Welcome to the Low Impact Development (LID) Plan Check Submittal portal

LID is a leading stormwater management strategy that seeks to mitigate the impacts of runoff and stormwater pollution as close to its source as possible. In November 2011, the City of Los Angeles adopted the Stormwater LID Ordinance (Original Ordinance #181899, updated September 2015-Ordinance #183833, and updated April 2024-Ordinance #188125) to support this effort.

New development and redevelopment projects are required to incorporate LID measures into their design plans as part of their plan check review and building permit approval process. Please use the LID Portal to start your LID Counter request for plan check and other building permit related items

To begin the process, please select an option from the Applications drop down menu atop this page. Once the application has been submitted, please join the Virtual Counter System Queue to speak to our counter staff and have your submitted documents reviewed. To access the LID Virtual Counter Queue, please go to appointments.lacity.org

LID Ordinance Revision Effective April 2nd, 2024: Ordinance No. 188125

Building or grading permits that have a LADBS Payment Date of April 2nd, 2024 or after, are subject to the LID Ordinance Revision. Any building or grading permits that have a Payment Date before April 2nd, 2024 are subject to the LID Ordinance that existed on the respective Payment Date.

Procedurally, LADBS staff will review and issue the LID Clearance to building and grading permits based on the Payment Date. Any building or grading permits that have a Payment Date before April 2nd, 2024 will have the LID Clearance added for work that proposes to add, create or replace 500 SF or more ofimpervious area. Building or grading permits that have a LADBS Payment Date of April 2nd, 2024 or after, will have the LID Clearance added for work that proposes to add, create or replace 2,500 SF or more ofimpervious area. Supplemental permits submitted after April 2nd, 2024 will be subject to the LID Ordinance that the original permit was subject to.

For permits subject to the LID Ordinance Revision, please note that LID Requirements will be applicable to the projects listed below. If your project does not meet the criteria below, but the LID Clearance was added to your permit, a formal submittal to LID will be required so that we may review your plans and clear your LID Clearance as “Not Required” if applicable.

1. New Development Projects equal to 1 acre or greater of disturbed area and adding more than 10,000 SF of impervious surface area (collectively over the entire project site).
2. New Industrial Parks of 10,000 SF or more of surface area.
3. New Commercial Malls of 10,000 SF or more of surface area.
4. Redevelopment Projects that create and/or replace 5,000 SF or more of impervious surface area (collectively over the entire project site) on any of the following:
   1. Existing sites of 10,000 SF or more of impervious surface area
   2. Industrial Parks of 10,000 SF or more of surface area
   3. Commercial Malls of 10,000 SF or more of surface area
5. New Development or Redevelopment Projects that create and/or replace 5,000 SF or more of impervious surface area (collectively over the entire site) and support any of the following uses:
   1. Restaurants
   2. Parking lots
   3. Automotive Service Facilities
   4. Retail gasoline outlets
6. New Development or Redevelopment Projects that create and/or replace 2,500 SF or more of impervious surface area and are located partially or wholly within an Environmentally Sensitive Area.

Any questions regarding the LID Ordinance Revision should be directed to: san.swplancheck@lacity.org or via Phone Call: (213) 482-7066, although email is preferred. Please include the project address and permit number related to your inquiry, if any.

LID Counter Operations

As of June 15, 2022, the LID Public Counter will offer same day customer services via the City of Los Angeles Virtual Counter System. To access the Virtual Counter System Queue, please go to appointments.lacity.org . Please note that the Virtual Counter will serve customers on a first-come first-served basis, during normal business hours of 9:00AM to 4:00PM Monday through Friday. All customers, except those with only General Questions, must first start a customer service request using the LID Plan Check Portal prior to joining the Virtual Counter System Queue.

By appointment only, the LID Public Counter now provides certain customer services virtually. Please go to appointments.lacity.org to access the City of Los Angeles Appointment System to schedule an appointment. Please submit a customer service request application via the LID Plan Check Portal prior to scheduling an appointment.

For those who are unable to access our electronic services, we will continue to use the designated, Drop-off/Pick-up Area at the Figueroa Plaza Lobby (201 N Figueroa St) for your hard copy submittals as listed under the City of Los Angeles Continuity of Operations Plan for Development Services Centers until further notice.

Any general questions regarding the LID Counter Operations should be directed to: san.swplancheck@lacity.org or via Phone Call: (213) 482-7066, although email is preferred. Please be sure to include the project address and permit number related to your inquiry.

LID Plan Check Portal

As of October 19, 2020, all projects electing to submit plan check documents electronically will be required to submit through the LID Plan Check Submittal Portal located at https://lid.lacitysan.org

Please utilize the step-by-step instruction guides below to assist in establishing your LID Plan Check Submittal Portal account and for instructions on how to submit projects.

