In brief
In Long Beach a re-roof of more than 100 square feet in 12 months and a water heater replacement both need a permit, and for one- and two-family homes the city lets you “apply for and be automatically issued a permit in one step” online, also outside business hours. Express permits at the counter list re-roofs in composition shingles or built-up roofing and like-for-like water heaters, but cannot be issued in the Coastal Zone or a historic district.
- Exempt: roofing repair “not in excess of one hundred (100) square feet” in 12 months, and work valued at $1,000 or less that does not affect fire life-safety, structure or an accessible route4.
- Express item B9 covers composition shingles over solid sheathing or one existing layer; item P8 covers a like-for-like water heater up to 200,000 btu/hr1.
- As of October 2026, IB-077 values composition-shingle re-roofing at $500 per roofing square; the plumbing schedule prints a $104 issuance fee and no line that names a water heater1016.
- Permit Center closures: Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, December 10, 20267.
The city names these jobs in both its Express list and its online permit page. This page sets out the Express list, the online route, who may apply, what the code exempts, the rules for both jobs and the fees that are stated. The wider list is in 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
| If you are… | What the city’s pages say |
|---|---|
| Re-roofing a house or duplex | A permit above 100 square feet in 12 months; online, issued in one step, or Express item B9 or B10124 |
| Replacing a water heater | A plumbing permit; online or Express item P8129 |
| Repairing 100 square feet of roof or less, or doing a job valued at $1,000 or less | No building permit, with limits4 |
| In the Coastal Zone or a historic district | No Express permit1 |
The Express list, item by item
IB-058 (revised July 9, 2025) says an Express permit “does not require the submittal of construction documents”, and none can be issued for a project “located within a Coastal Zone or a Historic District or on a qualified historical building”13. Item numbers are the bulletin’s; numbers missing here are items this page does not describe.
| Item | What the bulletin allows |
|---|---|
| B1 Window | Same size, type, location; U-factor limits by size |
| B2 Door | Same size, type, location |
| B3, B4 | Kitchen and bath fixtures in place |
| B5 Drywall | Up to 10% of interior |
| B6 | Voluntary foundation seismic retrofit |
| B7 Security bar | Grills, roll-down shutters |
| B8 Framing | Damaged framing, up to 10% |
| B9 Re-roof | Composition shingles, solid sheathing or one old layer; 6 psf or less |
| B10 Re-roof | Built-up, Class A or B, one old layer at most |
| B11 Stucco | New or re-stucco |
| B12, B14 | Change of owner, contractor or address |
| B13 | Complete remaining work under an expired permit |
| E1 Service | Up to 200 A; like-for-like up to 400 A |
| E10 Subpanel | Same rating; four panels, 225 A each |
| E11 EV | One or two chargers, 15 A to 50 A |
| E13 Rooftop PV | May include a panel upgrade and storage |
| P3 | Fixtures in place |
| P8 Water heater | Same location, size and type; up to 200,000 btu/hr |
| P10 | Seismic gas shut-off valve |
| P12 | Pool or spa piping repair |
| M1 HVAC | Like for like, 33,000 btu/hr total |
| M6 | Single-unit gas heater or furnace |
Source:1 for every row. Where a job combines two or more items “within a 12-month period, additional plan review MAY be required”; work that does not qualify goes to over-the-counter or submitted plan review1. Solar and EV items are in Solar, Battery and EV Charger Permits.
Online or at the counter
For one- and two-family homes and accessory structures, the Online Permitting page lists “Water heater changeouts”, “Electrical panel changeouts” and “Reroofing of one- and two-family dwellings and related accessory structures”2. Create a portal profile, submit, attach a letter of authorization or FORM-006 (the page says owners and contractors’ agents do), pay by card or electronic check, and the permit is emailed2. The page names no re-roof materials.
At the counter, Express work is by appointment at the Permit Center, 411 West Ocean Boulevard, 2nd floor, 562.570.PMIT (7648)7: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Wednesday from 9 a.m.), one appointment per customer per day, two projects per visit3. The forms are APP-011 (building) or APP-013 (plumbing), FORM-005, FORM-006 if applicable and FORM-028 (plot plan)3. The center is closed daily noon to 1 p.m.; walk-ins are not accepted from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. or after 3:30 p.m.7. Posted closures: Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (Election Day) and Thursday, December 10, 2026, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.7.
Who may apply
A homeowner may pull a permit “if the owner resides or will reside in the dwelling”; the plumbing page adds that the owner must do the work and sign a workers’ compensation statement, and that contractors “must have a Long Beach business license”98. See Pulling Your Own Permit in Long Beach. The state classes are C-39 for roofing and C-36 for plumbing11. Checking a Contractor in Long Beach covers the lookup.
Contractors with a pre-authorized PIN submit building (“re-roofs, etc.”) and plumbing applications online; “an electronic invoice will be sent from Community Development within 1-3 business days”2.
What the code exempts
Municipal Code section 18.04.020, as published through Ordinance ORD-26-0022 (August 18, 2026), says no building permit is required for4:
- work “valued at one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or less, unless it affects the fire life-safety, structural stability or required accessible route of a building or structure, or public safety”;
- “Repair of roofing not in excess of one hundred (100) square feet on an existing building or structure within any twelve (12) month period”, and roof paint;
- non-masonry fences “not over seven (7) feet in height above grade”, masonry “not over four (4) feet”;
- “Decks not exceeding two hundred (200) square feet in area, that are not more than thirty (30) inches above grade at any point, are not attached to a dwelling and do not serve the exit door.”
The city’s page says such items “may be exempt” as the Building Official determines, with extra requirements in historic districts and coastal zones12. Decks: Pools, Spas and Decks.
