Permit running service — Greater Los Angeles
We submit plans, retrieve permits, and shuttle documents between agency counters across Greater Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties.
What we do
A permit runner is a licensed courier who physically carries documents between your office and government agency counters. We are not permit expediters — we do not review plans, respond to plan check corrections, provide zoning analysis, or give code compliance opinions. That work belongs to your architect or engineer of record.
What we do: pick up, submit, retrieve, and deliver. We stand in line so your staff does not have to. Because we are also a Notary firm, we can notarize the Agent Authorization Letter LADBS requires for non-owner submittals — on the same pickup trip, at no additional Notary fee.
Services
Four trip types cover the full permit lifecycle — from first submittal through final clearance.
We deliver your plan sets to LADBS Metro (201 N. Figueroa), Van Nuys, West LA, San Pedro, or any other jurisdiction counter. We also submit electronic packages via ePlanLA with your notarized Agent Authorization Letter.
Once your plans are approved and the permit is Ready to Issue, we collect the issued permit, job card, and approved plan set from the building department counter and deliver them to your office or job site.
We pick up correction packets and redline sheets from the plan check counter, deliver them to your design team, then return the revised sheets to the agency for re-check. Each round trip counts as one or two standard trips.
Many permits require clearances from Fire Prevention, DOT, LA County Public Works, or LA Sanitation before LADBS will issue. We visit each required agency counter and obtain the sign-offs on your behalf.
Where we run
We cover building and safety counters at the following offices. Don't see yours? Call us — if it's in Greater LA, Orange County, or Ventura County, we can likely add it to a trip.
Los Angeles — LADBS
Los Angeles — County & Cities
Orange & Ventura Counties
Built-in advantage
LADBS requires a notarized Agent Authorization Letter for any non-owner submittal. Most permit runners send you to a separate Notary before they will accept the trip. Because we are a licensed California Notary, we notarize your Agent Authorization Letter at the moment we pick up your plans — no separate trip, no separate Notary fee.
This matters most on urgent submittals. If you are racing to meet a plan check deadline, the last thing you need is a side errand. Call us, schedule the pickup, and we handle notarization and delivery in one stop.
Any architect, engineer, contractor, or representative submitting plans or picking up permits on behalf of a property owner who will not be present at the counter. LADBS Form No. B-4 (or equivalent) must be notarized and presented at the window. We bring the stamp.
How agency fees work
Agency fees vary widely depending on project valuation, department, and document type. We have three tiers designed to fit most billing setups.
Under $500 in agency fees
We pay agency fees on your behalf at the counter and invoice you Net-15 with a full receipt attached. No prepayment required for routine trips.
$500 – $3,000 in agency fees
For larger fee amounts, we collect an advance payment via Square Invoice before the trip. We provide full documentation and receipts after the counter visit.
Over $3,000 in agency fees
You draw against your LADBS Trust Account or pay LADBS directly through ePlanLA. We handle the physical counter trip — you control the money. We work with your billing setup.
All agency fees are pass-through costs billed at cost with receipt. Our trip fee is separate and covers our courier service.
Trip fees
Our trip fee covers the courier service. Agency fees are separate and billed at cost with receipt.
Fee Schedule
Our trip fee covers our courier service and is separate from all government / agency fees, which are pass-through at cost. Fees above cover a single jurisdiction. Multi-agency trips (e.g., LADBS + Fire clearance on the same day) may be quoted as a single combined trip or as separate trips depending on routing. We will quote before we go.
Common questions
No. We are permit runners, not permit expediters. We do not review plans, respond to plan check corrections, provide zoning analysis, or give code compliance opinions. That work belongs to your architect or engineer of record. We pick up, submit, retrieve, and deliver — physical courier work only.
Permit issuance speed depends entirely on LADBS's plan check queue and review process — not on us. Once LADBS approves your plans and the permit is ready for pickup, we can retrieve it same-day or next business day. We have no ability to accelerate the city's review.
Yes. We can submit electronic plan packages via ePlanLA on your behalf. Because LADBS requires a notarized Agent Authorization Letter for non-owner submittals, we notarize that letter on pickup — saving you a separate Notary trip and getting your submittal moving faster.
Yes. We can retrieve plan records, permit history, and other documents from the LADBS Records Section at 201 N. Figueroa St. Contact us with the address and permit number so we can confirm availability before the trip.
A single trip is $150 in Los Angeles County, $175 in Ventura County, or $200 in Orange County. There is no minimum document count — if you need one plan set dropped off or one permit picked up, that is a standard trip at your county's rate. Government and agency fees (plan check, permit, clearance) are separate pass-through charges billed at cost.
LADBS counters and most building department windows are closed on weekends, so plan check submittals and permit pickups are weekday-only. However, we are available for courier delivery of documents between your office and ours, or for notarizing Agent Authorization Letters, on weekends. Call us to confirm availability.
Related services
Need a Mechanics Lien or Notice of Completion recorded after your project closes out? See our Document Recording service — we file deeds, liens, and other recordable instruments at LA, Orange, and Ventura County clerk-recorder offices.
Text or call with your agency, trip type, and timing. We confirm availability same-day and give you an exact fee before we go.