In-N-Out Files Plan for Sherman Oaks Drive-Thru
Commercial developers and fast-food operators in Sherman Oaks should track a pending permit that adds drive-thru, EV parking, and outdoor seating to a busy corridor.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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In-N-Out has filed a permit proposal for a new 2,291-square-foot drive-thru restaurant at 5601-5627 N. Sepulveda Boulevard in Sherman Oaks, with demolition of existing buildings on the site. The permit application was filed October 2 and has not yet been approved.
Why it matters
A new drive-thru with covered outdoor seating and 63 parking spaces signals the chain's continued push into Los Angeles-area markets, where site availability and parking requirements shape how fast-food operators can expand. Because the permit is still pending, the project's final design and timeline remain subject to city review.
The proposal calls for a 2,291-square-foot restaurant with 64 outdoor seats and 63 parking spaces, including 3 accessible and 14 electric vehicle spaces. The chain operates roughly 400 locations across 10 U.S. states, and the Sherman Oaks site is 2.5 miles from its existing local location.
The players
In-N-Out Burger
A privately held California fast-food chain founded in 1948 in Baldwin Park, known for a limited menu and drive-thru-focused real estate strategy across roughly 400 locations in 10 states.
The details
The proposal includes a drive-thru, a walk-up window, and a covered outdoor dining area, and would replace an existing two-story commercial development on the corner of Sepulveda and Burbank boulevards. Proposed hours are 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday. The application was filed through public records, which is how the project's specifications became visible before any approval.
Timeline
October 2: Permit application for the Sherman Oaks location was filed.
Last year: The chain opened new locations in Sylmar and Monrovia.
Upcoming: Locations in Chino, Commerce, and South El Monte are set to open soon.
Market Landscape
The proposal continues In-N-Out's expansion through Southern California, following last year's openings in Sylmar and Monrovia and the Woodland Hills location now under construction. The filing places the chain's growth inside an urban corridor where drive-thru sites and parking requirements are constrained by existing commercial development.
Operators in fast food and adjacent drive-thru categories should note that Los Angeles-area sites are being pursued in dense commercial corridors, where parking, electric vehicle charging, and outdoor seating requirements add to real estate and build-out costs. Businesses evaluating similar sites should consult a qualified land-use attorney or architect on permit timelines and design review before committing capital.
The takeaway
Watch the city's permit review for the Sherman Oaks site, since design approval and any design-committee objections will determine the project's timing and final footprint. Operators tracking drive-thru expansion should monitor pending permit filings in their own corridors as an early signal of competitor openings.
Further reading
For related local development, see Openings & Closings coverage of new and shuttered businesses across the area.
Source note: This article includes information reported by New York Post.
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