Official pages disagree The city’s “Do I need a permit?” page lists fences “up to 6 feet and six 6 inches” and “Application of roofing up to 100 square feet”12; the code says 7 feet and roofing “repair”4. The 2023 code compilation still prints a $750 small-job limit, and an older FAQ gives 500 square feet of roofing139. Plan around the code on Municode, the newest text; see Fences and Walls in Long Beach.
A replacement water heater is not exempt: the code exempts only repair, other than vents, “provided the water heater is not disconnected”4. The city FAQ says “you must first obtain a plumbing permit before replacing your residential water heater”9.
Re-roof rules from IB-014
IB-014 (revised December 6, 2023) covers asphalt shingles on solid decks: minimum slope “2 units vertical in 12 units horizontal (17% slope)”, double underlayment from 2:12 up to 4:12, and “not less than 4 fasteners per strip shingle or 2 fasteners per individual shingle”6. New coverings “shall not be installed without first removing all existing layers” where the roof is water soaked or deteriorated, or has two or more applications of any covering6.
IB-014 cites the 2019 codes, while the city says projects after January 1, 2026 must meet the 2025 edition615.
Water heater checklist
The city’s Information Bulletins list has no water heater bulletin14. The city’s undated Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing page lists typical items8:
- No fuel-burning heater in a sleeping room, bathroom or clothes closet.
- Strapping in the upper and lower thirds of the tank, the lower strap at least 4 inches above the controls.
- A relief valve discharging no more than two feet and no less than six inches above the ground.
- A gas flex connector no longer than three feet.
- For a new gas line longer than six feet, an air pressure test at 10 psi for 15 minutes.
The page states no expansion-tank rule8.
Fees stated for fiscal year 2026-27
The schedules took effect October 1, 202617. Amounts are as of October 2026.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Building permit, up to $1,000 valuation | $116 per permit |
| Building permit, $2,001 to $20,000 | “$149 for the first $2,000 plus $16 / addt’l $1,000 or fraction thereof” |
| Re-roofing valuation, composition shingles | $500 per roofing square |
| Plumbing permit issuance | $104 per permit |
| Water using or water treatment equipment | $15 each |
| Processing fee | $119 per application |
| Re-inspection | $145 |
Sources:517 for the building, processing and re-inspection rows;10 for the re-roof valuation;16 for the plumbing rows. The city says a 6% Technology Surcharge and 6% General Plan Surcharge “have been added to all applicable fees”; it is unclear whether the printed amounts already include them517.
A $10,000 re-roof (20 squares of composition shingles) prices at $277 in the permit table ($149 plus eight increments of $16) before the processing fee, the records fee and other lines (whether surcharges are already in the printed amounts is unclear); the arithmetic is this page’s510. No schedule line names a water heater; the city does not say whether the $104 issuance or $15 equipment line applies. Plan review charges on Express or online re-roofs are not stated.
Official pages disagree The Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing page says permits go void after 180 days; the 2023 code compilation says a permit expires on the 90th day after issuance if work has not started or been inspected813. Plan around 90 days, the shorter and the code’s own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Long Beach?
Yes above 100 square feet in any 12 months; the code exempts repairs up to that size and roof paint4.
Can I get a re-roof or water heater permit online?
Yes for one- and two-family dwellings and accessory structures; it is issued in one step and emailed2.
Is a water heater replacement exempt?
Can I use an Express permit in the Coastal Zone?
No. IB-058 excludes the Coastal Zone and historic districts; see Is My Property in the Long Beach Coastal Zone? and Is My Property in a Long Beach Historic District?1.
What does a re-roof permit cost?
Related Articles
Sources
- Information Bulletin IB-058: Express Permits (rev. 07-9-2025) — City of Long Beach, Development Services. Accessed 2026-10-14.
- Online Permitting — City of Long Beach, Development Services. Accessed 2026-10-14.
- Express Permits — City of Long Beach, Development Services. Accessed 2026-10-14.
- Long Beach Municipal Code section 18.04.020, Work Exempt from Permit — Municode. Accessed 2026-10-14.
- Building Permit & Plan Review Fees, effective October 1, 2026 — City of Long Beach, Development Services. Accessed 2026-10-14.
- Information Bulletin IB-014: Asphalt Shingles Roof Coverings and Reroofing (rev. 12-06-2023) — City of Long Beach, Development Services. Accessed 2026-10-14.
- Permit Center — City of Long Beach, Development Services. Accessed 2026-10-14.
- Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Code Requirements — City of Long Beach, Development Services. Accessed 2026-10-14.
- Permit Frequently Asked Questions — City of Long Beach, Development Services. Accessed 2026-10-14.
- Information Bulletin IB-077: Building Valuation (rev. 06-12-2026) — City of Long Beach, Development Services. Accessed 2026-10-14.
- Contractors State License Board: Licensing Classifications — Contractors State License Board. Accessed 2026-10-14.
- Do I Need a Permit? — City of Long Beach, Development Services. Accessed 2026-10-14.
- Long Beach Building Standards Code, Title 18 (2023 compilation) — City of Long Beach, Development Services. Accessed 2026-10-14.
- Information Bulletins list — City of Long Beach, Development Services. Accessed 2026-10-14.
- Building Standards Code (2025 edition) — City of Long Beach, Development Services. Accessed 2026-10-14.
- Plumbing Permit & Plan Review Fees, effective October 1, 2026 — City of Long Beach, Development Services. Accessed 2026-10-14.
- Fee Changes Effective October 1, 2026 — City of Long Beach, Development Services. Accessed 2026-10-14.