LID Plan Check Portal account set up Step-by-Step guide (PDF)
LID Plan Check Portal document submittal Step-by-Step guide (PDF)

Low Impact Development (LID) Plan Check Clearance

Applicants who need to obtain Plan Check Clearance from LID must submit a Plan Check Review Application via the LID Portal: https://lid.lacitysan.org/

The LID Plan Check Clearance will appear as Obtain Watershed Protection Div. clearance for Low Impact Development (LID) on the Clearance Summary Worksheet issued by LADBS.

The Plan Check Review application will require the following documents:

LADBS Permit Application (Optional)

• Submitting this document is optional during the Plan Check Review application process. This document is provided by LADBS once an application has been submitted to their department and includes the project address on the top left hand corner and the 15 digit PCIS number on the top right hand corner and is titled: Application for Building Permit and Certificate of Occupancy, see example below.

Project Drawings (Required)

• This refers to the full set of plans that incorporate LID Requirements.
• Small Scale Checklist: For Residential Projects 4 Units or Less that proposes less than 10,000 SF of new impervious area while redeveloping less than 1 Acre or projects that proposed less than 2,500 SF of impervious area on an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA), the Small Scale Checklist should be used to incorporate LID Requirements.
• Large Scale Checklist: For All Other Development Projects, the Large Scale Checklist should be used to incorporate LID Requirements.

LID Report and Hydrology Calculation (Large Scale Projects Only)

• Large Scale Checklist: Part 1 of the Large Scale Checklist details the requirements of the LID Report.

Ownership Grant Deed and LLC Agreement (Optional)

• Submitting this document is optional during the initial Plan Check Review application process but may be a comment issued during the Plan Check Review process. Section 6 of the LADBS Permit Application notes the owner on record for the project.
  • If the owner on record remains the same and is an individual, this section is not required.
  • If the owner on record has since changed, provide a grant deed and operating agreement (if any) for the new owners to verify ownership for the individual who will ultimately be signing the Covenant and Agreement.
  • If the owner on record is not an individual (LLC, LP, Corporation, etc.), the operating agreement will be required to verify ownership for the individual who will ultimately be signing the Covenant and Agreement.

Plot Plan Showing Project Site and BMPs (Required)

• 8.5” X 11” Plot Plan showing project site and BMP’s. BMP (Best Management Practice) refers to the stormwater mitigation system that is being proposed. BMP’s include but are not limited to: Rain Tanks, Planter Boxes, Rain Gardens, Drywells, Permeable Pavers, Infiltration Trenches, and Cisterns.

Plan Check Fees

• Small Scale Project
  • $206.00
  • Payments must be collected prior to final approval of the plans. An invoice will be sent out upon the first review of your plans.
• Large Scale Projects
  • Varies between $721.00-$1,545.00 depending on project type and between regular and expedited plan check.
  • Payments must be received prior to the first review. Your assigned plan checker will send an invoice following your submittal.

Review Times (As of March 1, 2024)

• Small Scale Project: Same Day Review via the Virtual Counter. Otherwise, current applications are reviewed within 4 weeks of their submission or resubmission, if not serviced via the Virtual Counter.
• Large Scale Projects
  • First Review for ED1 Project Plan Check: 3 Weeks
  • First Review for Expedited Plan Check: 4 Weeks
  • First Review for Regular Plan Check: 6 Weeks
  • Resubmittals: 2 Weeks

Plan Check applications can also be submitted via contactless drop off via the Sanitation Drop Off Bin located in the lobby of Figueroa Plaza (201 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90012). Dropped Off Applications should include Contact Name, Phone Number and Email.

Any questions regarding Plan Check Clearances should be directed to: san.swplancheck@lacity.org or via Phone Call: (213) 482-7066, although email is preferred. Please include the project address and permit number related to your inquiry.

Low Impact Development (LID) Certificate of Occupancy Clearance

Applicants who need to obtain Certificate of Occupancy Clearance from LID must submit a Certificate of Occupancy Clearance Application via the LID Portal: https://lid.lacitysan.org/

The LID Certificate of Occupancy Clearance will appear under the Permit & Inspection Report on the LADBS Website as Public Works- Stormwater. This clearance will also appear as Public Works- Stormwater on the Automated Certificate of Occupancy System (ACOS) issued by LADBS.

The Certificate of Occupancy application will require the following documents:

Pictures of all BMPs taken during various construction phases and at completion.

• BMP (Best Management Practice) refers to the stormwater mitigation system that was approved for construction during the Plan Check phase. BMP’s include but are not limited to: Rain Tanks, Planter Boxes, Rain Gardens, Drywells, Permeable Pavers, Infiltration Trenches, and Cisterns.

