go in as PDFs, each page as an individual file in landscape orientation.

After submittal, the city says staff contact the customer within three to seven business days, and in the first 48 hours the Planning Division screens the plans for project viability under the zoning standards, which the city calls zoning pre-clearance. Unpaid planning processing fees can prevent pre-clearance.

Counter hours and contacts

• Walk-in counter: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. The city says the queue closes 15 minutes before lunch and closing.
• Building Division: (818) 238-5220 or building@burbankca.gov.
• ePlan check: eplancheck@burbankca.gov.
• Location: Community Services Building, first floor, 150 N. Third Street.

Hours change, so confirm them before a visit.

Disclosure in a sale

Whatever the permit record shows, California Civil Code section 1102.1 says the transfer disclosure statement cannot be waived in an as-is sale and your duty to disclose material facts remains. Late disclosure lets the buyer cancel under section 1102.3, within three days of in-person delivery or five days of mailing or agreed electronic delivery. Our statewide as-is guide explains both.

How to sell a house in Burbank with unpermitted work or open permits

1. Ask the city what the permit records show.
2. Write down what you know: who did the work, when, and whether you have receipts or plans.
3. Compare your options: fix it, sell with a price credit, or sell as-is to a cash buyer who prices the risk in.
4. Disclose honestly. A cash offer removes the repair and inspection steps that cause delays.

We buy Burbank houses as they are. See how we buy houses in Burbank, our cash home buyer page, and the Los Angeles County property tax guide.

Not sure what your permit history means for a sale? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

Burbank building permits FAQ

Can I sell a house in Burbank with an open permit?

Yes. An open permit does not legally stop a sale, but it can slow a traditional one because buyers and lenders ask for it to be finalized. A cash buyer can purchase the house with the permit still open.

What is a Tier 2 permit in Burbank?

The city describes Tier 2 permits as those that require plan check and/or zoning approvals, such as additions, alterations, new dwellings, new structures and ADUs.

Who do I call if I am not sure my work needs a permit in Burbank?

The city’s FAQ points residents to the Building and Safety Division at (818) 238-5225.

How do I sell a house in Burbank with unpermitted additions?

Disclose the work, then choose between permitting it, discounting the price, or selling as-is to a cash buyer who accounts for the risk in the offer.

Does a backyard shed need a permit in Burbank?

The city’s exemption list covers one-story detached sheds and similar structures of 120 square feet or less that meet zoning setbacks and have no heating, plumbing, electrical or hazardous materials.

What is Burbank’s Tier 1 permit?

Tier 1 is the city’s category for repair and maintenance work that does not need plan check, such as water heaters, panel upgrades, re-roofing, HVAC changeouts and instant residential solar.

How soon does Burbank respond after a plan submittal?

The city says the Building Division contacts customers within three to seven business days, and in the first 48 hours the Planning Division screens plans for zoning pre-clearance.

Sources

• City of Burbank: Building Permits
• City of Burbank: Building Permit Applications
• City of Burbank: Building Codes
• City of Burbank: Community Development FAQ

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Confirm requirements with the City of Burbank.