California Construction News staff writer
Licensed civil engineers will now be eligible to participate in Los Angeles’ Self-Certification Pilot Program, expanding an effort to speed rebuilding projects in Pacific Palisades.
The expansion, announced by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, allows California-licensed civil engineers to join architects in the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety program. Under the pilot, qualified design professionals may assume responsibility for verifying that building plans comply with applicable codes without undergoing a full plan check by the department.
City officials said the change will provide residents in Pacific Palisades with more options when selecting professionals for rebuilding projects.
Although LADBS will not conduct a full review of plans submitted under the self-certification process, all required approvals from other city departments will remain in effect. Compliance checks are built into the program to help ensure professional accountability and maintain safety standards, according to the city.
“I am committed to doing everything possible to get Palisadians home quickly and safely,” Bass said in a statement. “Today’s expansion of the Self-Certification Pilot program I launched last summer cuts more red tape and serves as another tool to support Palisades residents as they navigate the rebuilding process — a position they never expected to be in.”
The pilot program was introduced last summer as part of a broader effort to streamline permitting and reduce delays. City officials said adding civil engineers is expected to increase capacity and help projects move forward more quickly while maintaining code compliance.
