Sherman Oaks is part of the City of Los Angeles, in the San Fernando Valley. City Planning groups it with Studio City, Toluca Lake and Cahuenga Pass in one community plan (City Planning). So the usual City of LA rules apply to your driveway or patio. What makes Sherman Oaks different is that it has two very different kinds of lots: flat streets in the Valley, and hillside streets in the Santa Monica Mountains on the south side, up toward Mulholland Drive.
Where to go for permits
You don't have to drive downtown. The main Valley offices are in the same building in Van Nuys:
- Building permits on your property (for example a retaining wall, or concrete work that is part of a bigger project): LADBS, Van Nuys Development Services Center, 6262 Van Nuys Blvd, 2nd floor, Room 251 (LADBS).
- The driveway apron, curb and sidewalk (the part in the public right-of-way): the Bureau of Engineering Valley District office, 6262 Van Nuys Blvd, Suite 251. BOE's Valley District covers the area north of Mulholland Drive (BOE; BOE Valley District). This is the A-Permit, and you can also apply online (BOE permit manual).
- Street trees in the parkway: StreetsLA Urban Forestry (StreetsLA).
Office hours change, so check the office page before you go.
Flat lots: mostly the standard City of LA process
On the flat streets, most driveway jobs follow the same steps as anywhere else in the City of LA. Your driveway on your own lot is private. The apron, curb, gutter and sidewalk are in the public right-of-way, and work there needs a BOE A-Permit (BOE). The owner of the lot is responsible for the sidewalk, curb and driveway apron in front of it (StreetsLA). In single-family and duplex zones the apron must be between 10 and 18 feet wide (LAMC 62.105.2). If you want a wider apron, ask the contractor about it before you sign.
If a parkway tree's roots have lifted the sidewalk or apron, the order matters: first the BOE A-Permit for the concrete, then the StreetsLA permit before any root is cut (BOE). StreetsLA inspects first, may suggest a design that saves the roots, and can say no (StreetsLA). Our sidewalk and driveway repair guide explains who pays and the City's sidewalk rebate.
Hillside lots: check two things before you get quotes
On the hillside streets in the south part of Sherman Oaks, a "simple" driveway can turn into a bigger project. The steeper the lot, the more likely it needs digging, a retaining wall, or drainage work. Before you collect quotes, look up your address in ZIMAS, the City's free zoning map (ZIMAS). Two lines matter:
- Hillside Area: Yes or No. If your lot is in a Hillside Area, the City limits how much earth can be dug, filled, brought in or hauled away. Digging for a driveway to the required parking has its own allowance, up to 500 cubic yards (City Planning hillside standards). A new or rerouted driveway on a slope can also need a grading permit. Ask each contractor whether your job needs grading or a retaining wall, and who will get those permits.
- Mulholland Scenic Parkway Specific Plan. Lots near Mulholland Drive can be inside this plan. Its inner corridor reaches 500 feet out from Mulholland, and its outer corridor reaches up to half a mile (Specific Plan). For grading or retaining walls, City Planning staff decide whether the project needs review by the Mulholland Design Review Board (City Planning handout). A driveway that connects directly to Mulholland Drive needs that review and must be paved, not gravel (Specific Plan). The Board meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month in Van Nuys (City Planning).
The takeaway: on a hillside lot, a quote that only covers "remove and pour" may be missing the expensive parts. Ask for the permits, any grading, any retaining wall and the drainage to be listed in writing.
Native oaks and other protected trees
The City of LA protects native oaks (except scrub oak), Southern California black walnut, western sycamore and California bay laurel, plus two native shrubs, once the trunk is at least 4 inches across at 4.5 feet high (City of LA protected tree guide). You need a permit not only to remove or move one, but also for work that could kill it (City of LA protected tree guide). Digging out an old driveway and cutting roots next to an oak can count. The permit application needs a report from a qualified tree expert, and Urban Forestry can deny it if the tree can be saved by changing the design (tree guide; StreetsLA).
If a native tree stands next to your driveway or patio, tell the contractor up front, and have a tree expert look at it before you lock in the design.
Sherman Oaks FAQ
Is Sherman Oaks its own city?
No. It is a neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles (City Planning), so City of LA permit rules and offices apply. Nearby Burbank is a separate city with its own building department.
How do I know if my lot is in a Hillside Area or the Mulholland plan?
Search your address in ZIMAS and look at the zoning information. It shows whether the lot is in a Hillside Area and lists any specific plan (ZIMAS; City Planning handout).
Do I need a permit to replace my driveway?
Work on the apron, curb or sidewalk needs a BOE A-Permit (BOE). Whether the part on your lot needs a permit depends on the job, for example grading or a retaining wall. Ask LADBS, and make sure the quote says who gets each permit. Our driveway cost guide covers permits in more detail.