Los Angeles City of Water Department 2026: Phone, Address & Hours

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Los Angeles Public Works, 311, StreetsLA, LASAN and permit help

Los Angeles City Department of Public Works: 311, Permits, Sanitation & Street Services

If you searched for the Los Angeles City Department of Public Works, you probably do not want a department history page. You want the right place to report a pothole, schedule bulky item pickup, ask about trash or bins, find a sewer/storm drain permit, contact StreetsLA, understand which bureau handles your issue, or avoid calling LADWP when the problem is really Public Works. This guide gives you the useful route first, then the official links.

☎️ 311 or 213-473-3231 🧹 LASAN: 1-800-773-2489 🚧 StreetsLA: 800-996-2489 🏢 DPW: 200 N Spring St 🛠️ Permits, potholes, trees, bulky items
Quick answer board

What Are You Trying to Fix, Report or Apply For?

🕳️ Pothole, tree, street issue? Use 311/MyLA311 or StreetsLA. For service requests, StreetsLA tells users to call 311 or use MyLA311.
🛋️ Bulky item, bin, trash? Use LA Sanitation Customer Care at 1-800-773-2489 or MyLA311 for many sanitation requests.
📄 Public right-of-way permit? Check DPW permit categories: Engineering permits and Street Services permits are not the same.
💧 Water bill or electric bill? That is usually LADWP, not Public Works. Use DPW for sanitation, streets, sewers, storm drains and right-of-way issues.
Fastest route: For most resident service requests, start with MyLA311 or call 213-473-3231. For LA Sanitation customer care, call 1-800-773-2489. For DPW permits, start from the official Public Works permits page.
Official contact shortcuts Which bureau handles what 311 and MyLA311 requests StreetsLA issues LA Sanitation issues Public Works permits Business owner notes Call scripts Map and offices Video resource Official links FAQs
Common mistake: Do not send every issue to LADWP. Water/power billing is different. Public Works handles many street, sanitation, sewer, storm drain, lighting, construction, permit and public right-of-way issues.
Contacts

Official Los Angeles Public Works Contacts That Matter

Need Official route Use this for
General City service request Call 311 or 213-473-3231 Resident service routing, non-emergency city requests, MyLA311 help.
Department of Public Works 200 N. Spring Street, Room 361, Los Angeles, CA 90012-4801 Board/department reference and official DPW location.
StreetsLA 1149 S. Broadway, 4th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90015 Potholes, trees, street sweeping, sidewalks, public right-of-way, street services permits.
LA Sanitation customer care 1-800-773-2489 Bulky items, bin questions, trash/recycling/organics, sanitation service issues.
Bureau of Engineering 1149 S. Broadway, Suite 700; Dial 311 Engineering permits, development services, project information, sewer/storm drain permits.
Street Services appointment/public counter Call 213-847-6000 Sidewalk and park vending program, special event permit appointment, public counter scheduling.
Insider tip: Start with the issue, not the bureau name. Say “pothole,” “bulky item,” “street tree,” “sewer/storm drain permit,” “street closure permit,” or “public right-of-way issue.” That routes faster than saying only “Public Works.”
Bureau finder

Which LA Public Works Bureau Handles Your Issue?

🏗️ Engineering Permits & projects A/B/E/R/S/U permits
🧹 Sanitation Trash & sewer Bulky, bins, waste
🌳 StreetsLA Streets & trees Potholes, sweeping
💡 Street Lighting Lights Street light system
📋 Contract Admin Contracts Public works contracts
User problem Likely route Action
Pothole, damaged street, street resurfacing StreetsLA / MyLA311 Submit a MyLA311 request with exact location and photos.
Street tree trimming, tree issue, median issue StreetsLA / Urban Forestry Use MyLA311 or StreetsLA tree route.
Bulky item pickup, bin replacement, trash question LA Sanitation Call 1-800-773-2489 or use MyLA311 where available.
Excavation, sewer/storm drain, public right-of-way work Bureau of Engineering permits Check A-, B-, E-, R-, S- or U-Permit category.
Street closure, building materials, water discharge/fire test permit Street Services permits Use DPW permit page or call 213-847-6000 for Street Services permit help.
Street light outage or lighting issue Bureau of Street Lighting / 311 Report through 311/MyLA311 and include pole/location details.
311 requests

How to Submit a Los Angeles Public Works Service Request

1

Use MyLA311 first for most resident issues

For service requests, the official routes repeatedly point users to 311, the MyLA311 app or the MyLA311 website.

