Q)    What are the hours for the Public Works Department Office and where is it located?
A)    Monday – Thursday  7 a.m. - 5 p.m.     
       Alternate Fridays - 7 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
       Alternate Fridays, Saturday & Sunday Office Closed

Public Works is located at 15515 Phoebe Avenue north of Alondra Boulevard, east of Valley View Avenue.      

Q)    I have noticed a streetlight is out or goes out intermittently; who will fix it?  
A)    Please report the problem to Southern California Edison (SCE) directly at 1-800-611-1911 with the address, cross streets, and pole number of the faulty streetlight or visit: https://www.sce.com/wps/portal/home/outage-center.   SCE needs the pole number of the streetlight to ensure SCE daytime repairs are done to the correct pole.  The pole number is stenciled on the pole or embossed on a metal strip affixed to the pole.  

Residents may also report street light outages to Public Works.  Public Works will then report the light to SCE for repair.  Note: Public Works staff will ask for the same pole number information.  

Q)    When is my trash day?  
A)    Trash is removed from residential premises Monday through Friday by EDCO Disposal.  For more information on your designated trash removal day, please visit www.lamiradarecycles.com/service-schedules/ for an interactive guide.

Q)    Why did the rate change on my trash bill?
A)    Residents may call Public Works for information on refuse rate adjustments.

Q)    How do I arrange for a bulky item pick-up?  
A)    Residents may call EDCO Disposal at (562) 597-0608 or Public Works can assist.

Q)    How do I dispose of paint, waste, used needles, batteries, televisions, or tires?  
A)    Residents may utilize one of Los Angeles County’s Household Hazardous Waste Round-Up locations for disposal of Hazardous Waste.  For locations, please contact the County at (888) Clean LA or visit their website at www.888cleanla.com. 

Residents may also call EDCO Disposal at (562) 597-0608 for the curbside removal of e-waste, u-waste containing mercury, household batteries, or used needles.  

Q)    How and where do I dispose of used oil?  
A)    It is illegal to dispose of used oil in storm drains, or any other facility other than licensed oil disposal facilities.  Residents can call Public Works for a current list of used oil disposal locations, or take the used oil in a sealed container to a Household Hazardous Waste Round Up. 

Q)    How and where do I dispose of the sanitary waste from my motor home?  
A)    It is illegal to dispose of sanitary waste in storm drains, or any other facility other than licensed disposal facilities.  Residents may call Public Works for a current list of disposal facilities. 

Q)    Where may I dispose of excess “green waste” if it doesn’t fit into my green waste bin?  
A)    Residents may call EDCO Disposal and request one additional green waste bin at no charge.

Q)    How do I get my senior discount for trash service?
A)    Residents may come to City Hall and fill out a Senior Discount form for trash service.  At least one head of household must be 62 years of age and present a valid ID with the service address.

Q)    Where can I get a free toilet?
A)    Rebates on high-efficiency toilets are offered through the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.  Information on this and similar rebate offers, including high-efficiency clothes washers, are found at www.bewaterwise.com with a link to www.socalwatersmart.com or call 1-888-376-3314.

Q)    How can I obtain a street sweeping schedule or report a street sweeping complaint?  
A)    Residents may report all street-sweeping concerns by calling Public Works.  Residents may visit www.lamiradarecycles.com/service-schedules/ for their street sweeping day.  Street sweeping schedules are also posted at all entrances to housing tracts.

Q)    Who can I call if I have a problem with vermin?  
A)    Residents should contact Los Angeles County Vector Control at (562) 944-9656.  Residents may also purchase traps or poison from a home improvement store or contact a private exterminator company.  

Q)    I have a bee hive/wasp nest on my property; what should I do?  
A)    If the bees are on private property, it is the property owner’s responsibility for removal.  The City does not perform bee removals on private property. 

Q)    What if the bees are in my parkway tree, streetlight, sidewalk, or in the park?  
A)    Please call the Public Works office at (562) 902-2385 Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and alternate Fridays 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Q)    Do I need a permit to perform construction work in the parkway and or street?  
A)    Yes. An Encroachment Permit is required for work in the parkway or street.  These areas are in the Public right-of-way. Plans for any Right-of-Way work must be submitted to the City of La Mirada Public Works Department located at 15515 Phoebe Ave. 

Q)    How do I get an encroachment, excavation, or construction permit?
A)    Plans for any Right-of-Way work must be submitted to the City of La Mirada Public Works Department located at 15515 Phoebe Ave. 

