Code Enforcement FAQs

The process was extensive and based on the opinions and thoughts submitted by Lafayette's citizens:

• In autumn of 2014, with the new library completed and the maintenance of our roads fully funded, the City Council sought input from residents on a 20-year vision for our city
• In winter of 2015, 725 people participated in an online and mail survey
• The survey results indicated that our residents want to preserve open space, enhance public safety, improve parking and traffic flow, and revitalize the Park Theater
• In spring of 2015, the City Council convened and held four "Community Conversations" meetings to review survey results. In these meetings, residents also called for the development of parks in the downtown and better pedestrian and bike paths.
• In fall of 2015, the City Council formed a sales tax exploration committee and retained a professional polling agency.  The Sales Tax Revenue Study Committee performed a comprehensive assessment of the current city budget and determined that projected future city revenues (without the additional Measure C revenues) would not be sufficient to implement and support the enhancements that residents indicated were important for the future of Lafayette.
• In spring of 2016, a representative sample of 436 likely voters suggested that the vast majority are satisfied with our municipal services and that 64% would support a sales tax increase if the funds were spent in Lafayette only.
• In summer of 2016, the City Council voted unanimously to place Measure C on the November 8, 2016 ballot.

You can see a visual of this process in the Summer 2016 Vistas.

OpenGov is a financial transparency website which displays government finances over a multi-year period.  The default view usually displays expenses broken down by department.

To focus on specific data – like a fund, department, expense type, or any combination – use the menu on the left side panel.  The “By” drop-down allows you to specify which breakdown you want the graphs and table rows to represent on the graph.  You can analyze the expense and revenues data by fund, department, or type.

Hover over any area of the graph to see the actual or budgeted amounts for that period.  Or, just scroll down to see a table with detailed information.

Yes.  Use the Data Filter on the left side panel to make specific selections within the data.  The Data Filter shows you the hierarchical relationships of Funds, Departments, and Account Types.  You’ll notice the title of the graph you are viewing on top along with the account type selector.  You can use the filter to see the data of most interest to you.

In the upper right-hand corner, you will see options for the different graphs and tables.  There are five graph types overall; an area graph, an area graph by percentage, a line graph, a pie graph, and a bar chart.  There is also always a table view below any chart or graph.  The table allows you to zoom-in on the detailed financial data selected in the chart or graph above.

In reviewing multiple years of data, you may see “spikes” in the individual years; this can be due to unexpected expenses, such as a hard winter, equipment failure, a capital project, or a specific event that required additional funds.  You can drill-down into our OpenGov site to learn more about what exactly those expense or revenues are.

Yes, there are Share and Download buttons in the upper right corner.  You can share any view on a social network or by email.  There are also options to download the displayed data in .csv spreadsheet and .png image formats.

Use the Help menu on the top right corner to navigate to the “Budget 101” primer to learn more about multi-fund accounting.

Use the Help menu on the top right corner to navigate to the “Contact” option to send your message to your organization.

The City may place a number of different holds at different phases of your project depending on its scope. These holds are placed to ensure compliance with certain requirements or imposed conditions of approval. Please check your approval documents and/or stamped plans for a brief description of the holds placed.

These plan check hold phases include:

• Plan Check (Permit Issuance)
  • Common reasons: Green Halo Waste Management Plan, development fee payment, tree protection installation, construction hours installation, entitlement Conditions of Approval
• Framing (County Code 109)
  • Common reasons: entitlement Conditions of Approval, Statement of Understanding, surveyor/engineer certification
• Final Inspection (County Code 120)
  • Common reasons: Green Halo Summary (tickets/receipts upload), address assignment, deed restriction, entitlement Conditions of Approval

Most of Lafayette’s growth occurred in the 1960’s with the population nearly tripling from 7,000 to 20,000 by 1970. So it has been almost 40 years since most of Lafayette’s subdivisions and their roads were created. Roads that are not maintained will last for 12 to 15 years before the road condition declines steeply and many roads will fail at an age of about 40 years. When Lafayette incorporated in 1968, it did so as a “no property” tax city, therefore, the city subsisted primarily on sales taxes. In 1978, with the passage of Prop 13, the City began to collect a share of the 1% tax paid by property owners. The City now receives about 6.2% of the property taxes. That means that for a $1 million home with a property tax of $10,000, Lafayette receives only $600.  The rest goes to the State, BART, schools, etc.  While this is still relatively low compared to other communities in the county (e.g. Hercules – 33%, Brentwood – 11%, Martinez – 15%), the City has no mechanism by which it can capture a higher percentage.

In 1995 a tax measure raised $13 million and financed 41 specific projects that provided benefit to the most people: arterials and collectors such as Moraga Road, St. Mary’s Road, Mt. Diablo Blvd., Pleasant Hill Road, Acalanes Road and Reliez Station Road. In 2004 the City turned its focus toward finding funding to repair neighborhood roads.