2

Choose the exact category

Pick the closest category: pothole, tree, bulky item, illegal dumping, street sweeping, sidewalk, street light, trash, graffiti, sewer/storm drain or right-of-way issue.

3

Add location details

Use cross streets, address, nearest landmark, side of street, lane direction, tree number, pole number or photos if safe.

4

Save the request number

Keep the service request number. If you call later, that number is more useful than explaining the issue again.

What not to do: Do not file the same issue under three categories unless the first request was clearly wrong. Duplicate requests can make tracking harder.
StreetsLA

StreetsLA: Potholes, Trees, Street Sweeping, Sidewalks and Right-of-Way

StreetsLA is one of the Department of Public Works bureaus and handles many street-network and public right-of-way services. Its contact page says service requests should be filed through 311, MyLA311 app or MyLA311 website.

Best for residents

Potholes, street trees, street sweeping, public right-of-way complaints, sidewalk issues and street-service requests.

Best for vendors/events

Sidewalk and park vending program, special event permits, street closure permit questions and public counter appointment needs.

StreetsLA item Official detail Action
Service request Call 311 or use MyLA311. Submit online when photos/location help.
External Relations Team StreetsLA.ERT@lacity.org Use for general bureau contact and routing help.
Headquarters 1149 S. Broadway, 4th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90015 Use map section below for directions.
Public counter / special event permit appointment Call 213-847-6000 Schedule before visiting.
Sidewalk vending hotline 213-847-6000, Monday-Friday 7:00 AM-3:30 PM Use for sidewalk vendor harassment/concerns listed by StreetsLA.
Street sweeping tip: StreetsLA notes that vehicles can be cited if parked in restricted areas during cleaning. Sign up for notifications or check signs before assuming a street will not be swept.
LA Sanitation

LA Sanitation: Bulky Items, Bins, Trash, Recycling, Organics and SAFE Centers

LA Sanitation & Environment is the Public Works bureau most users need for bulky item pickup, bin questions, trash, recycling, organics and household hazardous waste routes.

Sanitation need Official route Practical tip
Bulky item pickup Call 1-800-773-2489 or use MyLA311. Call at least one business day before regular collection when scheduling curbside pickup.
New bin / bin question LASAN Customer Care Center: 1-800-773-2489 Have address, bin color and issue ready.
Household hazardous waste / e-waste Use S.A.F.E. Centers or LASAN hazardous waste routes. Do not place hazardous waste in regular bins.
Commercial trash Commercial properties generally need private waste hauler arrangements. Business owners should not assume residential city collection applies.
Sewer service charge question LASAN bill/customer care resources. Sewer charges may be tied to metered water usage; check the LASAN bill explanation.
Bulky item warning: Do not dump items in alleys or at the curb without scheduling or checking rules. Use the official bulky item route or MyLA311.
Permits

Los Angeles Public Works Permits: Which Category Fits?

The official DPW permits page separates Engineering permits from Street Services permits. If you pick the wrong system, your application can stall.

Permit category Official meaning / use Start here
A-Permit Minor street construction in the public right-of-way. Bureau of Engineering permit route.
B-Permit Major street construction. Bureau of Engineering permit route.
E-Permit Excavation. Bureau of Engineering permit route.
R-Permit Revocable permits for conditional encroachment of public right-of-way. Bureau of Engineering permit route.
S-Permit Sewer and storm drain permit. Bureau of Engineering permit route.
U-Permit Excavation or trenching in public right-of-way. Bureau of Engineering permit route.
Street closure / building materials / water discharge-fire test Street Services permit categories. Street Services permits or call 213-847-6000.
Permit shortcut: If your work touches the public right-of-way, sidewalk, street, sewer, storm drain, trench, excavation, street closure or discharge/fire test, check the official DPW permit list before starting.
Business owners

Business Owner Notes: Trash, Sidewalks, Permits and Public Right-of-Way

Commercial trash is different

The LA Business Navigator notes commercial properties need to contract with a private waste hauler for trash and recycling.

Sidewalk use may need review

Sidewalk/outdoor dining, fixtures, news racks, entrance canopies and public right-of-way use may need permit review.

1

Identify whether the work is on private property or public right-of-way

Sidewalks, parkways, curb lanes, streets, alleys and many outdoor business activities can trigger city permit rules.

2

Check Engineering vs Street Services

Engineering handles many public right-of-way construction/excavation permits; Street Services handles several street-use permit categories.

3

Keep insurance and permit documents together

Public Works construction projects, permits or contracts may involve insurance documentation. Keep insurance, permit, location and contractor details ready.