Q)  How do I obtain a transportation permit and what are the designated truck routes for the movement of commercial vehicles exceeding a maximum gross weight of six thousand pounds?
A) Los Angeles County handles issuance of transportation permits for the City of La Mirada. Please visit https://dpw.lacounty.gov/spats/public/tpap.cfm to apply online.

Designated Truck Routes:

Please click here for the map 

• Valley View Avenue
• Imperial Highway
• Leffingwell Road
• Telegraph Road
• Artesia Boulevard
• Firestone Boulevard, north
• Firestone Boulevard, south

Q)    What can be done about stagnant water that sits in the gutter in front of my home?  I think mosquitoes are breeding in it.
A)    Residents are encouraged to sweep the gutters in front of their residences to ensure that trash or leaf debris do not dam gutter water.  A contract street sweeping company sweeps all City streets weekly; in the process standing water is ordinarily disturbed and scattered toward the street.  In some cases, additional measures may be taken to correct standing water conditions.  In such cases, residents are encouraged to call Public Works.
 
Q)    How do I get my parkway tree trimmed?  Can I trim it myself or have a contractor trim it?
A) Please call the Public Works office at (562) 902-2385 Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and alternate Fridays 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Residents are NOT permitted to trim parkway trees.  City crews or City contractors adhere to national arborists standards for tree trimming to ensure the health of the tree and safety of those around it. 

Q)    How do I get my parkway tree removed?
A) Please call the Public Works office at (562) 902-2385 Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and alternate Fridays 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Parkways trees are only removed and replaced with a new tree if the original tree shows signs of disease, significant decay, death, is structurally unstable, or is causing significant structural damage.  A City inspector will evaluate the tree to determine if removal is necessary. 

Q)    Who do I call if my backyard tree is growing into power lines?  
A)    Southern California Edison (SCE) is the sole electric utility in La Mirada.  Call SCE at 1-800-655-4555 to report the problem if the wires are attached from one pole to another.  Wires running from the pole to the house are the homeowner’s responsibility, according to SCE. 

Q)    I think roots from my parkway tree are getting into my sewer lateral.  What can be done about it?
A)    Each property owner is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the sewer lateral serving the property from the house to and including the connection to the mainline.  Property owners may need to contact a licensed plumber to correct the problem.  Sewer lines are usually made of clay pipe sections that are glued together.  The glue dries and sometimes separates; clay is fragile and eventually cracks due to soil settlement or earth tremors.  When these things happen, tree roots may enter the line. 

Q)    Am I responsible for maintaining my sewer lateral from my house all the way to where it connects to the main sewer trunk in the street?
A)    Yes.  Each property owner is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the sewer lateral serving the property from the house to and including the connection to the mainline.  This is the case in the City of La Mirada and is also true of the County of Los Angeles.  

Q)    Who do I call if I think the main sewer trunk in the street is backed up?
A) Call the Public Works office at (562) 902-2385 Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and alternate Fridays 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The City of La Mirada contracts with the County of Los Angeles for the maintenance of City sewer main lines and will contact them to respond.  If the emergency occurs after hours, call the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works directly at 1-800-675-4357.

Q)    How do I get a tree planted in my parkway?  Do I get to choose what kind of tree to plant?
A)    Call the Public Works office at (562) 902-2385 Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and alternate Fridays 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Most residential lots have space for a single parkway tree; however, some, like corner lots, may accommodate more than one tree.  The City will plant the tree species designated in its Master Street Tree Guide; in most cases this species will be consistent with other trees on your street.  The City’s purpose in selecting the tree species is to ensure the trees are efficiently maintained disease spread can be kept to a minimum.

Q)    How do I get my sidewalk fixed?
A)    Call the Public Works office at (562) 902-2385 Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and alternate Fridays 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  A Public Works inspector will investigate and determine how best to make the sidewalk safe.  In most cases, sidewalk displacements can be ground level.  Grinding is the most cost-effective means of fixing displacements. 

Q)    A traffic signal light in La Mirada is out.  Who should I contact to report this?
A)    Call the Public Works office at (562) 902-2385 Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and alternate Fridays 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The City of La Mirada contracts with the County of Los Angeles Traffic and Lighting for the maintenance of traffic signals in the City and will contact them to respond.  If the Public Works office is closed, you may call the County of Los Angeles Department of Traffic and Lighting directly at 1-800-675-4357 to report the problem.

Q)    I want to post signs in my neighborhood to help me find my lost pet, or to find the owner of the lost pet that found me.  Can I do this?
A)    No.  Pole signs, temporary signs which stand freely or must be propped up against or tacked to another object to remain upright, and signs erected without the permission of the owner (or their agent) of the property on which the sign is located are prohibited. 

