Building & Safety

The City of Bradbury’s Building Department is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of City and State codes relating to the construction, remodeling, alteration, repair and demolition of buildings and structures located within the City.  To ensure that work complies with the various codes, the City requires permits, inspections and approval of the work.  For more information on building in the City of Bradbury, please click here.

Mark Handler, Building Inspector
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Building Inspector Office Hours:  Tuesday - Thursday,  8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 
Inspection Hours: Anytime after 11 a.m.
We are always available to answer any questions and provide information. Please feel free to contact us per the above schedule.

Building Permits are required for most types of construction work, including new buildings and structures, swimming pools and spas, fences and retaining walls, patio covers, room additions, garage additions, re-roofing, removing or relocating interior walls, remodeling, installing or replacing siding and certain types of windows.

Electrical Permits

Electrical Permits are required to install, relocate or alter the electrical wiring of any building, structure or swimming pool, including the installation of new subpanels, circuits and services. Please note that a permit is not required to change out an existing receptacle, switch or lighting fixture.

Plumbing Permits

Plumbing Permits are required to install, relocate, alter, reconstruct, remove or repair any water, sewer, septic, drainage or gas system and to replace or install water heaters, dishwashers, garbage disposals and plumbing fixtures.

Plan Requirements

Most construction projects must go through the Architectural Design Review process prior to submitting plans to the City for plan check. The Architectural Design Review is done by the City’s Planning Department; also, at least one (1) copy of plans with the Planning Department approval stamp on it must be included with an application for plan review.

New residential buildings, room additions, fences, garage additions and most types of interior or exterior alterations require that building plans be prepared by the owner or owner's representative and that two sets be submitted to the City Building Department for plan check. In general, plans for new buildings should contain the following:

  1. fully dimensioned plot plan;
  2. elevation(s);
  3. floor plan;
  4. roof drainage plan;
  5. structural section(s);
  6.  foundation plan;
  7. slab plan;
  8. roof, ceiling and floor framing plans;
  9. energy calculations;
  10. grading and drainage plans;
  11. structural calculations; and,
  12. soils report.

The plan review process averages 2-3 weeks each time the plan is submitted to the City for plan review or plan review corrections. Most projects will be reviewed by three City departments, including Building, Planning and Engineering. In addition, new buildings and large additions to existing buildings must be reviewed and approved by the Los Angeles County Fire Department prior to issuance of the building permit by the City. Upon plan approval and permit issuance, the City retains one set of plans and the person responsible for construction retains the second set of plans.  The approved plans along with the City issued permit job card must be kept on the job site and made available to the City Building Inspector for use during an inspection.

Construction Handouts and Standards

The following handouts are available at the Bradbury City Hall or via facsimile:

  1. Attached open patio.
  2. Type 5 standard.
  3. Garden wall.
  4. Pilaster detail.
  5. Swimming pool enclosure.
  6. Combined retaining and garden wall.
  7. Retaining wall supporting 3:1 surcharge.
  8. Retaining wall supporting 2:1 surcharge.
  9. Retaining wall supporting 1.5:1 surcharge.

Fire Zone Construction Standards

The entire City of Bradbury is located within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, which has been designated as “Fire Zone Four”. Therefore, new construction and remodeling projects must comply with the fire hazard construction requirements specified in Chapters 7-A and 15 of the 2007 California Building Code.

Inspections

All construction in the City will be inspected by a Building Inspector for conformance with the approved plans as well as City and State Building and Safety Codes.  This means that one inspector will inspect all aspects of the work, including the building, electrical, plumbing and heating and air conditioning systems. Fire inspections are conducted by the LA County Fire Department.

Depending on the nature and extent of the construction work, the following inspections are normally required: (in this order)

  1. Foundations. To be made after excavations for footings are complete and required reinforcing steel is in place.  Also, all required form boards and hold downs must be placed prior to inspection.
  2. Concrete Slab or Under Floor Inspection. To be made after all in slab or under-floor building systems are in place and approved by the inspector, including plumbing, gas, electrical conduit and floor framing but before any concrete is placed or floor insulation or sheathing installed.
  3. Under Floor Insulation. To be made after all required insulation is in place but before the subfloor is installed.
  4. Rough Hydro. Fire inspection by LA County Fire Department. Please call 969-7876.
  5. Frame Inspection. To be made after the roof sheathing, framing, fire blocking and wall bracing are in place and all windows, chimneys and vents are complete and the rough electrical, plumbing and heating/air conditioning are inspected and approved.
  6. Energy and Insulation Inspection. To be made after all required insulation and caulking is completed but before walls are covered.
  7. Lath and Drywall Inspection. To be made after all lathing and drywall is in place but before any plastering is applied or before gypsum board joints and fasteners are taped and finished.
  8. Final Inspections. To be made after the work or building is completed.
  9. Other Inspections. In addition to the above inspections, additional inspections may be required depending on the nature and extent of the work being done.

All inspections (except Fire) must be scheduled through Bradbury City Hall at least one business day in advance of the inspection.  Inspections will be made between the hours of 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The inspection record job card and the approved building plans must be made available to the inspector for each inspection.  If the work is not in compliance with the code or the approved plans, the inspector will issue a Correction Notice that will itemize the corrective action required for compliance.  Otherwise, the inspector will sign the job card and work may proceed.

Construction Hours

Construction within the city may be conducted between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weekends, excluding holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Codes

The City of Bradbury enforces 2019 California State Building and Safety Codes with Los Angeles County 2020 amendments.