Permits for Remodels in Los Angeles

[Alejandro Garcia]

Hi I just closed on my first deal, a duplex in South Los Angeles, and excited to get started renovating it but some of the things I have in mind might require permits so I was wondering if anyone had experience with the process and could provide some guidance.

More about the property, the front unit is a 3 bed 2 bath bungalow style house built in 1925 so the layout is outdated. One of the bathrooms is a jack and jill bathroom which I want to change. Close the current doors and open a new one from the living room into the bathroom instead of the entrances coming from the bedrooms. I also want to open up the wall between the kitchen and living room which is a load bearing wall and is my largest concern for permits and time for the job.

The back house is a similiar issue but is a 1 bed 1 bath with an extra room (no closet so not considered a room). Same thing with the jack and jill bathroom and kitchen wall. I want to add a closet to the extra room so I can rent it as a 2 bedroom but it is already small so plan was to take up some of the kitchen space to build a closet and then just add a door in between.

I assume the load bearing wall projects will require permits but I am not sure about the bathroom remodels or the closet. Does anyone have experience with such jobs, specifically getting permits in the Los Angeles area? 

P.S. I plan on doing most if not all myself with the help of my father who is very skilled. He has done such jobs but he never had to do permitting.