City of Burbank Building & Safety
Building permits, plan check, and inspections for single-family homes, additions, and remodels.
Burbank Building & SafetyService area · Burbank
Remodels, additions, and new homes in Burbank.
Burbank runs its own planning and building departments, with objective standards for single-family homes and extra review on its hillside lots below the Verdugo Mountains. Most of what Burbank homeowners ask us about is adding space: ROAM Design Studio LLC designs it and takes it through the City, and ROAM Builders Inc. (CSLB Lic. #1151324) builds it.
Permits
Who issues building permits in Burbank.
Burbank is an incorporated city with its own Building & Safety Division for permits and plan check, and its own Planning Division for zoning and hillside review.
What ROAM Design Studio LLC does
We confirm zoning and any overlays for your address, prepare the permit set with the licensed engineers your project needs, submit to Burbank Building & Safety, and respond to plan-check comments, as set out in your design agreement.
Residential design and permit servicesLocal considerations
What shapes projects in Burbank.
- Single-family standards. Burbank updated its R-1 and R-1-H standards in 2022, setting objective rules for height, floor area, and setbacks that shape any addition or new home.
- Hillside lots (R-1-H). On hillside-zoned lots, larger additions, major demolitions, and bigger new homes can require a Hillside Development Permit. We check the thresholds for your project before design is fixed.
- Second-story additions. Adding up is common on Burbank's smaller lots. The R-1 height, setback, and floor-area standards decide how a second story can sit on the house.
Sources: Burbank R-1 standards update, Burbank Building & Safety, reviewed October 2026. Requirements change; confirm them with the agency for your property.
ROAM is not affiliated with City of Burbank Building & Safety or any government agency. This page is general information, not legal or permitting advice.
What we do in Burbank
Design, permits, and construction from one coordinated team.
New custom homes
Ground-up single-family homes, including one-story homes with basements, designed by ROAM Design Studio LLC and built by ROAM Builders Inc. (CSLB Lic. #1151324).
Custom homesRemodels and additions
Kitchens, primary suites, whole-house renovations, and additions, from design and permits through construction.
Remodels and renovationsDesign and permits only
Prefer to bid out construction yourself? ROAM Design Studio LLC can deliver a permitted plan set under its own agreement.
ROAM Design Studio LLCCommon questions
Building in Burbank.
Do I need a Hillside Development Permit for my Burbank addition?
Only on hillside-zoned (R-1-H) lots, and only above certain thresholds, such as larger additions visible from the street or substantial demolition. We confirm whether your project triggers it with the Planning Division.
Can I add a second story in Burbank?
Often, yes, within the R-1 standards for height, floor area, and setbacks. The structure of the existing house also matters, so we involve the structural engineer early.
Who issues building permits in Burbank?
The City of Burbank's own Building & Safety Division handles permits, plan check, and inspections, and its Planning Division handles zoning and hillside review. Burbank projects are not permitted by LA County or LADBS.
Nearby
Other foothill communities we serve.
Glendale · Sun Valley · La Crescenta-Montrose · All service areas
Planning a project in Burbank?
Our office: 2012 Lincoln Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103.