What kinds of demolition work do you handle in Long Beach?

We take on residential teardowns such as bungalows, stucco houses and detached garages, commercial and tenant-space strip-outs, and concrete removal and hauling. Jobs range from small beach-area lots to downtown interiors and industrial slabs, all within Long Beach, CA.

Who handles the permit and asbestos paperwork?

We help coordinate the demolition permit and its department clearances with City of Long Beach Development Services, the SCAQMD Rule 1403 notification and asbestos survey steps, and the DigAlert 811 ticket. Requirements differ by property and change over time, so we confirm the current rules for your address before work is scheduled.

Does a Long Beach demolition permit involve more than one department?

Typically, yes. City guidance describes clearances that can involve Planning, Health and Human Services, Public Works, the gas and water utilities and the electric utility, depending on the project. Properties in the Coastal Zone or a historic district can add review steps. Check current requirements with Development Services.

What does the 65% diversion requirement mean for my job?

Long Beach's construction and demolition recycling program generally expects a management plan and a high share of debris, commonly stated as 65%, to be diverted from landfill with weight tickets as proof. We sort concrete, metal and wood where facilities allow. Confirm the current program details with the city.

How quickly can a demolition start?

Approvals, utility disconnects and any asbestos work often take longer than the teardown itself. SCAQMD notification, for example, has a required advance period before demolition begins. Call us and we will outline a realistic sequence for your property.

Can a rush job be accommodated?

Sometimes. Send us the project details and we will try to fit you in, but the required notifications, utility shut-offs and permit steps still have to be completed first.

Do you work near the coast, the port or downtown high-rises?

Yes. Coastal-zone teardowns, port-area slab and foundation removal, and downtown tenant-improvement strip-outs each have their own access and approval considerations, which we plan around on every quote.

How is dust controlled on a Long Beach job?

Crews apply water misting and plan the work around wind, since the onshore breeze can carry dust. Asbestos-containing materials, where found, are handled under the applicable SCAQMD requirements by qualified abatement contractors.

Demolition equipment working on a small residential lot near the Long Beach coast

Coastal Zone and Historic District Demolition Review in Long Beach

Long Beach Demolition Co Team

September 29, 2026 | 6 min read

Not every Long Beach lot is treated the same when a building comes down. Parcels near the shoreline fall inside the Coastal Zone, and a number of older neighborhoods are designated historic districts. Either can add a layer of Planning review ahead of a demolition permit. This is a general orientation, not a determination about your property. Ask the City's Planning Bureau to confirm how your parcel is classified.

The Coastal Zone

Long Beach has a certified Local Coastal Program that the City administers. Work inside the Coastal Zone, including demolition, has generally called for a Coastal Development Permit, and some decisions may be appealable to the California Coastal Commission. Areas such as parts of Belmont Shore, Naples and the waterfront are the ones people most often ask about, but the boundary does not follow neighborhood names, so check the actual parcel.

Historic districts

Long Beach has several designated historic districts, with Bluff Park, Willmore City, California Heights, Belmont Heights, Bluff Heights and Carroll Park among those frequently mentioned. Within those, demolition or exterior changes can trigger review by Planning and the City's cultural heritage process, and approval may come as a certificate of appropriateness. Individually landmarked buildings can be treated in a similar way even outside a district. The City also offers a Mills Act program for qualifying historic properties, which some owners consider as an alternative to demolition.

Replacing homes and losing units

City guidance has noted special handling when a demolition removes dwelling units. If you are tearing down a duplex or a small multi-family building, ask Planning what replacement or relocation obligations might apply before you commit to a demolition schedule.

Questions to ask Planning

Is the parcel inside the Coastal Zone, a historic district, or both?
Is a Coastal Development Permit or a certificate of appropriateness needed for demolition alone?
Can the demolition be reviewed together with the replacement project?
Is any public notice or appeal period built into the process?

Working on small coastal lots

Tight lots and shared alleys limit where machines can stand and where debris can stage. Canal-side and beach-area parcels also raise questions about runoff, so storm-water controls, covered stockpiles and clean loading areas matter more than they might inland. The rainy season, roughly November through March, can complicate this further.

A contractor can help you prepare the demolition portion of an application, but historic and coastal determinations are made by the City. Keep your timeline flexible until that answer is in writing.

Weighing a teardown near the coast or in an older district? Call Long Beach Demolition Co at (562) 210-0343.

Plan your Long Beach demolition

Share the address, the scope and your target dates. Long Beach Demolition Co will map out the city clearances, air-district notice and utility steps, then send a written quote.

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