LA County Public Works, Building & Safety
Permits are applied for and tracked through EPIC-LA, the County's online permitting system, with Building & Safety district offices for counter visits.
EPIC-LAService area · La Crescenta-Montrose
Custom homes, remodels, and additions in La Crescenta-Montrose.
Unincorporated La Crescenta-Montrose covers about 3.4 square miles below the San Gabriel Mountains, and most of its homes were built before 1979. That means many remodels involve updating older systems, and many new homes sit on sloping lots. ROAM Design Studio LLC handles design and County permits, and ROAM Builders Inc. (CSLB Lic. #1151324) handles construction, each under its own agreement.
Permits
Who issues building permits in La Crescenta-Montrose.
Unincorporated La Crescenta-Montrose is governed by Los Angeles County. LA County Public Works issues building permits, and LA County Planning applies the zoning code and the community's Community Standards District.
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 LA County Public Works, and respond to plan-check comments, as set out in your design agreement.
Residential design and permit servicesLocal considerations
What shapes projects in La Crescenta-Montrose.
- Community Standards District. La Crescenta-Montrose has a Community Standards District with local limits on stories and building size. LA County has been updating it, so we confirm the adopted standards for your lot before design.
- Older homes. About 83% of homes here were built before 1979. Remodels often uncover original wiring, plumbing, and foundations that need updating, so early budgets should account for it.
- Sloping lots. Lots climb toward the mountains, bringing grading, drainage, and retaining walls into many new-home and addition projects.
Sources: LA County Planning community spotlight, LA County fire rebuild FAQ, reviewed October 2026. Requirements change; confirm them with the agency for your property.
ROAM is not affiliated with LA County Public Works, Building & Safety or any government agency. This page is general information, not legal or permitting advice.
What we do in La Crescenta-Montrose
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 La Crescenta-Montrose.
Who issues building permits in La Crescenta?
La Crescenta-Montrose is unincorporated, so permits come from LA County Public Works, not the City of Glendale, even where mailing addresses say Glendale or La Crescenta. Check your parcel's jurisdiction before you start.
Can I build a basement in La Crescenta-Montrose?
Basements are possible but need a soils report for the walls and may need a grading permit. The County's standards for the area limit the number of stories, and how a below-grade level is classified affects that count, so we confirm it with LA County Planning for your design.
Should I remodel an older La Crescenta home or build new?
It depends on the foundation, framing, and systems, and on what you want the house to become. Many pre-1979 homes remodel well; others cost less to replace than to bring up to current code. We look at the house with you and compare both before design starts.
Nearby
Other foothill communities we serve.
La Cañada Flintridge · Glendale · Sunland-Tujunga · All service areas
Planning a project in La Crescenta-Montrose?
Our office: 2012 Lincoln Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103.