Mayor Garcetti Announces Public Online Access to Building Records
WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 19, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — As a part of his back to basics agenda, Mayor Eric Garcetti today announced a new customer service tool from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS), the LADBS Online Building Records system, which will offer users a quick and easy way to research building records and obtain digital images of original documents online.
The Online Building Records system allows 24-hour access to key records such as building permits and Certificates of Occupancy without requiring customers to make a trip downtown and wait in line at the records counter, saving Angelenos and businesses time and money.
“Putting our building records online is good business practice and just plain common sense,” said Mayor Garcetti. “This system cuts red tape and improves customer service for builders, developers, and everyday Angelenos, making L.A. more attractive to key investments that create jobs. City Hall is working to help those investing in LA.”
The system contains more than 13 million records dating from 1905 to the present, including building permits, Certificates of Occupancy, building modifications, grading information, Commission files, and more. Since the system’s soft launch in May, it has been accessed more than 27,600 times by nearly 3,700 unique users.
Access to Online Building Records is from LADBS.org under the “Online Services” tab, or directly here. Records can be retrieved by address, legal description, County Assessor Parcel Number, or document number.
Permits and Certificates of Occupancy, the most requested and used documents, were converted to digital image first, and more than 4.7 million of them are now available. Conversion of historic microfilm and paper documents is in progress, and those images will be placed online as they are converted.
LADBS serves approximately 65,000 records customers annually. Primary users include homeowners, contractors, architects, engineers, escrow agencies, banks, and permit expediters. Real estate industry users may use records to validate use and occupancy for a building being sold or purchased. Development industry users might use records to review permits and Certificates of Occupancy, address code enforcement issues, or bid on jobs. Homeowners preparing to obtain new permits, sell their homes, or wanting to satisfy curiosity and concerns may also seek records.
The Online Building Records service is part of a suite of development services enhancements and customer service improvements being rolled out by LADBS, including Inspection Case Management and Saturday inspections.