Copy of the Sanitation stamped approved plans (PDF or jpeg format)

• Sanitation stamped approved plans refers to the full set of plans that were stamped by the Bureau of Sanitation during the Plan Check phase. Typically, our stamp is located on the architectural site plan, roof plan, elevation plan, and LID sheets (if any).
• If you do not have a copy of the Sanitation stamped approved plans, submit any plan check documents that you have available to you or a copy of the recorded covenant and agreement which shows the location of the BMPs.

Completed Stormwater Observation Report (SOR) Form:

• SOR Form is the form that is to be filled out by the individual responsible for the construction of the BMP(s) installed.
• Small Scale SOR Form: For Residential Projects 4 Units or Less that proposes less than 10,000 SF of new impervious area or less than 2,500 SF of impervious area on an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA); the Small Scale SOR Form should be filled out. This form can be filled out by the Owner, Contractor, Engineer or Architect of Record.
• Large Scale SOR Form: For All Other Development Projects, the Large Scale SOR Form should be filed out. This form must be filled out by the Engineer or Architect of Record.

Review Times (As of March 1, 2024)

• Small Scale and Large Scale Projects: Same Day Review via the Virtual Counter. Otherwise, current applications are reviewed within 2 weeks of their submission or resubmission, if not serviced via the Virtual Counter.

Certificate of Occupancy Applications can also be submitted via contactless drop off via the Sanitation Drop Off Bin located in the lobby of Figueroa Plaza (201 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90012). Dropped Off Applications should include Contact Name, Phone Number and Email.

Any questions regarding Certificate of Occupancy Clearances should be directed to: san.swplancheck@lacity.org or via Phone Call: (213) 482-7066, although email is preferred. Please include the project address and permit number related to your inquiry.

Low Impact Development (LID) Planning Case Referral Request

Applicants who need to obtain a LID Planning Case Referral Form from LID must submit a Planning Case Referral Application via the LID Portal: https://lid.lacitysan.org/

The request for a Planning Case Referral Form originates with The Planning Department and is detailed in their City Planning Application Filing Instructions.

The Planning Case Referral application will require the following documents:

Proposed Architectural Plan

• This document plan will aid our plan checkers with determining the LID requirements that will be imposed on the project at the time of plan check submittal. A full set of plans is not required.

Review Times (As of March 1, 2024)

• Planning Case Referral Form: Current applications are reviewed within 1-2 business days of their submission; these requests do not require a Virtual Counter meeting.

Any questions regarding Planning Case Referral Requests should be directed to: san.swplancheck@lacity.org or via Phone Call: (213) 482-7066, although email is preferred. Please include the project address related to your inquiry.

Low Impact Development (LID) Restamp Request

Applicants who need to obtain a Restamp from LID must submit a Plan Restamp Application via the LID Portal: https://lid.lacitysan.org/

A Plan Restamp can be requested when plans that were previously stamped and approved by LID have undergone changes that do not affect the stormwater mitigation systems approved. If the proposed changes affect the stormwater mitigation systems approved, the project must submit as a Plan Check Review Application.

The Plan Restamp application will require the following documents:

Previously Stamped LID Plan

• Previously Stamped LID Plans refers to the full set of plans that were stamped by the Bureau of Sanitation during the Plan Check phase. Typically, our stamp is located on the architectural site plan, roof plan, elevation plan, and LID sheets (if any).

Revised Plan

• Revised Plan refers to the full set of plans that have been updated, and must include all of the sheets that were previously stamped by LID, including the architectural site plan, roof plan, elevation plan, and LID sheets (if any).

LADBS Supplemental Permit (Optional)

• Submitting this document is optional during the Plan Restamp application process. Your LADBS Plan Check will determine if a supplemental application to LADBS is required based on the proposed changes to the plans.
• The LADBS Supplemental Permit is provided by LADBS once a supplemental application has been submitted to their department and includes the project address on the top left hand corner and the 15 digit PCIS number on the top right hand corner and is titled: Application for Building Permit and Certificate of Occupancy.

Review Times (As of March 1, 2024)

• Small Scale and Large Scale Plan Restamp: Same Day Review via the Virtual Counter. Otherwise, applications are reviewed within 1 week of their submission, if not serviced via the Virtual Counter.

Plan Restamp Applications can also be submitted via contactless drop off via the Sanitation Drop Off Bin located in the lobby of Figueroa Plaza (201 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90012). Dropped Off Applications should include Contact Name, Phone Number and Email.

Any questions regarding Restamp Requests should be directed to: san.swplancheck@lacity.org or via Phone Call: (213) 482-7066, although email is preferred. Please include the project address and permit number related to your inquiry.