(Amended in Entirety by Ord. No. 171,668, Eff. 8/28/97.)
91.107.1. General. Fees shall be assessed in accordance with the provisions of this section.
91.107.1.1. Annual Review of Fees. The fees in this code shall be reviewed annually by the Superintendent of Building. Beginning on July 1, 2010, and thereafter on July 1, of every year, the amount of each fee in this code shall be adjusted as follows: Calculate the percentage movement between July of the previous year and July of the current year in the Consumer Price Index - All Urban Consumers in the Los Angeles area, as published by the United States Government Bureau of Labor Statistics. Adjust each fee by said percentage amount and round off to the nearest ten cents, provided, however, no fee shall exceed the reasonable cost of providing services. When it is determined that the amount reasonably necessary to recover the cost of providing services is in excess of this adjustment, the Superintendent of Building may present fee proposals to the City Council for approval. (Added by Ord. No. 180,868, Eff. 10/22/09.)
91.107.2.1. Building Permit. Unless otherwise required below, the amount of the permit fee shall be as shown in Table No. 1-A of this code for the total value of all construction work for which the building permit is issued, including all painting, papering, roofing, electrical work, plumbing, permanent or fixed heating equipment, elevator equipment, fire sprinkler equipment and any other permanent portions or permanent equipment except as provided in Section 91.106 of this code.
No portion of any building, including mechanical, electrical and plumbing work shall be excluded from the valuation for a building permit because of any other permits required by any governing agency.
91.107.2.2. Combined Building-Mechanical Permit. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) A combined building-mechanical permit shall be issued, provided a fee is paid. The permit fee shall be as determined by using Table 1-A.1 of this division. A combined building-mechanical permit shall entitle the permittee to the inspection of all building, electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilating and air conditioning work in the following systems:
1. A new one- or two-family dwelling.
2. Any work necessary and in conjunction with alterations, additions or demolitions to a one- or two- family dwelling. In the event that work in one or more of the mechanical trades is not required, the applicable fee(s) shall not be collected.
3. A pool accessory to a one- or two-family dwelling, except pools that are exempt from a building permit but may require a permit for electrical, plumbing and hearing work, a combined building- mechanical permit shall be issued provided a fee is paid. The fee shall be 75% of the fee determined from Table 1-A of this division. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)
4. A complete solar heating and/or cooling system installation appurtenant to and used exclusively by a one- or two-family dwelling; or an individual dwelling unit or an efficiency dwelling unit in an apartment house, apartment-hotel or hotel; or a pool accessory to a one-family dwelling.
91.107.2.3. Sign Building Permit. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) Before issuing a building permit for any sign, the Department shall collect a permit fee. The amount of the permit fee shall be equal to 3.5% of the total value of all construction or work, as determined by the Department, for which the building permit is issued, but in no event shall the permit bee be less than the minimum inspection fee as specified in LAMC Section 98.0412(a) and Footnote 4 of Table 1-A of this division. The sign building permit shall be subject to the surcharge specified in Footnote 1 of Table 1-A of this division.
91.107.2.4. Grading Permit. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) Before issuing any grading permit, the Department shall collect a permit fee, the amount of which shall be as shown in Table 1-D of this division.
91.107.2.5. Earthquake Hazard Reduction in Existing Tilt-up Concrete Wall Buildings Permit. The permit fee for construction work which the Department determines is necessary to satisfy the requirements contained in Section 91.9108 of this code, shall be based on the entire floor area of the building requiring any strengthening work. The fee shall be equal to $0.0347 per square foot or fraction thereof of the subject building.
91.107.2.6. Permit Issuing Fee When Plan Check Is Not Required. See Section 98.0415 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.
91.107.2.7. Certificate of Occupancy for Use of Land Permit. A fee of $150.00 shall be charged for each Certificate of Occupancy for use of land; however, no fee shall be charged when a Certificate of Occupancy is being issued pursuant to Section 91.109 of this code or when any work which requires a building permit is done.
