Lakewood 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 Lakewood Building page; sources are listed at the end.

Lakewood offers a Project and Permit Record Search, which makes it easier to check a house’s permit history before you list. A buyer’s inspector or lender may find a mismatch between the house and the records, so it helps to find it first.

Lakewood building permits at a glance

How do I look up permits on a Lakewood property?

Use the city’s Project and Permit Record Search, or call Building and Safety at 562-866-9771, ext. 2350. Look for permits opened but never finaled, work you know was done with no permit, and additions or conversions that do not match the original plans.

How do I apply for a Lakewood permit?

Through the OpenGov portal. The city notes that this third-party system may not be fully accessible, and offers help by phone or at CD@lakewoodca.gov.

How permits affect selling a house in Lakewood

Permit problems usually surface when a buyer’s inspector or lender asks whether finished space was legally built. In California, sellers generally must disclose known problems, including work you know was done without a permit. On a traditional listing, the usual choices are to finish the open permit, permit the work after the fact, lower the price, or give a credit.

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

1. Pull the permit history first.
2. Write down what you know: who did the work, when, and what receipts or plans you have.
3. Compare options: fix it, sell with a credit, or sell as-is to a cash buyer.
4. Disclose honestly. A cash offer does not change disclosure duties but removes repair steps.

We buy Lakewood houses as they are. See how selling a house as-is in Lakewood works, or our Lakewood cash-offer process. If the house has been cited, read our Lakewood code enforcement guide, and for backyard units see our Lakewood zoning and ADU 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.

How Lakewood handles permits

Lakewood says its Building and Safety staff protect public health and safety by implementing the building, plumbing, electrical, green, residential and mechanical codes, issuing permits and conducting inspections. Most permit applications and plan check submittals go through the city’s online permit center.

The city notes that planning approval and/or building plan check approval may be required before a construction permit can be issued, and it directs plan check questions to Building and Safety at (562) 866-9771, ext. 2350.

Hours

The city posts building permit hours of Monday through Thursday, 7:30am to 4:30pm, with alternating Fridays 7:30am to 4:00pm. Building and Safety hours are Monday through Thursday, 7am to 5:30pm, and alternating Fridays 7am to 5pm, with City Hall closed on the other Fridays. Check the calendar before planning a Friday visit.

Fees

The city says that effective July 1, 2025, Building and Safety fees increased 3%, based on the Consumer Price Index change for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area between March 2024 and March 2025.

Applicants for Building and Safety permits also pay an overhead charge of 18% of the County’s Building and Safety permit fee schedule, added to each application fee under City Council Resolution Nos. 2010-22 and 2012-42. Fee schedules are posted for building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and grading permits.

Debris recovery plans

Residents, contractors and homeowners planning a construction or demolition project must submit a Debris Recovery Plan for approval before receiving a permit. If you are fixing up a house before sale, include this in your timeline.

Scheduling inspections

To schedule an inspection for a building permit, call Building and Safety at (562) 866-9771, ext. 2350, or use the building inspection link on the city’s page. Final inspections matter for sellers because an open permit can show up during escrow.

Permit forms and reference documents

The city posts permit applications, forms and reference documents on a forms page, including a sample plot plan and a Disability Access Requirements Notice.

Checking a Lakewood house before listing

1. Search the online permit center by address and list each permit and status.
2. Look for finished garages, additions, patio covers and system upgrades that do not match the record.
3. Call ext. 2350 for anything unclear and ask what is needed to close it out.
4. Choose the route: finish, credit or sell as-is.

Disclosure

Under Civil Code section 1102.1 the transfer disclosure statement must still be delivered in an as-is sale, and your duty to disclose known material facts remains.

If a required disclosure arrives after an offer, section 1102.3 allows cancellation within three days of in-person delivery or five days of mailing or agreed electronic delivery. Lakewood’s code enforcement page also lists garage conversions and additions without permits as common violations, so see our Lakewood code enforcement guide.

Working with the OpenGov portal

Lakewood’s OpenGov Building & Permitting portal lets you submit plans, pay plan-review fees, track status, resubmit and apply for permits. For a seller, the useful part is the record: log in or search to see what is open on your address. A permit that is still listed as in review or issued may mean the work was never completed or finaled. Print or save what you see.

Who does what

Lakewood’s Building & Safety group is part of Community Development, and the city says TRB+ Associates provides plan check, permitting and inspection support. Questions go to 562-866-9771, ext. 2350. If you are asking about an old project, mention the approximate year and what was built, because the city’s Project and Permit Record Search covers past records and staff can help you read them.

Before you list a Lakewood house

• Search the permit record by address and note every entry.
• Match each entry to what is in the house: kitchen, bath, patio cover, garage.
• Ask what would be needed to close any open permit.
• If you cannot resolve a gap, decide between a credit and an as-is sale.

Our Lakewood code enforcement guide and California as-is guide have more.

Lakewood building permits FAQ

Where can I search Lakewood permit records?

The city’s Building page links to a Project and Permit Record Search.

How do I apply for a permit in Lakewood?

Through the city’s OpenGov Building & Permitting portal, or call Building and Safety at 562-866-9771, ext. 2350.

Can I sell a Lakewood house with an open permit?

Yes. An open permit does not legally stop a sale, but it can slow a traditional one. A cash buyer can purchase the house with the permit still open.

How do I schedule a Lakewood building inspection?

Call Building and Safety at (562) 866-9771, ext. 2350, or use the building inspection link on the city’s page.

Do Lakewood permit fees include an overhead charge?

Yes. The city says applicants pay an overhead charge of 18% of the County’s Building and Safety permit fee schedule, added to each application fee.

Do I need a debris recovery plan in Lakewood?

Yes, for construction or demolition projects. The plan must be approved before the permit is issued.

What is Lakewood’s online permit system?

The OpenGov Building & Permitting portal, where you can submit plans, pay plan-review fees, track status, resubmit and apply for permits.

Who provides Lakewood plan check support?

The city says TRB+ Associates provides plan check, permitting and inspection support to Building & Safety.

Sources

• City of Lakewood: Building
• City of Lakewood: Building Plan Check

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Permit rules and hours change; confirm requirements with the City of Lakewood.