Window replacement permits in the City of Los Angeles

Written and checked by the DuloCore research team. Last verified: November 11, 2026.

In the City of Los Angeles, the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) issues window replacement permits, and the route depends on whether the new window matches the old opening; for prices and the rebate, start at the home page.

Same size, same type, same place: the Express Permit

The LADBS e-Permit system can issue a building permit to replace windows "with the same size, opening type, and location as the existing window(s)" (LADBS). Item 1 of the City's express permit list, Information Bulletin P/GI 2026-003 (effective January 1, 2026, revised June 10, 2026), adds that NFRC-labeled dual glazing is required for windows replaced in residential buildings of three stories or less, under Title 24, Part 6, Section 150.2(b)1B.

You can apply on the LADBS permit portal or by appointment at the Metro, Van Nuys, West Los Angeles, San Pedro and South Los Angeles counters. LADBS says homeowners of single-family dwellings may apply for e-permits themselves (LADBS homeowner guide), though most installers pull the permit; put who does it in the contract.

Bigger, smaller, moved or a new style: plan check

Changing size, opening type or location means plan check at an LADBS counter with two sets of plans: existing and proposed floor plans at 1/4 inch to 1 foot showing each room's use and each window's size and type. Structural calculations by a California-licensed civil or structural engineer or architect are required for structures over one story, or when a new window significantly exceeds the old one (LADBS).

What the inspector checks

• Every bedroom needs an emergency escape window with at least 5.7 sq ft net clear opening, 24 inches clear height, 20 inches clear width, and a sill no higher than 44 inches.
• Habitable rooms need glazing of at least one-tenth of the floor area for light and openable area of one-twentieth for ventilation.
• Sliding windows need locks and a device that stops the panel being lifted out.
• Inside a municipal airport noise boundary, replacement windows must meet Sound Transmission Class ratings of 35 to 44, depending on the noise contour.

Usually one inspection follows installation: schedule "335 - Final" through the automated system at 311, or (213) 482-0000 from outside LA County (LADBS). Keep the signed-off permit; LADWP asks for the final approved permit with the window rebate application.

Fees

Fees vary with the job. We could not confirm a current window fee schedule today, so we do not quote one; see LADBS Express Permits.

Historic Preservation Overlay Zones (HPOZ)

Every property in a Local Historic District, or HPOZ, must go through additional review for exterior changes, including ones that need no building permit, and work done without it may face LADBS code enforcement and fines (LA City Planning). The Office of Historic Resources' HPOZ FAQ gives a rule of thumb: all exterior alterations require HPOZ approval, down to replacing a pane of glass.

• Use ZIMAS to see whether the property is in an HPOZ and whether it is Contributing or Non-Contributing.
• Applications follow one of four procedures: Certificate of Appropriateness, Certificate of Compatibility, or Conforming Work on a Contributing or Non-Contributing structure. Some need board review or filing fees.
• The two certificates carry a 15-day appeal period; conforming-work decisions are not appealable.

Talk to your district's planner before choosing frames. If your home is on a hillside, read the fire-zone section of our glass rules page too.