91.107.2.8. Awning Installation Permit. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) Every awning erected and arranged so that temporary shelter may be provided over any portion of a public way shall be subject to an installation fee equal to the minimum inspection fee specified in LAMC Section 98.0412(a).
91.107.2.9. Temporary Special Event Fees. (Added by Ord. No. 187,056, Eff. 7/4/21.) The City Council shall adopt, by resolution, a fee based on an analysis of the cost of issuing a Temporary Special Event Permit or Farmers’ Market Permit. The Department shall collect that fee prior to the issuance of those permits pursuant to Sections 91.106.1.3.1 or 91.106.1.3.2 of this Code. If any changes are made to a previously approved permit, an additional inspection will be required and an associated inspection fee pursuant to LAMC Section 98.0412 will pertain to each additional inspection. Fees are not refundable once work has been performed by the Department, regardless of whether the action taken is approval or denial.
91.107.3. Plan Check and Preinspection Fees.
91.107.3.1. Plan Check Fees. Before formally accepting a set of plans and specifications for checking, the Department shall collect a plan check fee. Plan checking shall expire if permit is not secured within the time limits specified in Section 98.0603 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.
91.107.3.1.1. Buildings and Structures. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) Unless otherwise required below, the plan check fee for buildings, structures or portions thereof shall be equal to 90% of the building permit fee as shown in Table 1-A of this division.
EXCEPTION: Where the occupancy of a residential building or portion thereof is changed, the plan checking fee shall be based on a valuation equal to 85% of the replacement value of the building or portion changed.
91.107.3.1.2. Signs and Sign Support Structures. The plan check fee for signs and/or sign support structures shall be equal to 50 percent of the building permit fee as indicated in Section 91.107.2.3 of this code.
91.107.3.1.3. Grading Work. The plan check fee for grading plans shall be 90 percent of the grading permit fee as indicated by Section 91.107.2.4 of this code. The fee for grading work on two or more contiguous sites may be the amount indicated for the sum of the total cubic yards in all the separate sites.
EXCEPTION: A grading plan check fee will not be required for jobs of 50 cubic yards (38.3 m3) or less.
91.107.3.1.4. Hourly Plan Check Fee. The Department may collect a plan check fee as specified in Section 98.0415(e) of the Los Angeles Municipal Code for any time not included by the original plan check fee and shall be in addition to other fees specified in this code.
91.107.3.1.5. Tilt-Up Concrete Wall Buildings. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) The plan check fee for construction pursuant to the requirements of the Earthquake Hazard Reduction in Existing Tilt-up Concrete Wall Buildings contained in Division 91, Article 1, Chapter IX of the LAMC shall be equal to the building permit fee as specified in LAMC Subdivision 91.107.2.5.
91.107.3.1.6. Plan Check Fees for More Than One Building. When two or more buildings are to be erected on the same site and the following regulations are complied with, the plan checking fee, if of a lesser amount, may be the fee indicated for the sum of the values of all the separate buildings.
91.107.3.1.6.1. All of the buildings shall be shown on the one set of plans and specifications.
91.107.3.1.6.2. Applications for separate permits for each building shall be filed prior to the checking of the plans.
91.107.3.1.6.3. Two sets of plans and specifications shall be submitted to the Department.
91.107.3.1.7. Plan Check Fees for Duplicate Buildings. When two or more buildings are to be erected from identical plans and specifications and the following regulations are complied with, the plan checking fee, if of a lesser amount, may be the fee indicated for the sum of the values of all the separate buildings.
91.107.3.1.7.1. Applications for separate permits for each building shall be filed prior to the checking of the plans.
91.107.3.1.7.2. A site plat shall accompany each application for a permit.
91.107.3.1.7.3. The number of sets of plans and specifications submitted to the Department shall be one more than the number of applications for permits.
