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🏙 Los Angeles Department of Building & Safety

You Already Know How LADBS Works.
Here's What You Shouldn't Have to Do Yourself.

You've been pulling permits and calling 311 for years. You know the 3 PM deadline, the iRFIS login, the confirmation numbers. This page covers all of it — and shows you which parts you can stop doing manually.

Used by LA general contractors · Full LADBS integration · No credit card required

Sound Familiar?

This Is What Your LADBS Routine Looks Like

You've been doing this long enough that it's automatic. But "automatic" doesn't mean it's not eating your time.

🕑 You log into iRFIS every afternoon before 3 PM

You type your permit number, your confirmation code, select the inspection type, and submit. One permit takes 3–5 minutes. Four ADU permits? That's 20 minutes of data entry before 3 PM every single day you need an inspection.

📞 When iRFIS is slow, you call 311

You sit on hold for 10 minutes, navigate the AIRS phone tree, punch in your permit number on the keypad, confirm the inspection type, and write down the confirmation code. For one permit. Then you do it again for the next one.

📋 You check results the next morning manually

Did it pass? Did it fail? Did the inspector even show up? You won't know until you log back into LADBS, look up each permit, and read through the notes. Nobody sends you a text.

📅 A failed inspection means starting the whole loop over

Get the correction notice. Call the sub. Wait for the fix. Re-request the inspection. Hit the 3 PM deadline again. Miss it by an hour and you just added another day to the schedule. That's $1,200 on average.

3 Ways to Request an LADBS Inspection

You already know the first two. The third one does them for you.

💻
Manual

iRFIS Web Portal

Log into ladbs.org, navigate to iRFIS, enter your 15-digit permit number + 7-digit confirmation code, select inspection type, and submit. You've done it a thousand times. Available 24/7 but requests after 3 PM count for the next day.

  • Online, no phone call needed
  • Requires permit + confirmation numbers
  • Must submit before 3 PM daily cutoff
📞
Manual

311 / AIRS Phone System

Call 311, navigate the AIRS IVR, punch in your permit number, confirm the type, and wait. Average hold time is 10+ minutes. You use this when iRFIS is down or when you're on the road and can't get to a computer.

  • Phone-based IVR system
  • 10+ minute average hold time
  • Required for some inspection types
Automated

InspectPilot

You authorize once. InspectPilot submits through iRFIS and AIRS on your behalf, before the 3 PM deadline, with instant confirmation. No forms, no phone trees, no missed deadlines. You stay on the jobsite.

  • Submits through iRFIS + AIRS for you
  • Always before the 3 PM cutoff
  • Handles all your permits at once
See how automation works →
Key Facts

LADBS Inspection Rules — The Stuff You Already Know

Rule Details
Request Deadline 3:00 PM the business day before desired inspection
Advance Booking Window Up to 3 business days ahead
Required Information 15-digit permit number + 7-digit confirmation number
Online Portal iRFIS at ladbs.org (available 24/7)
Phone System 311 → AIRS IVR (business hours)
Max Inspections per Day Multiple inspections can be requested per permit per day
Results Notification Same day or next business day via LADBS online portal
Re-Inspection After Failure Must complete corrections first, then re-request
Average Cost of a Failed Inspection $1,200 in delays, rework, and idle crews

The LADBS Inspection Sequence You Run on Every Project

A typical ADU requires 10–15 of these inspections. Miss the sequence and you're paying for idle subs.

1

Foundation

Footings, slab, grading

2

Framing

Structural frame, shear walls

3

Rough Plumbing

Water supply, drain lines

4

Rough Electrical

Wiring, panels, circuits

5

Rough Mechanical

HVAC ductwork, venting

6

Insulation

R-value, vapor barriers

7

Drywall

Nailing, fire-rated assemblies

8

Final

All trades, certificate of occupancy

FAQ

LADBS Inspection Questions

How do I request an LADBS inspection?

Two ways you already know: iRFIS (the LADBS web portal) or 311/AIRS by phone. Both need your 15-digit permit number and 7-digit confirmation number. Everything has to be in before 3 PM the day before. InspectPilot handles both channels for you automatically.

What is the 3 PM LADBS deadline?

LADBS requires all inspection requests by 3 PM the business day before the inspection. Submit at 3:01 PM and it rolls to the following day — that's another day your plumber sits idle. You can schedule up to 3 business days in advance.

What is LADBS iRFIS?

iRFIS (Inspection Request and Field Inspection System) is the LADBS online portal for requesting inspections. It's available 24/7 but the 3 PM cutoff still applies. If you've pulled a permit in LA, you've used it.

Can I automate LADBS inspection requests?

Yes. InspectPilot submits through iRFIS and AIRS using your credentials, before the 3 PM deadline, for all your permits at once. It captures confirmation numbers, tracks results, and handles re-inspection scheduling. You don't touch iRFIS.

What happens when an LADBS inspection fails?

The inspector writes up corrections. You fix them, then re-request the inspection. That cycle adds 3–7 days and costs about $1,200 on average. InspectPilot automates the entire correction loop — tracking, trade alerts, and re-scheduling.

How many inspections does an ADU need?

A typical ADU project in LA requires 10–15 inspections: foundation, framing, rough plumbing/electrical/mechanical, insulation, drywall, and finals for each trade. That's 10–15 times you're logging into iRFIS or calling 311 — per project.

What if InspectPilot goes down or goes out of business?

Your LADBS credentials stay yours. InspectPilot submits through iRFIS and 311 — it doesn't replace them. If you cancel or we disappear, you go back to doing it manually. Nothing changes about your permits, your account, or your inspection history.

Is $200/month worth it?

One failed inspection costs $1,200 on average — idle crews, delayed subs, rework. One missed 3 PM deadline adds another day to the schedule. If InspectPilot prevents even one of those per quarter, it's paid for itself three times over. Month-to-month, cancel anytime.

You've Been Doing This Manually for 30 Years. That Can Stop Today.

Join the waitlist. Early access is free. Your permits, your credentials, your control — just without the data entry.

No credit card required · Month-to-month · Cancel anytime · Or call us to set it up over the phone