Want to know when a roof was last replaced? The permit record is often the best place to start. It is public, it is usually free to search, and it comes from the building department, not a seller or a salesperson. Part of our roof permits hub.
This page covers the City of Los Angeles tools in detail and points to the LA County tools for unincorporated areas. Other cities keep their own records.
Why the permit record helps
LADBS says permits and inspections provide "important documentation in the event you sell or refinance the property." A roof permit record can help you:
- See roughly when the roof was last replaced, if the work was permitted.
- See whether the job reached a final inspection.
- Compare what a seller or an estimate says against what is on file.
A missing record does not prove anything by itself. It is a question to ask, not an answer.
City of Los Angeles: PRISM
LADBS launched a new search tool on September 21, 2026. It is called PRISM, short for Permit and Records Information Search Module. LADBS calls it "our new platform for accessing building permit and records information."
PRISM is at prism.dbs.lacity.gov. It searches Department documents covering "construction, permitting, inspections, and code enforcement." You can search by:
- Address
- Legal description (tract name and lot)
- Assessor number (the LA parcel number)
- PIN from the city GIS map
- Document number, such as a permit number
Results can be shown as cards, a table or a timeline. The timeline view is handy for a roof question, because it puts permits in date order.
How far back LADBS records go
LADBS lists what its online records include:
- Building permits "from 1905 to present"
- Certificates of occupancy "from 1940 to present"
- Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits from 1985 to 1990 and from 1996 to present
- Plot plans, approved building plans and other files
A very old house may have a long list. Reroof permits are building permits, so they sit with the rest.
Other LADBS tools
The LADBS records page also points to:
- Permit and Inspection Report. Used "to look up Building and Safety-related information on a property such as: Permits and related inspections, and code enforcement and parcel profile attributes."
- Atlas. A map tool to "search for and access permit, building, and certificate of occupancy information for properties within LA City."
- NavigateLA. A city map tool with parcel reports, including a Building and Safety Parcel Report.
- ZIMAS. The city's zoning map tool.
- The 9A Report. LADBS calls it "a disclosure document that must be provided by the seller as per the City of Los Angeles regulations for all real estate transactions."
If the record is not online
LADBS says its Records Section "will only produce documents NOT available as a PDF" through its online system. You can:
- Email a completed Records Research Request Form to Records.LADBS@lacity.org.
- Request an appointment at the Metro office (201 N. Figueroa St.) or the Van Nuys office (6262 Van Nuys Blvd.).
Blueprints have extra rules. LADBS requires "a copy of a current owner's grant deed" and written permission from the property owner, and from the licensed architect or engineer of record if there is one.
Unincorporated LA County
If the home is in an unincorporated area, LA County Public Works, Building and Safety Division, holds the records. Its Building and Safety page lists a "Building Permit Viewer" map tool. The county's online permit system, EPIC-LA, is also where current permits are applied for and tracked. If you are not sure which agency covers an address, the county's Service Locator will tell you.
Reading a roof permit record
When you find a roof permit, look for:
- The date issued. This is when the permit was pulled, not when work ended.
- The work description. The LADBS express reroof listing describes the roof covering class and weight and asks for the number of "Squares," so a city reroof record may show similar details.
- Inspection results. Look for a final inspection or a finaled status.
- Who pulled it. A licensed contractor or an owner-builder. In LA, the reroof certificate of compliance "shall be signed by the licensed contractor, or by the owner-builder if work was not performed by a contractor."
Questions a record can raise
- No roof permit in decades, but the seller says the roof is new? Ask for paperwork.
- A permit issued but never finaled? Ask whether the job was finished and inspected.
- A permit for part of the roof only? Ask which part.
If you are comparing bids for new work, our guide to reading a roofing estimate covers what to look for. If the home is in a fire zone, see fire hazard severity zones in LA, since zone status affects the roof rules.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules and tools differ by city; check with your local building department.