MUNICIPAL CODE ENFORCEMENT

The City of La Mirada has a reputation of attractive and well-maintained properties, which is based on the high standards demonstrated by the community and established by the City Code.  Code Enforcement Officers work with residents and business owners to eliminate blight and improve the appearance and safety of the community.

Examples of common code violations and steps you can take to prevent them are listed below:

Landscaping and Vegetation:

• To reduce interference with vehicles, pedestrians, water drainage, or street maintenance, hedges, trees, shrubs, and plants may not overhang on sidewalks, parkways, curbs, or streets.
• Overgrown vegetation that detracts from the appearance of the home and the neighborhood is not permitted. Adequate groundcover is required to minimize erosion.
• Residents are responsible for the maintenance of parkways adjacent to their property with the exception of trees maintained by the City. Residents are expected to regularly water parkway trees and maintain grass and plants. Parkways must also be maintained free of trash and debris.

Trash Cans and Recycling:

• Trash and recycling containers must be properly stored inside a building or out of public view.
• Trash containers should be placed at the curb in front of the home on the designated trash day. Trash cans can remain curbside for no longer than 10 p.m. the day of collection.
• Scavenging or removing items from trash cans or recycling containers is prohibited.

Animal Maintenance:

• Animal waste should be picked up and disposed of by the owner.
• All dogs over the age of four months within the City must be licensed.
• Dogs must be restrained by a substantial chain or leash, not exceeding six feet in length.
• A dog must be managed by a competent person, twelve years of age or older.
• Three licensed and vaccinated dogs are permitted.
• Five cats are permitted provided they are all licensed and vaccinated, all spayed/neutered, and are primarily indoor cats.
• Roosters are prohibited, except in the Farm Animal Overlay Zoning District.
• For more information regarding animal maintenance, please contact the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control at http://animalcare.lacounty.gov.

Signs:

• There are requirements for the placement of business signs. The City Planning Department must approve all signs prior to installation.
• Signs attached to private utility poles are prohibited.
• Prohibited signs include: portable signs, temporary signs which stand freely or must be propped up against or tacked to another object to remain upright, inflatable signs, vehicle signs and hand held signs.
• In addition, signs that represent any hazard to the safety of pedestrian or vehicular traffic by interfering with visibility and effectiveness of traffic control or warning devices are prohibited.

Graffiti:

• The City will remove graffiti from public property.  Properties may not be maintained with graffiti vandalism as it may encourage further vandalism and other criminal activity.  If the graffiti is not removed in a timely manner or there is continued failure to remove the graffiti, the violations may result in a misdemeanor charge.  A $1,000 cash reward may be given for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a graffiti vandal.

Prevention tips:

• Quick removal is the key to deterring future graffiti vandalism. By taking away the recognition the vandals seek, you are decreasing the chances that graffiti will return.
• Well-lit areas with timed lights or lights equipped with motion sensors can illuminate areas that vandals seek.
• Planting shrubs, vines, or trees in front of graffiti-prone walls is a long-term solution to graffiti. The greenery provides a more attractive surface.
• Fencing can eliminate accessibility to areas prone to graffiti.

Reporting a Code Violation: 

Code violations may be reported to the Public Safety Department in person, by mail, or by telephone.

• Please provide your name, address and telephone number where we can contact you for additional information.
• Provide the address of the location of the perceived violation, including street number and name.
• Provide a brief description of your specific concern with the property.

Your concerns will be forwarded to a Code Enforcement Officer, who will investigate the issue. If a violation is observed, the property owner or tenant will be given written notification to correct the violation within a specified time period. If the violation is not corrected, the owner or tenant could face additional enforcement action including administrative fines, or criminal or civil prosecution. To report a violation by mail, write to:

City of La Mirada
Code Enforcement
13700 La Mirada Boulevard
La Mirada, California 90638
(562) 943-0131