Once you’ve gathered all the information needed to begin the review process, it’s time to complete the planning permit application and prepare plans for your project according to the requirements of the Planning Permit Application. See plan requirements on page 7 of the application.

• Submit Application: Submit your completed planning permit application and all required supporting documents via email to planningsubmittal@longbeach.gov. All Planning application submittals are virtual only, and no in-person submittals are accepted. Your project will be assigned to a staff Planner who will conduct a preliminary review and reach out if any corrections or additional materials are needed.
• Pay Fees: Planning staff will determine any applicable fees and issue an invoice. Payments can be made online via a payment link. Your submission is not considered complete until fees are paid.
• Planner Assignment: Following payment of all required fees, your application will be assigned to a project planner for review.

Once all fees are paid the assigned project planner will complete a full review of your application. This review may take up to 30 days depending on project complexity, current backlog, and other factors. During this review period the project planner is your primary point of contact for all questions and correspondence regarding your application. 

• Initial Review: The project planner conducts an initial review of the application and routes the application to a committee of other applicable city departments (e.g. Fire, Public Works, Utilities, etc.) for review and commentary.
• Notice of Incomplete: If plans or other application materials do not include all the required information or additional information is needed, the project planner will issue a Notice of Incomplete Application. After making any necessary revisions, you will re-submit project plans directly to the project planner for review. Your responses to staff’s corrections will greatly affect how soon your project can be scheduled for a hearing or administrative review.

The state requires that cities review all projects for environmental impact under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Some projects (such as major developments or those with potential significant environmental impacts) may require environmental studies, while some projects (such as minor alterations to existing buildings or small infill projects) may qualify for a listed exemption. Staff will review and determine the appropriate level of environmental review.

• Determine Environmental Pathway: The project planner completes a preliminary review to determine the level of environmental analysis needed as required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Certain projects, depending on details such as project type, size, site, location, etc. may qualify for an exemption from CEQA.
• Complete Environmental Studies: If required, The City, as the responsible agency under CEQA, coordinates the preparation of environmental studies with fees covered by the developer.
• CEQA Filing: Following completion of environmental studies or exemption forms, the City files the CEQA determination with the County and/or State as appropriate.

Depending on the planning entitlements and/or permits requested, one or more of the following hearings may be required: Zoning Administrator, Planning Commission, City Council and/or Cultural Heritage Commission. Certain permits may be approved administratively without a public hearing by the staff Site Plan Review Committee. A public hearing is typically held within 60 days of the submittal of a complete application. The decision-making body will typically take action at that hearing. Decisions rendered by the hearing body are based the required application findings established for each application type in the Long Beach Municipal Code. The decision-making body may approve, partially approve, or deny a project.

• Schedule Hearing: The project planner will determine which hearing body is required (if any) for project approval and add your project to the tentative agenda for the next available hearing date. Ministerial projects that do not require a public hearing move directly to the approval stage.
  • Staff Report: The project planner will complete a staff report (if required) detailing the proposed project, required findings (confirming the project is in line with the General Plan and other regulations), and draft conditions (any standard or special conditions required for project approval).
    
  • Public Notice: Planning Bureau staff will send out a Notice of Public Hearing to nearby property owners and other interested parties (if required).
• Entitlement Approval: Projects are reviewed by the applicable hearing body and an initial determination of approval, partial approval, recommended approval (to be heard by higher hearing body), or denial is made.

The decision-making body’s action is subject to an appeal period (usually 10 days) which must expire with no appeals before you will be issued a Notice of Final Action (NoFA) and allowed to proceed in applying for building permits. Any aggrieved person may appeal a decision that went through any of the following:

• Site Plan Review Committee
• Zoning Administrator
• Planning Commission
• Cultural Heritage Commission

Appeals must be filed within 10 days after the decision is made.

An "aggrieved person" is either someone who spoke or had a representative speak about their concerns during a meeting, or who informed Community Development staff of their concern in writing before the hearing.

• 10-Day Appeal Period: As determined by the municipal code, discretionary actions require a 10-day public appeal period during which any member of the public may appeal the initial decision to a higher hearing body.
• Appeal Hearing: Upon receipt of an appeal, the project is reviewed by the applicable higher hearing body in a public forum.
• Final Local Decision: A final local decision of project approval or denial is made by the applicable hearing body and the Planning Bureau issues a Notice of Final Action (NoFA).
• Coastal Commission Appeal: Final local decisions are appealable to the California Coastal Commission if the project site is located within the appealable area of the Coastal Zone.

Once entitlements are granted and a NoFA is issued, you can begin preparing final plans to apply for building permits and begin the plan check process.

• Apply for Building Permits: After all Planning entitlements are approved, you must apply for building and construction permits through the Building & Safety Bureau.
• Plan Check & Comments: The Planning Bureau will complete a concurrent review of final plans for conformance with the municipal code and any conditions of approval and issues comments (as necessary). The applicant must make any necessary corrections and resubmit plans.
• Final Planning Approvals: Once the planner confirms the projects meets the requirements of the municipal code and any approval conditions, the Planning review process is complete.