Building records: start online, know when to request more.

The drop

Online first does not mean online only.

Verified fact: The City’s building-record page points users to online permit and inspection reports, ZIMAS, and Atlas/NavigateLA. It also describes records that may be available, including permits, certificates of occupancy, range files, plot plans, geology and soils materials, affidavits, and plans.

Verified fact: The same page directs users to the Records Section for documents that are not available online and lists extra requirements that can apply to copies of plans.

Useful inference: A clean portal result can narrow the search, but it should not be treated as a complete property conclusion when the customer question depends on records that may sit outside that result.

Unknown until checked: Whether a particular record exists, is current, is available to the requester, or resolves the property question.

Use it this week

Add one line to every record check.

For each material question, record one of three states: found and reviewed, official route checked but not found online, or additional retrieval required. That small distinction prevents “not visible” from becoming “does not exist.”