City of La Canada Flintridge

The Public Works Department is responsible for administering the City’s public works program and for providing engineering functions. The Department is primarily responsible for the design, preparation and checking of plans for all facilities within street rights-of-way, including those within private developments and City-owned property. The Department prepares necessary plans, designs and specifications for streets, sidewalks, storm drains, sewers, parks, parkways and medians. The Department administers contracts with other agencies or entities for the cleaning of public streets, alleys, storm drains and for the repair to streets, sidewalks, curbs and gutters. The Department is also responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of City-owned properties, facilities and equipment, as well as City parks, parkways, trees and grounds landscaping.

The Public Works Department staffs the Public Works & Traffic Commission.

The Public Works Department is responsible for managing the City's Storm Water Ordinance and to ensure compliance with the NPDES permit issued by the Regional Water Quality Control Board under the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency. This program includes eliminating the source of any illegal dumping or discharge of material or liquids which can end up on the City streets and ultimately in the storm drain system and the US waters.

To report illegal dumping, contact the Public Works Department or use the County's toll-free hotline - (888)CleanLA - (888)253-2652 or County Health Department (818) 898-1242. For more information visit http://ladpw.org/prg/stormwater

Before you or your contractor excavate, grade or dig, State law requires that you call Underground Service Alert of Southern California ("USA" or "Dig Alert") a minimum of 2 working days prior to the start of work. The Dig Alert staff notifies all underground utilities or other owners of equipment in the area that you will be digging. The utilities and owners are required to mark the location of their facilities so that they aren't disturbed by your project.

This one telephone call can protect you against charges associated with repairing or restoring telephone, gas, electrical and water service, which may be damaged during the excavation.

The Dig Alert telephone number for our area is 1-800-422-4133.

If you would like additional information regarding the program, visit www.digalert.org

An excavation Permit is required for any work that involves digging or excavation within the public right-of-way. Because many of the streets in La Cañada Flintridge do not have a clear definition of where the private property/public right-of-way boundaries are, please contact the Public Works Department before you construct anything on the property adjacent to a street or trail.

An Encroachment Permit is required for any work within the public righ-of-way (i.e., drive approach, curb and gutter, sidewalk, decorative paving or walkways, or roll-off bin). Any fence, wall, or decorative pillar should be installed on private property, not in the public right-of-way. It is the responsibility of the property owner to provide the engineering survey or other acceptable documents to establish the right-of-way/ property line. The property owner is also responsible for maintaining the landscaping and irrigation with in the parkway. The parkway is generally considered as the area between the curb or edge of roadway and the right-of-way/property line. The city is responsible for the maintenance, planting, or removal of City-owned trees within the parkway. No encroachment permit is required for the installation of landscaping and irrigation in the parkway provided that the proposed work is approved by the Community Development Department and does not impact the existing trees.

To find out more imformation on how to obtain an excavation or encroachment permit, please contact the Public Works Department at (818) 790-8882.

Public Works
1327 Foothill Blvd.
La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
(818) 790-8882 (phone)
(818) 790-8897 (fax)

Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM