Unpermitted Work in Long Beach: How the City Handles It and What the Fee Schedule Says

For work that starts without a permit, the code calls for a special investigation and an investigation fee, and paying that fee “shall not exempt any person, firm or corporation from compliance with all other provisions of this title … nor from any penalty prescribed by law”¹; an enforcement case can also run in parallel if someone reports it. This page sets out what the code and the fee schedule say, what Code Enforcement can do, and the routes the city publishes for finishing or recording work. It does not cover the state’s accessory dwelling unit laws, which are in ADUs in Long Beach. For the thresholds that decide whether a permit was needed in the first place, see What Needs a Building Permit in Long Beach; the section pillar is Permits in Long Beach.

This page describes the city’s published process as of October 2026. It is not legal advice.

The short answer

What the code says happens

Section 18.06.070 of the Building Standards Code covers work that starts without a permit. The city posts the code as a PDF headed with an effective date of January 1, 2023, so the text below is the 2023 compilation; confirm with the Permit Center whether later local amendments changed it¹. The section states that “a special investigation shall be made before a permit may be issued”, and an investigation fee is charged “in addition to the permit fee … whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued”¹.

Good to know The code allows the investigation fee to be waived for emergency work¹.

The fee schedule that took effect October 1, 2026 prices the matter in a single line: “Work Without a Permit Penalty Fee In addition to the permit fee, 100% of permit fee but no less than $482 for Investigation Fee”²¹⁰. That line and the code’s investigation fee in section 18.06.070 are one charge: the code sets the investigation fee equal to the permit fee, with a minimum taken from the fee schedule¹². In practice that means the owner pays the permit fee the work would have cost, plus a second charge of the same amount, at least $482. The permit fee itself is the valuation table described in How a Long Beach Building Permit Runs; the schedule does not say whether its surcharges apply to the penalty, so ask at the counter.

The route the city publishes

The pages read for this article describe no general application for legalizing work. One named route exists: the coastal permitting flow chart lists “Any application for the legalization of a dwelling unit under the unpermitted dwelling unit amnesty program”, and the current terms of that program are not stated on the city’s pages read here¹⁴. What those pages do describe is the ordinary permit process: the Permit Center takes the application, plan check or over-the-counter review follows, and inspections are booked online⁵¹¹. The city says inspectors look at items such as framing, plumbing and electrical “before the work is concealed”⁸. The city publishes no processing time for any plan check, only that “Processing times will vary depending on the number of projects currently ahead”⁶.

For work that was permitted but never finished, the route is better defined. Express permits include “Complete remaining work under an expired permit” among their items, outside the coastal zone and historic districts⁷. Under section 18.04.060.B of the municipal code, where work has stopped for 90 days or more or a permit has expired, on written notice from the Building Official the owner “shall”, within 30 days of the notice (or the time it states), obtain a new permit to complete the work and pay one-half the fee for a new permit, “provided no changes have been made or will be made in the original approved construction documents”, diligently pursue the work to completion, and provided the stoppage “has not exceeded one hundred eighty (180) days”; otherwise the owner “shall remove or demolish the building or structure within ninety (90) days” of the notice¹. Section 18.04.060.C requires expired permits to have the site restored to its condition before the work began¹. The fee schedule lists an expired permit at “50% of a new Permit Fee, but not less than $105”². A permit expires on the 90th day if work has not started or been inspected, and again after 90 days without an inspection¹.

Whether an addition was ever permitted is a records question first. The city’s inspection FAQ answers “How do I know if my house addition was legally built?” with: “Information can be obtained from the Building Permit Records page or from the 2nd floor in City Hall”⁸. The steps are in How to Look Up a Long Beach Property’s Permit History.

What Code Enforcement can do

The Code Enforcement bureau lists the violations it sees most often, and several concern building work: “Garage conversions without permits”, “People living in garages”, “Overheight fence” and “Unpermitted alterations to a dwelling or structure without permits”³. Complaints come in through the city’s online portal or at 562.570.CODE (2633); the bureau is on the 4th floor at 411 West Ocean Boulevard, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.³.

A written warning may precede a fine. The fines the city publishes are:

Source:⁴ for every row. The page says the amounts for specific violations are on a separate Fee Schedule Table.

A citation can be appealed “within 30 calendar days from the date of service of the Citation”, and the appeal requires a deposit of “$950.00 per appeal or 50% of the fine amount, whichever is less”, plus any outstanding fines and late charges⁴. A fuller explanation of how a case runs is in Long Beach Code Enforcement.

Rental property adds a second path: the city inspects rentals periodically under section 18.30.120 of the municipal code¹².

Selling a property with a converted garage

In the city’s designated parking impacted area, a seller must “sign off on a report regarding the availability of legally required off-street parking spaces” before selling a residential building. Reports can take up to five business days⁹. The program offers an inspection appointment or, for properties that qualify, a Garage Exemption Certificate⁹. Converting a Garage in Long Beach covers the permit route for a conversion.

Who can do the work

If the work needs a permit, so does the person doing it. A contractor needs a state license and a city business license to pull one, and an owner can use the declarations in Pulling Your Own Permit in Long Beach. The state board says “It is illegal for an unlicensed person to perform contracting work on any project which requires a building permit, or employee labor is used or the project is valued at $1,000, or more”¹³.

Where to check The Permit Center, 411 West Ocean Boulevard, 2nd floor, 562.570.PMIT (7648), is the contact for work without a permit; Code Enforcement is 562.570.CODE (2633)³⁵.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I did work without a permit in Long Beach?

The code requires a special investigation before a permit may be issued, and an investigation fee is charged on top of the permit fee whether or not a permit is then issued¹.

What is the penalty for work without a permit in Long Beach?

As of October 2026, 100 percent of the permit fee in addition to the permit fee, but no less than $482².

Can I get a permit after the work is done?

The code contemplates it: the investigation comes “before a permit may be issued”, and the fee applies whether or not a permit is issued¹. The pages read for this article describe no general separate procedure and no processing time, so the Permit Center is the place to ask⁵⁶.

How much is the fine for an illegal garage conversion?

Code Enforcement’s published fines go up to $1,000 for illegal garage conversions and illegal conversions of a structure for residential use⁴.

Can I appeal a code enforcement citation?

Yes, within 30 calendar days of service, with a deposit of $950 or 50 percent of the fine, whichever is less⁴.

How do I find out whether an addition was permitted?

Through the city’s Building Permit Records page or the 2nd floor of City Hall⁸.

Does an expired permit count as unpermitted work?

The pages read for this article do not say. What the code says about an expired permit: on written notice from the Building Official the owner “shall”, within 30 days of the notice (or the time it states), obtain a new permit to complete the work and pay one-half the fee for a new permit, “provided no changes have been made or will be made in the original approved construction documents”, diligently pursue the work to completion, and provided the stoppage “has not exceeded one hundred eighty (180) days”; otherwise the owner “shall remove or demolish the building or structure within ninety (90) days” of the notice; expired permits must have the site restored to its prior condition¹. An express permit item, “Complete remaining work under an expired permit”, is also listed⁷.

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