91.107.3.1.7.4. Footings for one or more of the buildings may deviate from the plans and specifications provided that, in each instance, separate footing plans are submitted to the Department.
91.107.3.1.8. Fees for Rechecking Plans. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) No additional fee shall be charged for verification of the corrections required by the Department or other departments. However, when the applicant revises plans for other than plan check correction and additional plan check time is required to review the plan revisions, the Department shall collect a supplemental plan check fee as specified in LAMC Paragraph 91.107.3.1.4.
When plans are resubmitted for review of changes made to previously approved plans, an application for a permit shall be filed.
The plan checking fee in the case of a building permit shall be based on an hourly rate as specified in LAMC Paragraph 91.107.3.1.4, and the plan check fee for a grading permit shall be as specified in LAMC Paragraph 91.107.3.1.3 for the number of cubic yards replaced, removed or omitted that were not previously approved.
When a permit expires by limitation and the work is not completed, the plans shall be resubmitted for checking before the issuance of a new permit. The plan checking fee shall be based on the same valuation as specified for the permit in LAMC Subdivision 91.106.4.4.
1. Grading Preinspection. A grading preinspection fee shall be collected for any building permit application involving work in the hillside grading area and for all grading plans submitted to the Department.
EXCEPTION: The grading preinspection fee may be waived when the Department determines that the nature of the work does not require preinspection of the work site.
2. Sign Preinspection. A sign preinspection fee shall be collected when a permit application is filed for construction, replacement, alteration or repair of a sign.
EXCEPTION: The sign preinspection fee may be waived when the Department determines that the nature of the sign does not require preinspection of the proposed location to determine compliance with applicable requirements.
3. Demolition Preinspection. A demolition preinspection fee shall be collected for all proposed demolition of buildings (including accessory buildings) or structures on a site and shall be conducted before the issuance of a demolition permit.
EXCEPTION: The demolition pre- inspection and demolition preinspection fee may be waived when the Department determines that previous inspections associated with the Department’s abatement programs have been made.
4. Preinspection. Preinspection fee shall be collected whenever the Department determines that due to the nature of the work involved, an inspection is necessary.
91.107.3.3. Fees for Off-hour Plan Check. Upon request by an applicant and accepted by the Department, an off-hour plan check fee per Section 98.0422 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code may be collected.
91.107.4. Permit Related Fees. When applicable, the following supplemental fees shall be required prior to issuance of a permit.
91.107.4.1. Supplemental Building Permit Fees. A fee for a supplementary building permit to cover any additional valuation to work included in the original permit shall be the difference between the fee paid for the original permit and the fee which would have been required had the original permit included the entire evaluation.
A fee for a building permit authorizing changes from approved plans or specifications shall be based on a valuation equal to the increase in valuation caused by the change, but no refund shall be made if the change causes a reduction of valuation.
91.107.4.2. Supplemental Grading Permit Fees. The fee for a supplementary grading permit authorizing additional work to that under a valid permit shall be the difference between the fee paid for the original permit and the fee shown for the entire project.
91.107.4.3. Plan Maintenance Fees. Before issuing a building permit, the Department shall collect a fee for maintaining building plans which are required to be retained by Section 91.106.4.2 of this Code.
The amount of the plan maintenance fee shall be 2 percent of the building permit fee, but not less than $10.00 and not more than $300.00, and shall be collected for each separate plan to be retained by the Department.
91.107.4.4. Fire Hydrant Fee Notice. Before issuing any building permit required by this code, if the total value of all new construction or work for which the permit is issued is $50,000 or greater, as determined by the Department, the Department shall collect a fire hydrant fee. The amount of this fee shall be equal to 22/100 of 1 percent of the total value of all construction or work for which the permit is issued. If the applicant for a building permit subject to the fire hydrant fee pays such fee under protest or refuses to pay such fee, the Department may issue the permit, but shall affix to the permit a Fire Hydrant Fee Notice to read as follows:
FIRE HYDRANT FEE NOTICE:
The City of Los Angeles may amend the Fire Hydrant Fee Ordinance.
