LA County Health Department plan check for restaurants: what they review and why sets bounce
The Health Department approval is separate from the building permit, and it reviews things a building inspector never looks at. Here is what the reviewers check and where cafés most often get sent back.
Retail to restaurant: what a change of use actually changes
A café in a former shop is one of the most common projects in Los Angeles, and one of the most misunderstood. Here is what changes when a building’s use changes, and how to plan for it before you sign.
How to open a café in Los Angeles: the permit path from lease to opening day
Every café in Los Angeles passes through the same gates: Planning, LADBS plan check, the County Health Department and inspections. Here is the order they happen in, what each one checks, and where first-time owners lose the most time.