Altadena, LA County

I frequently pass through Altadena on my way to my favorite hikes in the local mountain range. It was always a blessing to catch sight of the Restaurants & Bars I have worked on along Lake Avenue and Fair Oaks Avenue.

In January 2025, the Eaton Fire brought utter destruction to one of my favorite parts of Los Angeles County. My heart goes to the residents and business owners who suffered tremendous losses from the fire.

I hope to serve you as we redesign and rebuild the Altadena We LOVE!

Building In LA County

If you are obtaining building permits in Altadena, which is regulated by Los Angeles County, it’s very important to have patience. LA County has implemented an online submittal system, which has sped up the process and made it more efficient, but keep in mind that the entire permitting process still takes time.

If you’re new to pulling permits in LA County, the FIRST step is Regional Planning. ALL projects must first be approved by Regional Planning before proceeding to Building & Safety. Most Planning applications will take an average of 4-6 weeks for approval. Some projects can take several months, depending on the project’s complexity.

A frequent question I hear is, can we submit to ALL departments simultaneously to save time?

Yes, in some cases, it is possible to submit it to both the Planning & Building Departments simultaneously. This may save you some lead time, but any changes to your Regional Planning application will most likely cause delays to your Building & Safety application.

Plan Ahead And Submit Sonner Than Later

Many investors and house-flippers have “lost their shirts” trying to make a “quick buck” in Altadena. Altadena is blessed with beautiful parcels of land on huge lots. Can an investor make a profit by renovating in Altadena? Of course, they can! As long as they factor in the building permit process in LA County.

With the recent fires causing such vast property damage in Altadena, I believe the usual permit process will take even longer due to staff shortages and the influx of so many projects.

When working with Regional Planning, it’s essential to share the entire scope of your project at once. It can be broken up into phases as needed, but if time is of the essence, it’s usually best to present everything simultaneously. Once your Regional Planning application has been started, changing the project scope is difficult (but not impossible).

Decide whether you want to add an ADU to your property and if you need to make any alterations to the existing structure. You will save time and money on your application fees when presented at once instead of separately.

If you’re opening a business, such as a restaurant or bar, decide whether you will sell beer, wine, and spirits. Your project application will need to be approved by the County Health Department as well as the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) in conjunction with your Regional Planning application.

A Stitch In Time, Saves Nine

The County of Los Angeles does a great job with its resources. With the implementation of its online system, many of my projects take half the time they would have taken in the past. This is a fantastic step in the right direction.

In case I didn’t stress it enough, things still take time in the County of LA.

Plan ahead and submit your project to Regional Planning as soon as possible. Good luck with your project, and if you would like my assistance, I can be your guide.

Alan