Building permits in Long Beach, CA

Short answer: In Long Beach, permits are issued by City of Long Beach Development Services, Building and Safety Bureau; of the 6 common projects we checked, 2 always need a permit, 0 do not, and 4 depend on the details.

Permitting authority: City of Long Beach Development Services, Building and Safety Bureau. Exempt work must still meet Long Beach zoning rules (height, setbacks, coverage).

Permit rules in Long Beach
Project	Answer	Verified
Deck	Depends on your project No building permit for unroofed decks up to 30 in above grade and not over a basement or story below. Higher or covered decks need one.	2026-10-19
Fence	Depends on your project No building permit for wood, vinyl, chain link or wrought iron fences up to 6 ft 6 in, or masonry fences up to 4 ft. Taller fences need one.	2026-10-19
Interior / bathroom remodel	Depends on your project Tile, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work need no building permit. Plumbing, electrical or structural changes need permits.	2026-10-19
Roof replacement	Permit required Yes for a full roof replacement. Only small roofing jobs within a 12-month period are exempt (100 sq ft per the permit page; 500 sq ft per t…	2026-10-19
Shed	Depends on your project Small sheds with no plumbing, electrical or mechanical work can skip a permit: the permit page says up to 120 sq ft and 8 ft tall, but the F…	2026-10-19
Water heater replacement	Permit required Yes. You need a plumbing permit before replacing a residential water heater. Only minor repairs (thermocouple, igniter) are exempt.	2026-10-19

Fee schedule: https://longbeach.gov/lbcd/building/permit-center/do-i-need-a-permit/

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Not legal advice. Always confirm with your local building department. Rules change, and your parcel's zoning, HOA, historic district, floodplain or utility work can change the answer. We show the official source and the date we last checked it so you can verify for yourself.