Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)
Plan check, permits, and inspections. Check ZIMAS for your lot's zoning, Hillside Area status, and fire hazard zone before design starts.
LADBSService area · Sunland-Tujunga
Hillside homes and remodels in Sunland-Tujunga.
Sunland-Tujunga sits against the San Gabriel Mountains at the City of Los Angeles' northern edge, with hillside lots, rock-walled older homes, and canyon views. Hillside work here starts with the lot: ROAM Design Studio LLC sorts out the slope, zoning, and permits, and ROAM Builders Inc. (CSLB Lic. #1151324) builds what is approved.
Permits
Who issues building permits in Sunland-Tujunga.
Sunland-Tujunga is part of the City of Los Angeles. LADBS issues building permits, and LA City Planning handles zoning.
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 LADBS, and respond to plan-check comments, as set out in your design agreement.
Residential design and permit servicesLocal considerations
What shapes projects in Sunland-Tujunga.
- Hillside lots. Many lots fall in the City's Hillside Area, where the Baseline Hillside Ordinance limits floor area and height and adds grading rules. Under that ordinance, a basement counts toward floor area only when the floor or roof above it rises more than 3 feet above grade along more than 60% of the basement's perimeter.
- Fire zone construction. Check the fire hazard map for your lot. In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (formerly Building Code Chapter 7A) requires ignition-resistant roofs, siding, vents, and glazing.
- Foothill Boulevard. The Foothill Boulevard Corridor Specific Plan governs commercial and multi-family lots along the corridor; it does not apply to single-family homes.
Sources: LADBS Baseline Hillside Ordinance correction sheet, Foothill Boulevard Corridor Specific Plan, reviewed October 2026. Requirements change; confirm them with the agency for your property.
ROAM is not affiliated with Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) or any government agency. This page is general information, not legal or permitting advice.
What we do in Sunland-Tujunga
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 Sunland-Tujunga.
Does a basement count toward floor area on a Sunland-Tujunga hillside lot?
Under the City of LA Baseline Hillside Ordinance, a basement counts toward residential floor area only when the floor or roof above it rises more than 3 feet above grade along more than 60% of the basement's perimeter. A basement with habitable rooms counts as a story for setbacks.
How do I know if my lot is a hillside lot?
Look up the address on the City's ZIMAS map, which shows Hillside Area status, zoning, and fire hazard zone. We do this check in the first meeting.
Is Sunland-Tujunga its own city?
No. Sunland-Tujunga is a community within the City of Los Angeles, so permits come from LADBS and zoning from LA City Planning.
Nearby
Other foothill communities we serve.
Sun Valley · La Crescenta-Montrose · Burbank · All service areas
Planning a project in Sunland-Tujunga?
Our office: 2012 Lincoln Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103.