Getting an Electrical Permit in the City of Beverly Hills, California

Electrical work in Beverly Hills generally requires a permit from the City's Building & Safety Division. Accordingly, no building, structure, or building service equipment may be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, installed, improved, removed, converted, or demolished until the correct permit has been obtained from the building official.

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and similar regulated trade work falls under this requirement unless specifically exempt. Common electrical projects that require a permit include service panel and subpanel upgrades, new or relocated wiring and circuits, lighting installations, electric vehicle charging equipment, solar photovoltaic systems, and electrical work performed as part of remodels, additions, tenant improvements, and new construction.

Here is how to prepare an application, submit it through Beverly Hills' online systems, complete plan review when required, and schedule inspections.

Before Applying

A separate Plan Review and Permit Application is required for each structure. If a project involves multiple structures on one property, each structure needs its own application and permit.

Licensing Requirements

The City of Beverly Hills is required by law to verify all construction and contractors' licenses for work performed throughout the city. Before applying, contractors should be prepared to show:

• A current California contractor license in the appropriate classification.

• A City of Beverly Hills business tax certificate (contact the City's finance office to confirm whether one is required).

• Workers' compensation insurance coverage.

• If the person applying is not the license holder, an agent authorization letter, signed by the license holder.

A licensed contractor is generally required for jobs valued at $1,000 or more. An owner who occupies a single-family residence may be able to act as an Owner-Builder and either perform the work personally or hire appropriately licensed subcontractors. Owner-builders should review Business & Professions Code Section 7044 and the City's owner-builder requirements before proceeding.

Tenant-Occupied Residential Buildings

If the property is tenant-occupied and the construction could impact the habitability of any unit (generally, work taking longer than one day), the applicant must submit a Means and Methods Plan to the City's Rent Stabilization Ordinance Division before a permit can be obtained.

Sources: Online Plan / Permit Application instructions; Development Services Permit Center; Building & Safety Permit FAQs

Review Paths: Over-the-Counter vs. Electronic Plan Review

Beverly Hills processes permits along two general paths. Which permit types can be processed electronically and which require an over-the-counter appointment, usually depends on the scope of the project. We strongly encouraged applicants to schedule an appointment or visit the Permit Center to discuss the proposed project before submitting an application.

• Over-the-Counter (OTC) review: Many minor projects are eligible for over-the-counter plan review, and some permits may be issued on the same day they are requested. OTC services are handled at the Permit Center during walk-in hours or by appointment.

• Electronic Plan Review (EPR): Larger or more complex projects must submit plans electronically through ProjectDox, the City's electronic plan review system, for formal  review by City staff.

Sources: Permit Center Plan Review & Permitting Guide (PDF); Building & Safety Permit FAQs; Electronic Plan Review

How to Apply

Beverly Hills uses an Online Plan Review and Permit Application (OPA) portal for new permit applications, together with the CitySmart system for fee payment, permit management, and inspection scheduling. The general process is:

1. Prepare the application: Gather the project address, applicant, owner, and contractor information, license numbers, project valuation, and a detailed description of the proposed electrical work, including the type and location of equipment being installed.

2. Submit the Online Plan Review and Permit Application (OPA): Complete and submit the application through the City's online portal. One application is required per structure.

3. Staff review: City staff will review the application and contact the applicant if additional information is required. Allow at least two to three business days for staff review. A reference number will be assigned, and a notification email will be sent with instructions.

4. Pay fees through CitySmart: After staff processes the application, a CitySmart notification email will provide a breakdown of plan review and/or permit fees and a link to the online payment portal.

5. Complete plan review (if required): Eligible projects proceed with over-the-counter review; others receive a link to upload electronic plan files to ProjectDox after fees are paid.

Applicants should include their reference number in any correspondence about a pending application.

Sources: Online Plan / Permit Application (OPA); Applications & Forms

Electronic Plan Submittal Requirements

For projects requiring electronic plan review, plans and supporting documents must follow the Beverly Hills' formatting standards:

• Plans must be digitally stamped and signed by the professional of record, such as the architect or engineer, as applicable to the project.

• Provide a blank area on each plan sheet at the top right corner for the City's approval stamp.

• Follow the City's File Naming Standards when naming plan and document files.

• Supporting documents may be submitted in formats including DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PPT, PPTX, PDF, JPG, TIF, TIFF, PNG, IMG, BMP, TXT, VSD, and RTF.

Depending on the project, the City may also require structural calculations, Title 24 energy documentation, an asbestos report or survey, HOA approval, or contractor authorization letters.

Source: Electronic Plan Review

Plan Review Timelines

Plan review times vary with project complexity. Published electronic plan review targets are approximately three weeks for small projects, five weeks for intermediate projects, and seven weeks for complex or large projects, with shorter expedited targets available for some categories. More than one review cycle may be needed, and actual times may be longer depending on workload and the completeness of the submittal.

Source: Electronic Plan Review

Solar and Special Project Types

Contractors installing residential roof-mounted photovoltaic systems can apply for expedited permits through SolarAPP+ together with the City's Online Permit Application. Projects that add panels to an existing solar system, involve ground-mounted solar, or are filed by an owner-builder should contact Development Services before applying.

Unusual, complex, or safety-critical electrical systems may be subject to additional review at the discretion of the building official, and related work such as fire alarm systems is reviewed through the Fire Department's plan check process.

Sources: Electronic Plan Review (SolarAPP+ information); Fire Department Guidelines, Permits & Plan Check

Permit Issuance and Payment Safety

Once required reviews are approved and fees are paid, the permit can be issued. Legitimate City invoices for building permits are issued only through the CitySmart permitting system, and payments are accepted only online through CitySmart or in person at the Permit Center. Beverly Hills never includes wire transfer instructions on invoices; if you receive a suspicious invoice or payment request, do not pay it and contact the City immediately.

Beginning work without a required permit can result in double permit fees and municipal fines, in addition to stop-work orders or code enforcement action.

Source: Building & Safety – City of Beverly Hills

Inspections

Work performed under an issued permit must be inspected at the required stages before it is covered or finaled. Building and Safety inspections can be requested up to 10 days in advance online through the CitySmart "My Permits" module or by phone using the automated system.

Inspections cannot be canceled online within 24 hours of the scheduled time. All required inspection clearances must be obtained before the project can receive final approval.

Sources: Building Inspection; Online Inspection Scheduling Guide (PDF)

Permit Expiration

Building permits are valid for one year from the issuance date. Construction must begin, and inspections must be scheduled, within that period. The permit expiration date is extended for an additional 180 calendar days after the date of the last successful inspection. A permit extension may be requested for a fee.

Source: Building & Safety Permit FAQs

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Disclaimer 

The information in this guide is adapted from the City of Beverly Hills' government website and is provided only for general reference. Dates, links, codes, procedures, and documentation requirements may change. Verify the current requirements for your specific project before applying for a permit. Consult the City of Beverly Hills Community Development Department or other licensed professionals regarding project-specific questions about obtaining an electrical permit in Beverly Hills.

For more information, visit the City of Beverly Hills’ website.