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Council backs self-certification for certain permits to speed housing approvals
Summary
The council approved a measure to create an auto-certification (self-certification) pathway for licensed architects and engineers to speed simple building permits, part of a broader effort to address long permit timelines for housing construction.
On Feb. 5, 2025, the Los Angeles City Council voted to advance a proposal to allow licensed architects and engineers to self-certify certain building permit applications, a move proponents said will speed approval times for routine projects and help address housing supply delays.
Councilmember Romen introduced the item and said accelerating routine permits would reduce approval backlogs. “Este programa es solamente abierto para arquitectos e ingenieros legislativamente autorizados que aceptan responsabilidad entera para asegurar que un proyecto cumple con todas las los códigos y reglas de la ciudad,” Romen said, arguing the program mirrors efforts in other cities and would reserve department review capacity for larger, more complex projects.
Bob Bloomenfield, identified in the meeting as the council’s president pro tempore and chair of the Planning Committee, said prior pilot efforts showed the approach can work. “Tratamos de hacer esto hace unos años... esto funcionó muy bien,” he said.
Councilmembers described data in the discussion showing unusually long approval times for single-family construction in Los Angeles—Romen cited an average of more than 800 days from a compiled article—though the council did not adopt a specific new timeline in the ordinance text recorded on the transcript. Supporters said self-certification would be limited to licensed professionals and would retain accountability because certifying professionals assume responsibility for code compliance.
The council recorded the vote as 15 in favor on the item, with no recorded no votes in the transcript. The motion language in the transcript directed staff to implement a self-certification program limited to qualified architects and engineers and to return with implementing procedures.
Supporters said the program aims to shift routine plan checks out of overloaded departmental workflows and speed issuance for projects that meet established standards. The motion does not change building code requirements or eliminate departmental enforcement; it changes the permitting pathway for specific, qualifying applications.
Councilmembers asked staff to return with clear program criteria, oversight mechanisms and data collection plans to monitor outcomes and safety.
Votes at a glance: item recorded as approved, 15-0.