The owner of the project designated in this permit shall be obligated to pay to the Department a fire hydrant fee in the amount to be calculated pursuant to any amendment to the fire hydrant fee ordinance. This fee will be used to provide adequate fire-safety facilities and services for new development.
EXCEPTION: A fire hydrant fee shall not apply to any permit for demolition of a building or structure.
The Department of Building and Safety shall cause all money collected pursuant to this section to be deposited into the Fire Hydrant Installation and Main Replacement Fund described in Section 5.114 of the Los Angeles Administrative Code for purposes of disbursement as permitted therein; except that $5.00 from each fire hydrant fee shall be deposited in the Department of Building and Safety Building Permit Enterprise Fund pursuant to Section 5.114 of the Los Angeles Administrative Code. (Amended by Ord. No. 180,619, Eff. 5/12/09.)
91.107.4.5. Metal Bars, Grilles, Grates, Security Roll-Down Shutters and Similar Devices. (Amended by Ord. No. 174,829, Eff. 10/27/02, Oper. 11/1/02.) The permit fee for the installation of devices for which a permit is required by Section 91.6304.3 of this Code shall be $25.00 for each affected dwelling unit, efficiency dwelling unit, light housekeeping room or guest room in a residential building.
EXCEPTIONS:
1. The Department shall issue a permit without collection of a fee if it determines that the following conditions are met:
A. The metal bars, grilles, grates, security roll down shutters and similar devices were installed prior to June 3, 1986, and
B. The dwelling unit is in full compliance with CBC Section 310.4 when the first inspection is conducted pursuant to CBC Section 310.4.
2. The Department shall issue a permit without the collection of a fee for all eligible lower income households, as defined by California Health and Safety Code Section 50079.5. The Department shall determine whether the applicant meets the applicable criteria for eligibility.
91.107.4.6.1. Arts Fee. The owner of a development project for a commercial or industrial building shall be required to pay an arts fee in accordance with the requirements of this section.
91.107.4.6.2. Fee Amount. The Department of Building and Safety shall collect an arts fee in the following amount:
1. Office or research and development. For an office or research and development building, the arts fee shall be $1.57 per square foot.
2. Retail. All retail establishments shall pay an arts fee of $1.31 per square foot.
3. Manufacturing. For a manufacturing building, the arts fee shall be $0.51 per square foot.
4. Warehouse. For a warehouse building, the arts fee shall be $0.39 per square foot.
5. Hotel. For a hotel building, the arts fee shall be $0.52 per square foot.
In no event shall the required arts fee exceed either $1.57 per gross square foot of any structure authorized by the permit or one percent of the valuation of the project designated on the permit, whichever is lower, as determined by the Department of Building and Safety. Where there are combined uses within a development project or portion thereof, the arts fee shall be the sum of the fee requirements of the various uses listed above. The Cultural Affairs Department shall revise the arts fee annually by an amount equal to the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles as published by the United States Department of Labor. The revised amount shall be submitted to Council for adoption by ordinance.
91.107.4.6.3. Time of Collection. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) Exception as provided in LAMC Subdivision 91.107.4.6, the Department shall collect an arts fee before issuance of a building permit for commercial and industrial buildings required by this Code.
91.107.4.6.4. EXCEPTIONS: (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) The arts fee required by LAMC Subdivision 91.107.4.6 shall not be assessed for the following projects or portions thereof:
1. Any project for which the total value of all construction or work for which the permit is issued is $500,000 or less.
2. The repair, renovation or rehabilitation of a building or structure that does not alter the size or occupancy load of the building.
3. The repair, renovation or rehabilitation of a building or structure for the installation of fire sprinklers pursuant to Division 9, Article 1, Chapter IX of the LAMC. (Amended by Ord. No. 186,488, Eff. 12/27/19.)
