Before You Get Started
Starting a business or project in Los Angeles County is an exciting process that involves several important steps before opening your doors or beginning construction. Depending on the type of business or project, a Public Health plan check may be required before applying for a Public Health Permit.
The plan check process helps architects, contractors, designers, and business owners develop facilities that meet applicable local and state public health requirements. While plan review focuses on health and safety standards, it does not replace approvals required by other agencies. Be sure to contact the appropriate local agencies to obtain all necessary permits and comply with additional building, zoning, fire, and other applicable regulations.
One-stop Plan Check
The One-Stop Offices house multiple agencies, including the Environmental Health Division, to simplify the application process for applicants. When a new business or home is constructed or remodeled, approvals are often required from multiple County agencies, such as Building and Safety, Regional Planning, and the Fire Department. These offices are referred to as “One-Stop” locations because applicants can meet with all required agencies in a single visit.
| One-Stop Locations |
Food Businesses | Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Permitting |
Well Construction Applications |
Alternate Water Permitting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Los Angeles | ||||
| La Puente | ||||
| Lancaster | ||||
| Altadena | ||||
| Calabasas |
Check out our Plan Check Offices for locations and operating hours.
Pre-Application Consultation
A Pre-Application Consultation allows operators, architects, and designers to meet with specialists to review state and local requirements.
When information on our website does not fully answer your questions, a consultation provides clear guidance from experts who can help you move forward with confidence and reduce delays in the plan review process.
Consultations can help with:
- Understanding code requirements.
- Identifying major site-specific issues.
- Navigating permitting and application processes.
To ensure specialists can adequately prepare for your meeting, please submit any code interpretation questions or variance requests in writing with your consultation application. You should also bring project drawings and a detailed list of questions to your scheduled appointment.
Consultations are billed at an hourly rate, with a one-hour minimum.
Note: Some State and local ordinances do not allow variances, and in some cases only the State may grant them.
Ready to Request a Consultation?
Complete the Additional Services Request form and submit it to the program.
Explore the business types that require a plan check
Select a business type below to learn when a plan check is required and where to find more information.
Body Art Tattoo, piercing, permanent makeup, and microblading facilities.
All Body Art Facilities, such as tattoo parlors, piercing shops, permanent makeup businesses, and microblading businesses, must have a Public Health Permit.
A plan check review is needed in these situations:
- Building a new body art facility or new body art vehicle.
- The business space did not previously have a body art facility permit from Los Angeles County.
- Remodeling an existing facility or body art vehicle.
- Adding a decontamination/sterilization room to an existing facility that is currently using disposable equipment only.
- Change of ownership of an existing body art facility.
Cannabis Cannabis facilities in cities with Public Health agreements.
Plan check is required for cannabis facilities operating under a contractual agreement with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Cities with DPH Agreements:
- Baldwin Park
- City of Los Angeles
- Culver City
- El Monte
- Lancaster
- Malibu
New Facility:
- Constructing or improving a building for commercial cannabis operations.
Existing Facility:
- Change of ownership.
- Remodeling a cannabis facility.
- Opening an existing facility with removed or replaced equipment.
- Installing new or changing existing equipment.
- Altering operations, for example, from cultivation to manufacturing.
- Making structural changes that require a building permit.
- Submitting plans required after a site evaluation.
Children's Camps Children’s Camps and Organized Camps.
Children's Camps and Organized Camps must submit a written description of operating procedures and written plans at least 60 days prior to the start of camp operations. The plans must describe how the camp will address medical and other emergencies, transportation needs, specialized activities, insect and rodent concerns, and camper's health.
A plan review is necessary in the following situations:
Organized Camps must submit a written description of operating procedures and written plans at least 30 days prior to the start of camp operations. The plans must describe how the camp will address medical and other emergencies, transportation needs, specialized and aquatic activities, insect and rodent concerns, and camper health and safety.
A plan review is necessary in the following situations:
- Operating anywhere in Los Angeles County.
- 4 or more overnight stays during one or more seasons of the year
- Established for the primary purpose of providing an outdoor group living experience with social, spiritual, educational, or recreational objectives
Children's Camps must submit a written description of operating procedures and written plans at least 60 days prior to the start of camp operations. The plans must describe how the camp will address medical and other emergencies, transportation needs, specialized and aquatic activities, insect and rodent concerns, and camper health and safety.
A plan review is necessary in the following situations:
- Operating in the unincorporated areas of the Los Angeles County, and the cities of Burbank and Lancaster
- The site has programs and facilities attended by 5 or more children ages 3–17
- The site operates for over 3 hours per day for at least 5 days during any 12-month period
- Established for the primary purpose of providing group experience with social, spiritual, educational, or recreational objectives
Food Business Retail, mobile, and wholesale food facilities.
The following food businesses require a plan check before a Public Health Permit can be issued.
Food Businesses Requiring a Plan Check:
- Retail Food Facilities (restaurants, markets, catering facilities).
- Mobile Food Facilities (food trucks, carts, trailers, boats with food service).
- Wholesale Food Facilities (food manufacturers, processors, warehouses, and distributors).
