Navigate LADBS Plan‑Check & Permitting—Without the Guesswork
Upgrading to a 400‑amp, 600‑amp or 800‑amp service in Los Angeles triggers a full Electrical Plan Check. Our C‑10 team has shepherded dozens of projects through LADBS and LADWP, shaving weeks off approval time. Use this field‑tested roadmap—or let us handle it turnkey.
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Why 400 A Is the Magic Number
LADBS requires an Electrical Plan Check when the total new connected load exceeds 400 amperes or any single piece of service equipment is rated 600 A or more (ladbs.org). Express (over‑the‑counter) permits stop at 399 A (dbs.lacity.gov). That means your upgrade moves from a simple counter visit to a formal submittal with stamped drawings.
Step‑by‑Step 400 A+ Permit Workflow
Day | Action | Responsible Party | Key Docs / Links |
---|---|---|---|
0–2 | Confirm Load Calculation | Electrical engineer or C‑10 contractor | NEC 220 calculation worksheet |
3–5 | Pre‑Design Meeting (Optional) | Owner + design team | LADBS Plan Check desk (call 3‑1‑1 to schedule) |
6–12 | Prepare Stamped Single‑Line & Site Plan | EE, PE, or licensed architect (signature per LEC §93.0206) | Electrical Plan Check Correction List PC/ELEC/Corr.Lst.08 (ladbs.org) |
13 | Create EPIC‑LA Account & Upload Application | Owner’s rep | Form PC‑ELEC‑APP.02 Application for Electrical Permit (ladbs.org) |
14–21 | Pay Plan‑Check Fees & Obtain Plan Check Number | Owner/GC | Fee schedule auto‑calculates in EPIC‑LA |
22–35 | Respond to Correction Cycle #1 | Design team | Typical corrections: fault‑current calc, grounding size, GRC routing |
36–42 | Approval & RTI (Ready‑To‑Issue) Stamp | LADBS Plan Check | Download RTI letter in EPIC‑LA |
43–45 | Pull Electrical Permit | C‑10 contractor | Upload worker’s comp & license, pay issuance fee |
46–60 | Coordinate LADWP Service Planning | Contractor | LADWP “Service Equipment & Revision Form 480‑02” |
Construction Phase | Rough & Final Inspections | LADBS inspector | Schedule via 888‑LADBS‑247 |
Pro tip: EPIC‑LA requires PDFs under 200 MB; layer‑off backgrounds and flatten images before uploading.
Document Toolkit
- Application for Electrical Permit (PC‑ELEC‑APP.02) – mandatory checklist for >400 A jobs (ladbs.org)
- Electrical Plan Check Correction List (PC/ELEC/Corr.Lst.08) – use it as a self‑check before first submittal (ladbs.org)
- Multi‑Building Complexes Plan‑Check Bulletin (IB P/EC 2014‑003) – clarifies scope when meter centers serve multiple buildings (ladbs.org)
- Express Permit Exclusion List (IB P/GC 2020‑003) – shows why 400 A pushes you out of OTC permitting (dbs.lacity.gov)
- LADWP Service Equipment Revision Form 480‑02 – required once plan check approves.
Download links are embedded throughout this page for one‑click access.
Typical Timeline & Fees
Item | Range | Notes |
Plan‑Check Fee | $680 – $1,200 | Based on ampacity and square footage |
Permit Issuance | $300 – $450 | Paid after RTI letter |
Correction Cycles | 1–2 rounds | Aim for zero‑deferral by pre‑checking against Correction List |
Total Processing Time | 4–8 weeks | Well‑prepared submittals routinely cut it to 4–5 weeks |
Common Pitfalls (and How We Avoid Them)
- Missing Fault‑Current Calculation – LADBS rejects if not stamped. We include infinite‑bus calc on Sheet E‑1.
- Under‑Sized Bonding Jumpers – 250 kcmil copper minimum for 600 A gear; called out in red on our drawings.
- Discrepancy Between LADWP Load Sheet & NEC Calc – We reconcile before submission to avoid dual corrections.
- Obsolete Title Block – Use 2023 code cycle reference; old sheets trigger auto‑return.
FAQ
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📞 (323) 467-6661 | ✉️ info@branovercontractors.com