Q)    I’m a realtor and the “Open House” signs that I set out over the weekend are missing.  Is Public Works responsible for my signs?  
A)    The La Mirada Municipal Code prohibits “signs within or projecting over the public right-of-way, with the exception of governmental or city-sponsored civic signs”, Section 21.76.050 (11).  All such “Open House” signs found in violation of La Mirada Municipal Code will be removed (LMMC 21.76.100) and located at the Public Works warehouse at 15515 Phoebe Avenue, La Mirada.  If a realtor believes the City removed their sign, they are advised to call Public Works at (562) 902-2185 to make arrangements to retrieve the sign.  The City of La Mirada, in any case, is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged signs.

Q)    Who should I contact to report a fire hydrant leak?
A)    La Mirada residents and businesses are served by one of two independent water companies.  Check your water bill for the water company in your area.  To report leaks to Suburban Water Systems, call (562) 944-8219 (after hours (562)944-8219).  To report leaks to Golden State Water Company, call (562) 864-8214 (emergency 1-800-999-4033).  

Q)    Who should I contact to report a power outage?  
A)    Contact Southern California Edison at (800) 611-1911 or visit: https://www.sce.com/wps/portal/home/outage-center.  

Q)    How do I report graffiti?  
A)    Call the Public Works office at (562) 902-2385 Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and alternate Fridays 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  After hours calls may be made to the Graffiti Hotline (562) 943-1557 or (714) 522-5858.  To report graffiti online, click here to submit a report.

Q)    What do I do if I see someone in the act of graffiti vandalism?  
A)    Immediately contact the La Mirada Community Sheriff’s Station at (562) 902-2960.  The City of La Mirada has a reward program for the capture and successful prosecution of graffiti vandals.  In addition, report the graffiti to Public Works.  Please call the Public Works office at (562) 902-2385 Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and alternate Fridays 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  After hours calls may be made to the Graffiti Hotline (562) 943-1557 or (714) 522-5858.

Q)    Who should I contact to report potholes in the street?  
A)    Call the Public Works office at (562) 902-2385 Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and alternate Fridays 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The City of La Mirada contracts with the County of Los Angeles for pothole repairs and will contact them to respond.  

Q)    Who should I call to report my curb address is faded?  
A)    Call the Public Works office at (562) 902-2385 Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and alternate Fridays 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The painting of curb numbers is a free service provided by the City of La Mirada to ensure standards of uniformity and clarity.  Note: La Mirada Municipal Code Chapter 9.50.010 prohibits the painting of house numbers on curbs without a permit.

Q)    Who should I contact to report a missing or damaged street name sign?  
A)   Call the Public Works office at (562) 902-2385 Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and alternate Fridays 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Q)    Who do I call if there is debris, stagnant water, mosquitoes, or graffiti in the flood control channel?  
A)    The flood control channel that runs along Beach Boulevard is owned and maintained by Orange County Flood Control District; they can be reached at (714) 567-6300 or (714) 971-2421.  All other flood control channels in the City of La Mirada are owned and maintained by Los Angeles County; the 24-hour number is (626)458-4357.  You may also call the City's Public Works office at (562) 902-2385 Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and alternate Fridays 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and we will contact the appropriate agency.

Q)    Who do I call to find out why there are “Temporary No Parking” signs on my street?  
A)    Call Public Works at (562) 902-2385.  These signs are used to ensure that there are no vehicle obstructions in right-of-way areas where work is going to be performed.  Work may include tree trimming or removals, sidewalk or curb and gutter replacement, street grinding, or slurry seal application.  

Q)    When will my street be slurry sealed or other public improvements be completed?
A)    The Public Works Department contracts with private companies to perform slurry seal work and other maintenance or improvements in the public right-of-way.  Slurry seal is a mixture of emulsified asphalt, fine aggregate, water, and other materials that is applied on streets to prolong the life of the roadway surface. Residential streets are typically slurry sealed every seven years. 

Q)    How do I get a stop sign installed on my street?  
A)    Residents requesting new traffic control signage, markings, or other changes in traffic control would need to address a letter outlining their concerns and specific request to the Public Safety Commission, 13700 La Mirada Boulevard, La Mirada, 90638.  The Commission will place the matter on a future Commission agenda for study.  The issue may be referred to the City’s Traffic Engineer for further study and recommended action.  Traffic control signage must meet rigid standards for necessity and improved safety.

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