A Plan Review Is Needed When:
- Building a new retail food facility.
- Opening a business in a space that did not previously have a Los Angeles County food permit.
- Remodeling an existing facility.
- Installing or replacing an exhaust hood.
- Adding or changing food service equipment.
- Expanding service areas, such as bars or food preparation areas.
Food Businesses That Do Not Require a Plan Check:
- Cottage Food Operations (Class A & B).
- Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs).
- Temporary Food Facilities.
Solid Waste Sites Landfills, transfer stations, and composting facilities.
Solid waste facilities are permitted sites where nonhazardous waste generated in households, commercial establishments, institutions and light industrial wastes are collected, processed, stored or transferred. Facilities include landfills, transfer stations, and composting sites. The Solid Waste Inspection & Enforcement Program with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is responsible for making sure the facilities manage the waste in compliance with regulations, so that it will not contaminate the environment.
A plan review is necessary in the following situations:
- New Landfill, Transfer Station, or Composting Site
- Existing Facility (Landfill, Transfer Station, or Composting Site)
Status of Plan Check Review: If your plan check application and plans were submitted by a designer, architect, or other third-party entities, please reach out to them to inquire about the status of your application.
Explore Project Types That Require a Plan Check
Select a project type below to learn when a plan check is required, what situations require plan review, and where to find additional guidance and resources.
Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Septic systems, upgrades, and property improvements.
Public Health reviews new systems to ensure they are properly designed, protect groundwater, and comply with state OWTS Policy standards. Public Health also reviews any proposed construction on a property with an OWTS or NOWTS to ensure that setback distances from the OWTS or NOWTS will continue to be met, adequate space remains for a future dispersal area, and to confirm whether the system will result in increased wastewater flow.
A plan review is needed in these situations:
- Installing a new OWTS.
- Replacing or Upgrading an existing OWTS.
- Any Property Improvements that may affect the OWTS.
Special circumstances of the situations listed above:
- When no prior OWTS records exist.
- For systems older than 15 years (when adding bedrooms/ADUs).
- For properties near impaired water bodies.
Public Swimming Pools & Spas Public swimming pools, spas, wading pools, and water attractions.
Health inspectors conduct public pool inspections to determine compliance with California and local regulations and review plans for new or remodeled public pools. Public pools include swimming pools, spas, wading pools and special purpose pools located at multiple family dwellings, condominiums, hotels, motels, public and private schools, health clubs, city and county parks, mobile home parks, resorts and organizations, medical facilities, and water theme parks. Construction plans for all new public pools and renovations of existing pools must be reviewed and approved prior to commencing construction/renovations.
A plan review is necessary in the following situations:
- New public pools
- Recommission of previously drained and nonoperational pools
-
Renovations of existing public pools, including, but not limited to:
- Pool resurfacing or replastering
- Installation of new or replacement pool components or equipment
- Replacing plumbing
- Replacing or modifying the pool enclosure or enclosure gates or doors
- Renovating pool deck or pool coping
- Replacing pool lights
- Remodeling of pool area restrooms, locker rooms, or other ancillary facilities or amenities
Recycled and Alternate Water Systems (Gray Water, Rain Water, and Storm Water Treatment Systems) Gray water, rainwater, and stormwater systems.
Los Angeles County approves recycled water and alternate water system projects. The Cross Connection Program provides onsite approval of these projects by confirming the separation and conversion of different water systems.
A plan review is needed in these situations:
- Complex water system designs.
- Converting new and existing large landscape irrigation systems and certain industrial facilities to recycled water.
Water Wells Production and non-production wells.
Water systems deliver potable water through infrastructure such as wells, storage tanks, treatment facilities, and pipelines. Public Health reviews, permits, and oversees the construction, modification, and destruction of water wells and exploratory boreholes to protect groundwater quality. All production and non production wells require departmental approval, ensuring they are properly sited, constructed, and maintained to safeguard public health.
A plan review is necessary in the following situations:
Production Wells:
- Residential Well
- Public/Municipal Well
- Irrigation Well
Non-Production Wells:
- Monitoring Well
- Cathodic Protection Well
- Geothermal Heat Exchange Well
- Test Well (Hole)
- Recharge, Injection, or Air Conditioning Well
- Exploration Hole (Boring) and Soil Vapor Probe
- Soil Vapor Extraction Well
X-Rays & Radioactive Devices Radiation shielding and imaging facilities.
X-rays are used in many ways, such as diagnostic or dental X-rays, mammograms, computerized tomography (CT), and radiation therapy. Radioactive materials are used in nuclear medicine imaging, devices for industrial use, and nuclear reactors. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health enforces regulatory compliance by approving plans and inspecting facilities with X-rays and radioactive devices.
A plan review is necessary in the following situations:
- X-ray rooms
- P.E.T./C.T. rooms
Need a status update? If your plan check application was submitted by a designer, architect, contractor, or another third-party representative, please contact them directly for the latest status of your plan check review.
Don't see what you're looking for?
Contact our Customer Support Center below and we'll help connect you with the appropriate Environmental Health program.