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If you have any questions or comments in regards to this manual, please contact:

Farain Farsai, P.E., Civil Engineer
201 N. Figueroa St., Mail Stop 503
Los Angeles, CA 90012

email: ffarsai@eng.lacity.org

Dear Customer,

The "Manual for Work in the Public Right-of-Way" has been prepared for customers of the City of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering (BOE). The people at the BOE are dedicated to providing high quality and timely service to our customers. The BOE is the City of Los Angeles (City) agency responsible for construction permits within the City’s public right-of-way.

The purpose of this manual is to guide you, our customer through the process of obtaining permits required for construction projects within the City’s public right-of-way. Our customers include property owners, utility companies, contractors, the larger private development community, and the general public. The public right-of-way generally consists of street easements that contain City streets, lanes, alleys, parkways, and sidewalks. The public right-of-way also includes public easements and unimproved streets.

This manual features a description of the most common types of BOE permits requested by our customers, a summary of the City’s permit authority, and a step-by-step guide to each permit process. In addition, portions of this manual are dedicated to assisting those customers who wish to obtain their BOE permits on-line, over the Internet.

The most common types of BOE permits are those related to minor and major street construction, street excavations, sewer and storm drain connections, private use of the public right-of-way, and construction in a natural watercourse.

All permit processes described in this manual are applied uniformly on a Citywide basis. Therefore, this manual provides our customers with a consistent and predictable permit process, regardless of construction location.

Before you begin planning any construction activity in a public right-of-way or public easement, please spend a few minutes familiarizing yourself with the BOE permit processes. Spending a few minutes now, in advance of construction planning, will help you understand our permit processes and help you obtain permit approval.

Thank you.

City Engineer