The 9 Best Architects in Los Angeles (2026)

Use the California Architects Board's license verification page, which points to the Department of Consumer Affairs license search. The Board says you can search by name, city, county or license number. The Board licenses individuals rather than firms, so look up the architect who will actually lead your project, and check that the license is current and has no disciplinary action.

Not every small residential project is required to use a licensed architect, and many ADU plans are drawn by building designers or engineers, but many homeowners still hire an architect for design quality, site problems and permit coordination. Requirements depend on the project and on what the city's building department will accept, so ask the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety and your designer what your plans need before you sign.

Common models are a percentage of construction cost, a fixed fee for a defined scope, hourly billing, or a mix, such as a fixed fee for design and hourly for construction support. Ask what each phase includes, how revisions and extra meetings are billed, and whether construction administration (visits and answers to the contractor's questions) is part of the fee. Get the scope and fee in a written contract.

An architect is licensed by the state and can design most building types. A building designer may draw residential plans without that license, depending on the project. A design-build firm handles both design and construction under one contract, which can simplify coordination but means the same company is designing and pricing the work. Ask who holds each license, and verify them.

Ask about the firm's experience with hillside homes in the specific neighborhood, how it works with geotechnical and structural engineers, and how early those consultants join the project. Hillside sites usually involve more engineering and review than flat lots, so a firm that has done similar work can give a more realistic sense of scope and schedule.