Permits & Fees

If you plan to engage in any construction, demolition, or transport with an oversized vehicle within the public right-of-way, you must obtain a permit from the Engineering Division of the Public Works Department before starting the work. To apply for any of the following permits, you may:

Any work or activity within the public right-of-way is considered an off-site improvement. This includes digging, construction, or any work on public streets, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, or underground work such as sewer or curb drains. Such activities are classified as off-site improvements. All off-site improvements or activities within the public right-of-way require an encroachment permit, and permit fees vary depending on the type of work being performed.

Encroachment & Construction Permit

Any construction, reconstruction, repair, or modification involving excavation or encroachment in a street, curb, gutter, sidewalk, driveway, storm drain, culvert, or highway light, as well as the erection or maintenance of any pole, fence, guardrail, or other structures within the public right-of-way, requires an encroachment permit from the Engineering Division of the Public Works Department. This requirement also applies to conducting traffic counts, interfering with the normal flow of traffic, causing water to flow onto any street, or house moving.

Dig Alert

As California continues to grow, so does the infrastructure that is buried underground. Almost anywhere you dig, there could be an underground facility. To avoid hitting these facilities, the easiest and legal way is to call Underground Service Alert of Southern California, also known as Dig Alert. This One Call Notification Center serves all of Southern California and helps prevent the costly error of cutting a fiber optic cable or the hazardous situation of damaging a power line or gas main.

For more information, please call 1-800-227-2600 or visit their website at the link Dig Alert.