DRYWALL OR PLASTER

General

The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) Electronic Permit System (e-Permit system) allows for the issuance of a permit to replace interior drywall and or plaster on a non-structural repair basis only. These repairs can be made on a building or structure using either interior plaster to repair existing interior plaster walls and ceilings or Gypsum wallboard to repair interior plaster or Gypsum wallboard walls and ceilings. Information about each material as well as inspection requirements are listed below.

Interior Plaster

Plastering with gypsum plaster or cement plaster shall not be less than three coats when applied over metal lath or wire fabric lath installed per manufacturers specifications and shall not be less than two coats when applied over other bases. Plaster shall not be installed unless the plaster is replacing existing plaster with the same weight.

Gypsum Wallboard

The minimum thickness of Gypsum wallboard shall be 1/2" and shall not be installed on exterior surfaces. If Gypsum wallboard is being replaced on the walls or ceilings of a garage that separate the garage from the residential portion of the dwelling, the Gypsum wallboard must have a minimum thickness of 5/8" and having a Type X fire rating. The Gypsum wallboard on the residential side of the garage/dwelling separation can be 1/2" non-fire rated wallboard.

The maximum spacing of fasteners for nails is 7" on center for either wood or metal studs for both the perimeter and the field of the Gypsum wallboard sheets. In lieu of the 7" on center spacing in the field of the Gypsum wallboard sheets, two nails spaced 2" to 2-1/2" apart may be used where the pairs are spaced 12" on center. For existing wood studs, the attachment of the Gypsum wallboard to the studs can be accomplished with one of the following types of nails:

  1. No. 13 gage nails, 1-3/8" long with a 19/64" head, or
  2. 1-1/4" long, annular ringed nails, or
  3. 5d cooler nails (0.086" diameter, 1-5/8" long with a 15/64" head), or
  4. Wallboard nails (0.086" diameter, 1-5/8" long with a 9/32" head).
For existing metal studs with a clinching design formed to receive the nails by two edges of metal, the attachment of the Gypsum wallboard to the studs can be accomplished with nails not less than 5/8" longer than the wallboard thickness and shall have ringed shanks. For existing metal studs with a nailing groove formed to receive the nails, the attachment of the Gypsum wallboard to the studs can be accomplished with one of the following types of nails:
  1. Nails not less than 5/8" longer than the wallboard thickness with barbed shanks, or
  2. 5d No. 13-½ gage, 1-5/8" long with a 15/64" head for ½" Gypsum wallboard, or
  3. 6d No. 13 gage, 1-7/8" long with a 15/64" head for 5/8" Gypsum wallboard.
For either existing wood or metal studs, the attachment of the Gypsum wallboard to the studs can also be accomplished with screws. The maximum spacing of the screws is 12" on center for both the perimeter and the field of the Gypsum wallboard sheets. Screws shall be long enough to penetrate a minimum of 5/8" into the wood stud framing and penetrate a minimum of 1/4" into the metal stud framing.

A combination of fasteners consisting of nails along the perimeter and screws in the field of the Gypsum wallboard sheets may be used with the spacing of the fasteners shown above.

Inspection Requirements

If there was existing insulation in the wall or ceiling cavity that was replaced, then prior to the installation of plaster lath or Gypsum wallboard, an inspection is required to verify installation of the new insulation. Once the insulation inspection has been approved or if no existing insulation was replaced, the plaster lath fasteners or the Gypsum wallboard installation fasteners must be inspected before they are covered. After the plaster lath fastener or the Gypsum wallboard fastener inspection, the inspector will determine if any additional inspection(s) are required. For drywall or plaster permits issued using the LADBS e-Permit system, the inspector will provide the required inspection signature card at the first (or only) inspection. To reach your inspector to verify inspection requirements for your project, call the LADBS Customer Call Center at 888-LA4BUILD (888-524-2845) for calls originating inside of Los Angeles County. For calls originating outside of Los Angeles County, call (213) 482-0000.

Inspection Requests

You can schedule an inspection by using our Automated Inspection Request System (AIRS) which is available anytime (except between 2am and 3am) or by contacting our Customer Call Center (CCC) during our regular business hours (7am to 5pm). Both are available at 888-LA4BUILD (888-524-2845) for calls originating inside of Los Angeles County. For calls originating outside of Los Angeles County, call (213) 482-0000. To reach AIRS select option 1, to reach CCC select option 2. When calling for an inspection you will need to know the permit number, the site address, the date and type of inspection needed, and the name and phone number of the person to receive a confirmation call on the morning of the inspection. Inspections are available for the next business day until 3pm on the previous business day using AIRS and until 2pm on the previous business day using CCC. An AIRS Sequence Chart is helpful when scheduling an inspection request using AIRS.

For an insulation inspection, use the "315 - Insulation" AIRS inspection code. For a plaster lath fastener inspection, the "325 - Interior/Exterior Lathing" AIRS inspection code. For a Gypsum wallboard fastener inspection, use the "320 - Drywall Nailing" AIRS inspection code. When using AIRS to schedule an inspection request, it is recommended that you write down your inspection request confirmation number for future reference. This confirmation number can be obtained by pressing the "1" key in step 10 as shown on the AIRS Sequence Chart.