County Launches a Permit Expediting Service for Community-Serving Small Businesses

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity or DEO, inspired by a July 11th motion by Supervisors Holly J. Mitchell and Hilda L. Solis, has launched the LA County SmallBiz Permit Express program – a new government navigation service that expedites county permits for small businesses undertaking community-enhancing projects through a single point of entry and establishes a dedicated permit concierge team to support eligible businesses.

Administered in collaboration with the Departments of Public Works, Regional Planning, Public Health, Fire, County Counsel, Chief Sustainability Office, and the Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion or ARDI initiative, LA County SmallBiz Permit Express will reduce approval time by 25% for permits, entitlements, licenses, and inspections for small businesses and projects that provide significant benefits to local residents, including housing and revitalization with environmental and economic benefit for our most historically disinvested communities.

Any small business operating in Los Angeles County that meets the program’s criteria is eligible to participate. Eligibility criteria include the following:

• Business must meet LA County’s definition of a small business
• Business headquartered or project located in (or within 1 mile) of a highest or high need area as defined by the County’s COVID-19 Vulnerability Index
• Green business or a business providing social or community benefit(s)

Applying businesses and projects must comply with relevant regulations and permitting requirements, including existing zoning laws, building codes, and environmental regulations.  

To apply for the LA County SmallBiz Permit Express, eligible small businesses must follow a two-step process:

• Step one: Check eligibility and prepare documents
  Before applying, all interested businesses are recommended to take a quick eligibility self-assessment, determine if location and project is in unincorporated LA County, and prepare required documents.

• Step two: Apply for LA County SmallBiz permit express at EPIC-LA
  Once a small business verifies their eligibility, they can visit epicla.lacounty.gov, create an account, log-in and click “Apply,” and search and complete the “LA County SmallBiz Permit Express” form. Once the application is submitted, the business will be prompted to set up an appointment with DEO’s Permit Concierge.

The permit concierge will help determine eligibility, discuss specific project and business needs, and connect businesses to the program’s cross-departmental SmallBiz permit express team. The permit concierge will also continue to support the business throughout the permitting process, ensuring their permit application receives the support it needs to move expeditiously.

The LA County SmallBiz Permit Express opened Sept. 16. In its pilot phase, 25 eligible businesses will have access to the program’s services and benefits. For help applying, please Visit bit.ly/OSBConcierge to book an appointment with a business concierge. Visit bit.ly/SmallBizPermitExpress for program details and application guidance.