Del Amo Fashion Center Tenant Improvement Permits: What You Need to Know
Del Amo Fashion Center tenant improvement permits require landlord approval from Simon Property Group and submission to the City of Torrance Community Development Department. TI projects need building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and fire protection permits. Plan review takes 8 to 10 weeks. Del Amo is the largest mall in the western United States by square footage.
About Del Amo Fashion Center
Del Amo Fashion Center is a super-regional shopping center in Torrance, California. Simon Property Group owns and manages the property. At over 2.5 million square feet, Del Amo is the largest mall in the western United States. The Torrance Community Development Department handles all building permits for tenant improvements at this location.
The TI Permit Process at Del Amo Fashion Center
Tenant improvement projects at Del Amo follow Simon Property Group’s standardized approval process combined with City of Torrance permit requirements.
- Landlord Letter of Authorization from Simon Property Group: All permit applications require a signed authorization letter from Simon’s tenant coordination team. Simon reviews your construction plans for compliance with their design criteria, which cover storefront design, signage, demising walls, and utility connections. Budget 2 to 4 weeks for landlord review and approval.
- Architectural plans meeting Simon Property Group’s design standards: Your architect must prepare construction drawings stamped by a California-licensed professional. Plans must comply with Simon’s tenant design criteria manual. The manual specifies storefront materials, signage sizes, ceiling heights, lighting standards, and after-hours construction rules.
- Submit to Torrance building department for plan review: File your permit application with the City of Torrance Community Development Department. Submit all trade permits (building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire) at the same time. The city requires Title 24 energy calculations for most TI projects. First-round plan review takes 8 to 10 weeks.
- Address city comments and corrections: Torrance issues correction comments for most TI projects after the first review. Your design team addresses each comment, revises the drawings, and resubmits. Backcheck review runs 10 to 15 business days. Restaurant and food service projects often require two or three correction rounds due to health department and fire protection complexity.
- Permit issuance and construction start: Once all departments approve the plans, the city issues your permit. Pay the remaining fees, post the permit card at the job site, and schedule your rough framing inspection before starting construction.
Jurisdiction Requirements
The City of Torrance Community Development Department processes all TI permits for Del Amo Fashion Center. Plan review typically takes 8 to 10 weeks for a standard office or retail TI project. Torrance requires Title 24 energy calculations for commercial projects.
Simon Property Group’s TC team coordinates all landlord approvals. Simon has a standardized design criteria manual that applies to all their properties. The manual is detailed and covers construction hours, barricade requirements, and coordination with mall security and operations teams.
See the full permit guide for Torrance, California for general building department information and contact details.
Los Angeles County permit information is also available at Los Angeles County Building Permits.
Recent Projects at Del Amo Fashion Center
Raising Cane’s: Permits More Than 2 Months Early
Permit Place expedited a full restaurant buildout permit for Raising Cane’s at Del Amo Fashion Center. The project included a complete commercial kitchen with hood and fire suppression system, dining room buildout, and storefront modifications. We coordinated landlord approvals with Simon Property Group and submitted complete plans to Torrance on the first try.
Read the full case study: Raising Cane’s Torrance permits approved more than 2 months early
Frequently Asked Questions
What permits do I need for a tenant improvement at Del Amo Fashion Center?
You need a building permit for general construction, plus separate electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and fire protection permits. Restaurants also need health department plan approval before the city will issue a building permit. Submit all permits at the same time to reduce total review time.
How long does the TI permit process take at Del Amo Fashion Center?
Torrance Community Development first-round plan review takes 8 to 10 weeks for a standard TI project. Backcheck review after corrections takes 10 to 15 business days. Total time from submission to permit issuance runs 10 to 14 weeks for office and retail. Restaurant projects with kitchen exhaust and fire suppression can take 14 to 18 weeks.
Do I need landlord approval before applying for a permit?
Yes. Simon Property Group must approve your construction plans and issue a signed owner authorization letter before Torrance will accept your permit application. Landlord approval takes 2 to 4 weeks. Start the landlord review process before finalizing your construction drawings to avoid timeline delays.
What is a Landlord Letter of Authorization?
The Landlord Letter of Authorization is a signed document from Simon Property Group confirming you have permission to perform the proposed construction work. The building department requires this letter before accepting your permit application. Without it, Torrance will reject your submission at intake.
How can Permit Place help with permits at Del Amo Fashion Center?
Permit Place handles the entire TI permit process for Simon Property Group locations. We coordinate landlord approvals, prepare complete permit packages with Title 24 calculations, submit to Torrance electronically, track review status daily, and respond to corrections within 24 to 48 hours. Our Raising Cane’s project at Del Amo received permits more than 2 months ahead of schedule.
Related Resources
Learn more about tenant improvement permitting and restaurant permits:
Need TI Permits at Del Amo Fashion Center?
Permit Place expedites tenant improvement permits for retailers, restaurants, and national brands at Simon Property Group malls nationwide. We handle landlord coordination, Title 24 energy calculations, Torrance submissions, and all trade permits from application to certificate of occupancy.