Call scripts

What to Say When Calling 311, StreetsLA, LASAN or Public Works

Situation Say this Have ready
Pothole or street defect “I need to report a pothole/street defect at [exact location].” Cross streets, lane direction, photos, nearby address.
Bulky item pickup “I need to schedule bulky item pickup for [items] at [address].” Address, item list, collection day, curb location.
Street tree issue “I need help with a street tree at [location].” Tree location, hazard, sidewalk damage, photos if safe.
Permit confusion “I need to know whether this is an Engineering permit or Street Services permit.” Project address, scope, sidewalk/street impact, contractor.
Sewer/storm drain work “I need the correct sewer/storm drain or excavation permit route.” Project plans, property address, engineer/contractor contact.
Routing tip: If the first office says it is not their bureau, ask: “Which bureau or permit category should I use?” That question gets better results than ending the call.
Map

Los Angeles Public Works Map and Office Locations

Department of Public Works / Board of Public Works

DPW: 200 N. Spring Street, Room 361, Los Angeles, CA 90012-4801. Use for department/board reference. For many service requests, 311/MyLA311 is faster than visiting.

Open DPW Directions Call 311 / 213-473-3231

StreetsLA Headquarters

StreetsLA: 1149 S. Broadway, 4th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90015. Public counter services may require an appointment.

Open StreetsLA Directions Call 213-847-6000
Visit tip: Call first. Many Public Works issues are faster through MyLA311, LASAN customer care, online permits or appointment-based public counters.
Video resource

Los Angeles Public Works Video Resource

This page uses a safe video resource card instead of a broken YouTube search iframe. Open the official City video channel or official pages for current public works, sanitation, street services and 311 explainer videos.

Watch City Service and Public Works Updates

Use videos for orientation only. For service requests, permits, pickup scheduling and issue reporting, follow the official links below.

▶

Official City Video Route

Open the City’s official YouTube channel or DPW/LASAN/StreetsLA pages for current video resources.

Open LA City YouTube Open Public Works
Video accuracy note: Use official pages, not videos, for final permit steps, phone numbers, pickup rules, appointment requirements and service-request categories.
FAQs

Los Angeles City Department of Public Works FAQs

What number should I call for LA Public Works service requests?

Call 311 or 213-473-3231. You can also use the MyLA311 app or MyLA311 website for many service requests.

Is Los Angeles Public Works the same as LADWP?

No. Public Works handles bureaus such as Sanitation, Street Services, Engineering, Street Lighting and Contract Administration. LADWP is usually the route for water and power billing.

Who handles potholes in Los Angeles?

StreetsLA handles many street services, including potholes. File a service request through 311, MyLA311 or StreetsLA’s official route.

Who handles bulky item pickup in Los Angeles?

LA Sanitation handles bulky item collection. Call the LASAN Customer Care Center at 1-800-773-2489 or use MyLA311 where available.

Where is Los Angeles Department of Public Works located?

DPW lists its contact address as 200 N. Spring Street, Room 361, Los Angeles, CA 90012-4801.

Where is StreetsLA located?

StreetsLA lists its headquarters at 1149 South Broadway, 4th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90015.

What Public Works permits does Los Angeles list?

DPW lists Engineering permits such as A-, B-, E-, R-, S- and U-Permits, plus Street Services permits such as street closure, building materials, water discharge/fire test, curb painting and related permit categories.

Can I visit StreetsLA without an appointment?

StreetsLA says its public counter is available by appointment only for certain vendor and special event permit needs. Call 213-847-6000 before visiting.

Final takeaway

Best Way to Use Los Angeles Public Works Without Getting Routed Around

Use this route: Resident issue → MyLA311 or 311. Bulky item/bin/trash → LA Sanitation at 1-800-773-2489. Potholes/trees/street sweeping/right-of-way → StreetsLA. Construction, excavation, sewer or storm drain permits → Bureau of Engineering / DPW permits page. Street closures, building materials and certain street-use permits → Street Services permits.

Start with the exact problem, save your request number, and use official city pages before paying fees, scheduling pickup, applying for permits or sending a contractor into the public right-of-way.

Editorial note: This guide summarizes official Los Angeles Public Works, StreetsLA, LA Sanitation and Bureau of Engineering resources for easier public use. Phone numbers, office access, appointment rules, permit links, fees, pickup rules and service request categories can change. Confirm final details on official City of Los Angeles, DPW, StreetsLA, LASAN, MyLA311 and Bureau of Engineering pages before applying, paying, visiting or starting work.

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