Quick answer
For an address in Inglewood, El Segundo, Torrance or Manhattan Beach, the permit comes from that city's building division, not Los Angeles County. Westchester is part of the City of Los Angeles, so LADBS issues permits there. A master suite addition adds floor area, so every city reviews zoning (setbacks, floor area, lot coverage) before or during plan check.
Key takeaways
- Find your jurisdiction first. Westchester is in the City of LA (LADBS). The other cities run their own building divisions.
- Torrance requires an approved Zoning Screening before you submit a permit application, and accepts only electronic submittals since Jan 5, 2026.
- El Segundo's site plan must tabulate floor area ratio and lot coverage and dimension all setbacks.
- Inglewood books plan check submittals by appointment (QLESS) and takes inspection requests through its OpenGov portal.
- Manhattan Beach has a Local Coastal Program. Check the city's interactive map to see whether your lot is in the Coastal Zone.
A master suite addition adds a bedroom, a bath and usually a closet to the house, which makes it new floor area and a permitted construction project. The same is true of a larger home addition or a single room addition. In the South Bay, the first step is the same for all of them: find out which office reviews your address.
This is general planning information from HomeAdd, not legal advice for your property. Submittal requirements, portals and fees change over time. Confirm current requirements with the building division that has authority over your parcel.
Who issues your permit
If your address is in Inglewood, El Segundo, Torrance or Manhattan Beach, the permit comes from that city, not from Los Angeles County. Each city's building division is covered below.
Westchester is not a separate city. It is part of the City of Los Angeles, so the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) handles plan check and permits there. The City of LA process is covered step by step in our home addition permit guide for Los Angeles.
Inglewood
The Building Safety Division, part of the Development Services Department, handles plan review, permit issuance and inspections. According to the city's general information page:
- A building permit is required whenever a structure is altered, constructed, converted or enlarged, among other work.
- The Division issues building, electrical, plumbing, sewer, mechanical and grading permits.
- Plan check submittals, over-the-counter permits and ready-to-issue permits require an appointment through QLESS.
- Since March 30, 2026, all inspections are requested online through the OpenGov portal.
Fees vary by project type and complexity. Building Safety (310-412-5294) can help calculate them; see the city's applications and fees page.
El Segundo
El Segundo's Building and Safety Division, part of Community Development, publishes plan check submittal requirements for single-family additions and remodels. For an addition, the requirements include:
- Site plan: floor area ratio (FAR) and lot coverage tabulations in square feet and percent; all existing and proposed structure-to-property-line setbacks; and, among other items, property lines, easements and adjacent structures within 10 feet of the property line.
- Floor plans: every affected story, with the existing and intended use of each room.
- Stamped plans: wet-stamped and signed by a California-licensed architect or engineer when required.
- Separate permits: may be required for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, demolition, grading and similar work.
Torrance
Since January 5, 2026, Torrance takes all plan reviews and permit submittals electronically, and paper plans are not accepted. The Building and Safety permits page sets out the steps in order:
- Create a Citizen Access Portal account.
- Obtain a Zoning Screening. For projects that need one, it is required before the permit application.
- Submit the application, the zoning clearance and the plans.
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits need separate applications. The Permit Center is at 3031 Torrance Blvd, and the Building line is (310) 618-5910.
Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach has a Local Coastal Program (MBLCP), and Chapter A.96 of its Implementation Plan covers Coastal Development Permit procedures. You can check whether your lot is in the Coastal Zone on the City's Interactive Map. Source: Manhattan Beach coastal permit procedures. Recent amendments to the program are pending California Coastal Commission certification and are not yet in effect, so confirm the current procedure with the city.
Planning a master suite around the permit
A master suite usually means a bedroom, a full bathroom and a walk-in or reach-in closet, sometimes with a sitting area or a door to the yard. Because it adds floor area, the zoning limits on your lot decide how big it can be and where it can go:
- Setbacks set how close the addition can come to each property line, which often limits a rear or side addition on a narrow lot.
- Floor area and lot coverage limits cap how much you can add in total and how much of the lot the house can cover.
- When the ground floor runs out, building up or adding a separate unit can be the alternative. Compare the options in ADU vs. second-story addition and ADU vs. room addition.
For planning ranges, see the master suite addition cost guide or the cost to add a bedroom, and try the cost estimator for a rough range for your scope. The Los Angeles County service area page covers the rest of our service area in the county.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues permits for a master suite addition in Westchester?+
Westchester is part of the City of Los Angeles, so the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) handles plan check and permits.
Do I need a Zoning Screening in Torrance?+
Torrance requires an approved Zoning Screening before you submit a permit application for projects that need one. Since January 5, 2026, all submittals are electronic through the Citizen Access Portal.
How do I submit plans in Inglewood?+
Plan check submittals in Inglewood require an appointment through QLESS, and inspections are requested online through the city's OpenGov portal.
What does El Segundo want on the site plan for an addition?+
Among other items: FAR and lot coverage tabulations, all existing and proposed setbacks, property lines, easements and adjacent structures within 10 feet of the property line.
Is my Manhattan Beach home in the Coastal Zone?+
Check the City's Interactive Map. Manhattan Beach has a Local Coastal Program, and Chapter A.96 sets its Coastal Development Permit procedures.
Want the permit path mapped for your South Bay address?
Send us your address and what you want to add. We'll confirm which office reviews it, check the zoning limits on the lot, and lay out the steps in order — no obligation.
Plan your project
Sources
Official references for the rules mentioned above. Local rules and site conditions vary; confirm with the agency that reviews your address.
- Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)
- City of Inglewood — Building Safety
- City of Inglewood — Building Safety General Information
- City of Inglewood — Building Safety Applications and Fees
- City of El Segundo — Building and Safety Plan Check
- City of Torrance — Building and Safety Permits
- City of Manhattan Beach — Coastal Permit Procedures