4. The repair, renovation or rehabilitation of a building or structure that has been made to comply with Division 88 (Earthquake Hazard Reduction in Existing Buildings), Article 1, Chapter IX of the LAMC subsequent to a citation of noncompliance with Division 88, Article 1, Chapter IX of the LAMC.
5. The repair, renovation or rehabilitation of a building or structure for any handicapped facilities pursuant to this code.
6. All residential buildings or portion thereof. This exception does not include hotels.
91.107.4.6.5. Use of Arts Fees Acquired Pursuant to Section 91.107.4.6. Any arts fee collected by the Department of Building and Safety shall be deposited in the Arts Development Fee Trust Fund. Any fee paid into this fund may be used only for the purpose of providing cultural and artistic facilities, services and community amenities which will be available to the development project and its future employees. Any cultural and artistic facilities, services and community amenities provided shall comply with the principles and standards set forth in the Cultural Master Plan when adopted.
At or about the time of collection of any fee imposed by this section, the Cultural Affairs Department shall identify the use to which the arts fee is to be put, and if the use is financing public facilities, the facilities shall be identified.
“This ordinance is an interim measure while the City of Los Angeles is giving consideration to the enactment of an Arts Development Fee Ordinance. The owners of a development project shall be obligated to pay an Arts Development Fee if such fee is adopted in the future by the city. The fee will not exceed one percent (1%) of the total value of work and construction authorized by the building permit issued to a development project. This fee would be used to provide adequate cultural and artistic facilities, services and community amenities for the project.”
By enacting LAMC Subdivision 91.107.4.6 (previously Section 91.0304(b)(11)), the City has adopted the Arts Development Fee referred to by Ordinance 164,243. Accordingly, an arts fee shall be paid to the City of Los Angeles by owners of development projects which received building permits between and including January 15, 1989, and the effective date of this section. This arts fee described in this section shall be paid within 60 days of receipt of a request for payment of an arts fee. All exceptions listed in LAMC Paragraph 91.107.4.6.4 shall apply to owners of development projects subject to Ordinance 164,243. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)
The Office of Finance shall bill and collect the Arts Development Fee owed by those persons to whom notice was given pursuant to this paragraph for the period January 15, 1989, through May 7, 1991. The amount due shall be paid in full within 60 days of the billing date unless an agreement to pay in installments pursuant to this paragraph is approved by the Office of Finance. Persons indebted to the City of Los Angeles for Arts Development Fees may, upon approval by the Office of Finance, enter into an agreement with the City of Los Angeles to pay such fees in installments over a period not to exceed one year. The Office of Finance shall collect a service fee of $10.00 on each monthly installment to recover the cost to the city of processing installment payments. The Cultural Affairs Department is hereby authorized to negotiate and accept payment in kind for the Arts Development Fee owed by those persons to whom notice was given pursuant to this paragraph for the period January 15, 1989, through May 7, 1991. The Cultural Affairs Department shall provide notice to the Office of Finance of the name of the person on whose account such in kind payment was accepted, and whether the in kind payment constitutes payment in full or only a specified portion of the Arts Development Fee owed.
The Office of Finance is authorized to record payment in full, without further notification to the person billed, for cash or in kind Arts Development Fee payments received that are within $3.00 of the amount owed.
The Department of Building and Safety shall determine which exceptions apply to any project based on documentation submitted by the applicant prior to the issuance of the building permit per LAMC Section 19.18 B.2.
EXCEPTION: The notice required by this section shall not be affixed to building permits for the following projects or portion thereof:
1. Any project for which a building permit is issued with less than 40,000 square feet (3716 m2) of new floor area as determined by the Department of Building and Safety;
2. Any project located within the boundaries of an enterprise zone designated in LAMC Section 12.04;
3. Any project developed by nonprofit entities such as hospitals, schools, religious institutions, museums, day care providers and other similar organizations, where the construction is directly related to the nonprofit purpose of the organization as determined by the Los Angeles Housing Department. This exception shall not apply to nonprofit development of leasable commercial office space; (Amended by Ord. No. 187,122, Eff. 8/8/21.)
