Search Los Angeles building permits by ZIP, type, date, and valuation
One GET request queries LADBS and EPIC-LA live — no permit number needed. Every free API key includes 5 searches a month, and any result feeds straight into permit status tracking.
Already have a key? Enable the add-on on the Billing & add-ons page.
What the permit search API is
The SignedOff permit search API (GET /api/v1/permits/search)
runs live criteria queries against LADBS, the City of Los Angeles permit portal, and
EPIC-LA, LA County's portal for unincorporated areas. Results reflect what each portal
has on file at query time — there is no cached warehouse. A search without a
jurisdiction parameter queries both portals and
merges the results newest-first.
Search dimensions
Los Angeles permits can be filtered by any combination of:
- ZIP code (
zip) - Radius around a point (
lat+lon+radius_mi) - Permit type — Building, Electrical, Mechanical, or Plumbing (
permit_type) - Issue-date range (
date_from/date_to) - Valuation range in dollars (
value_min/value_max) - Portal status string (
status)
On EPIC-LA the ZIP filter is a best-effort address match, since that portal has no dedicated ZIP field. The discovery docs carry the full parameter reference, pagination, and error semantics.
How SignedOff searches LADBS and EPIC-LA
LADBS and EPIC-LA each offer a public portal search, and each portal is the source of record for its own permits. Third-party permit data services such as SignedOff query both portals live through one API, merge the results newest-first, and return structured JSON. This is most useful for teams that need permit data by area, permit type, or valuation across both jurisdictions, where searching each portal manually becomes impractical.
Portal search or API?
For a single permit lookup or anything requiring official confirmation, the LADBS and
EPIC-LA portals are the source of record. For programmatic search across both
jurisdictions — by ZIP, permit type, date range, or valuation — an API such
as SignedOff's returns merged, structured results and connects each hit to ongoing
status tracking via GET /api/v1/permits/{number}/status.
Pricing & quotas
The Permit Discovery add-on is currently included free during the beta on Developer and Pro plans. The pricing below applies when the beta ends.
No add-on needed — included with every free API key.
+$39/mo add-on.
+$99/mo add-on.
Custom terms.
Searches are counted per request — a page of results is one search. Manage the add-on on the Billing & add-ons page.
Frequently asked
Permit search, answered
How do I search building permits in Los Angeles by ZIP code?
Los Angeles building permits can be searched by ZIP code through SignedOff's permit search API: GET /api/v1/permits/search?zip=90026 returns recent permits from LADBS and EPIC-LA in one merged response. On EPIC-LA the ZIP filter is a best-effort address match, since that portal has no dedicated ZIP field. Each result includes the permit number, address, type, status, and issue date.
Can I filter LA permit searches by valuation or permit type?
Permit searches can be filtered by valuation range (value_min / value_max, in dollars) and by permit type (Building, Electrical, Mechanical, or Plumbing). Filters combine, so a query such as permits over $100,000 issued in the last 90 days is a single request. Date-range and status filters are also available; the discovery docs list every parameter.
What is the difference between LADBS and EPIC-LA coverage?
LADBS covers permits issued by the City of Los Angeles, while EPIC-LA covers LA County's unincorporated areas. A search without a jurisdiction parameter queries both and merges results newest-first; passing jurisdiction=ladbs or jurisdiction=epicla narrows to one portal.
Is there a free tier for permit search?
Every free SignedOff API key includes 5 permit searches per month with no credit card required. Developer and Pro plans include 400 and 1,500 searches per month respectively through the Permit Discovery add-on — see the Billing & add-ons page for current add-on pricing.
How current are permit search results?
Search results are fetched live from the LADBS and EPIC-LA portals at query time, so they reflect what each jurisdiction has on file right now. There is no nightly dump or warehouse lag — a permit issued this morning appears as soon as the portal lists it.
Can I get owner or contractor details from a permit search?
Search results are intentionally thin: permit number, address, type, status, valuation, and dates — no owner, contractor, or inspection fields. To get the full record for any hit, pass its permit_number and jurisdiction to GET /api/v1/permits/{permit_number}/status — the discover-then-enrich pattern the API is designed around.
Run your first Los Angeles permit search
Free API key in about a minute. 5 searches a month included, no credit card.
Start free — 5 searches/month included