4. Any project or portion of a project for industrial, warehouse development or parking structures as defined by the Los Angeles Municipal Code and determined by the Department of Building and Safety;
5. Any project within a current neighborhood Community Redevelopment Agency project area as defined in LAMC Section 12.04 other than the Bunker Hill, Central Business District and Little Tokyo redevelopment areas;
6. Any development project where one or more of the following discretionary approvals, initiated by application of the property owner or their representatives, was granted by a government agency between January 1, 1986 and October 1, 1989 and remains valid: zone change, conditional use permit, variance, height district change, zone boundary adjustment, specific plan exception, project permit pursuant to a moratorium ordinance, development agreement, coastal development permit, commercial corner development, project permit pursuant to an interim control ordinance, parcel map, tract map or vesting tentative tract map.
In addition, prior to the issuance of any such building permit, the Department of Planning shall certify in writing that the necessary environmental clearances were completed and that the discretionary approval included a determination of one or more of the following: building location, height, density, use, parking and access of the proposed project;
7. Any project for which architectural and structural plans sufficient for a complete plan check for a building permit have been accepted by the Department of Building and Safety and for which plan check fees were collected on or before the effective date of this section and for which no subsequent changes are made to those plans which increase the height, floor area or occupancy load by more than 5 percent;
8. Any project for an existing building which will not result in the addition of over 40,000 square feet (3716 m2) of new space as determined by the Department of Building and Safety; and
9. Residential buildings which contain one or more dwelling units, efficiency dwelling units, apartment units or the residential portion of a building that has both residential and nonresidential uses. This exception shall not apply to hotels.
10. Any project located within the boundaries of the Central City West Specific Plan Area, as defined in Ordinance No. 163,094, if the developer or project owner agrees by covenant and agreement or development agreement to abide by the linkage fee and replacement housing obligations set forth in the Specific Plan for the Central City West Specific Plan Area.
11. The repair, renovation or rehabilitation of a building or structure of historical, archaeological or architectural consequence, if such building or structure has been officially designated, or has been determined by state or federal action to be eligible for designation, on the National Register of Historic Places, or has been included on the City of Los Angeles list of Historic Cultural Monuments.
The Department of Building and Safety shall determine which exceptions apply to any project based on documentation submitted by the applicant prior to the issuance of the building permit.
91.107.5. Additional Fees. (Added by Ord. No. 172,592, Eff. 6/28/99, Oper. 7/1/99.)
91.107.5.1. Investigation Fees. (Added by Ord. No. 172,592, Eff. 6/28/99, Oper. 7/1/99.) In addition, the Department shall have the authority to collect investigation fees. For investigation fees of work done without a valid building permit, see Section 98.0402 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.
91.107.5.2. Other Fees. (Added by Ord. No. 172,592, Eff. 6/28/99, Oper. 7/1/99.) The Department shall have the authority to collect a fee to cover any additional costs incurred by the Department in obtaining code compliance or issuing a permit for work that was done prior to obtaining the required permit. This fee shall be in addition to any other fees required by the Los Angeles Municipal Code. The Superintendent shall prepare a fee schedule for this purpose for adoption by ordinance. The fee schedule for inspections shall be those fees referenced in Section 98.0412 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.
91.107.6. Refund of Fees. See Section 98.0420 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code for the procedure.
Certified security bar installers shall file Security Bar Certificates of Compliance in accordance with LAMC Subdivision 91.108.12.1. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)
91.107.8. Processing Fees for Soils Engineering, Foundation Investigation, Geology and Seismology Report and for Review of Division of Land Requests.
91.107.8.1. Soils Engineering, Foundation Investigation, Geology and Seismology Report. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) A fee shall be charged for the processing of each soil, foundation investigation, geology, or seismology report and the amount of the fee shall be determined from Table 1-C of this division.