• Measure N was an ad valorem tax that would have taxed property owners based on the current assessed value of their homes. The cost was approximately $19 per $100,000 in property value, so the tax on a home valued at $500,000 would have been $95 per year. That measure failed.

• The City tried again in 2007 with Measure C, this time with a flat parcel tax that would have cost $150 per residential unit. That also failed.

• In 2011, the City tried again with Measure G, another flat tax of $89 per residence. That did not pass either.

• In 2008 the City considered putting a local sales tax measure on the ballot which would have increased the sales tax rate by up to 1%. However, there was significant opposition expressed by the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and the Lafayette Taxpayers Association and ultimately, the Council decided not to put a measure on the ballot.

• In 2010, a citizen’s Finance Committee recommended that the City increase the property tax transfer rate which would raise the rate of the current tax that is paid only when property is sold. However, in order to raise this rate, the City would have been required to change from a General Law city to a Charter City. There was significant concern expressed by residents about such a change, therefore the City Council chose not to put the charter city initiative on the ballot.

Setbacks are measured from property lines or access easements, whichever is more restrictive. Use the Community View map to search your property address to identify your zoning district. Each zoning district establishes minimum setback requirements for the front setback, side yard, aggregate side yard, and rear yards. Some lots, such as “flag lots” or oddly configured lots, require that planning staff make a determination with respect to where each setback applies.  Staff will consider the access to the lot and orientation of the house among other factors when making such a determination.

For properties located adjacent to creeks, click here to determine your creek setback.

Properties in the R-6 and greater zoning designations may maintain chickens on their property.

Additional questions regarding chickens?  Contact Papa John (925) 284-5497.

 For more information on regulations for keeping small farm animals click here.

Re-roof permits are generally exempt from review by the Planning & Building Department except when the project is located within a commercial, office, or multi-family zoning district. A Waste Management Plan is required for all non-residential projects. Additionally, proposed roofing color and material for re-roofs in a commercial, office, or multi-family zoning district must be reviewed by the planner-on-duty. A permit from the Contra Costa County Building Inspection Department is required in all circumstances.

• Virtual Counter - Drop in via Zoom any time during Virtual Planning Counter hours  Monday and Wednesday, 9:00-11:00 AM and 1:00-3:00 PM.  There is no need to make an appointment for the Virtual Planning Counter.  
  • Click this link to connect with a planner at the Virtual Planning Counter via Zoom: https://bit.ly/2WkgHcv. 
  • Join by telephone at Tel. (669) 900-9128, Meeting ID: 880 8067 2124.
    
    
• In-Person Counter - Schedule an appointment to meet with a planner in-person at the counter on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00-11:00 AM and 1:00-3:00 PM via the online booking system.  Those who drop-in without an appointment will be assisted following individuals with an appointment or previously scheduled meeting.  Review the How to Schedule a Counter Appointment handout for more information.

• Virtual Counter - Drop in via Zoom any time during Virtual Planning Counter hours  Monday and Wednesday, 9:00-11:00 AM and 1:00-3:00 PM.  There is no need to make an appointment for the Virtual Planning Counter.  
  • Click this link to connect with a planner at the Virtual Planning Counter via Zoom: https://bit.ly/2WkgHcv. 
  • Join by telephone at Tel. (669) 900-9128, Meeting ID: 880 8067 2124.
    
    
• In-Person Counter - Schedule an appointment to meet with a planner in-person at the counter on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00-11:00 AM and 1:00-3:00 PM via the online booking system.  Those who drop-in without an appointment will be assisted following individuals with an appointment or previously scheduled meeting.  Review the How to Schedule a Counter Appointment handout for more information.

You can find your Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) by searching the property address on the City's Community View map. The APN can also be found in your property tax statement or your preliminary title report.  Can't find it, please contact the planner-on-duty at (925) 284-1976 or via email.

What are sharrows?
“Sharrows” is short for “shared lane pavement markings” which indicate that motorists and bicyclists are to share the travel lane.

As a bicyclist, what should I do in the presence of sharrows?
We’ve placed the sharrows outside of the parked car’s “door zone.” Bicyclists should ride through the center of the sharrow with parked cars on their right and passing vehicles on their left.

As a motorist, what should I do in the presence of sharrows?
Slow down and drive carefully. Sharrows indicate that you are sharing the road with bicyclists. Because the travel lane is too narrow for safe side-by-side travel by motorists and bicyclists, motorists should slow down and either wait for the bicyclist to turn off the roadway, or wait until you can move safely into an adjacent lane.

Can I still drive in lanes where there are sharrows?
If there is not an accompanying white stripe with the marking then it is not a bicycle lane; it is a sharrow. You may still drive in that travel lane. You may encroach over the sharrow if there are no bicyclists next to you.

Why not just stripe bicycle lanes?
We’re using the sharrows because there isn’t enough room for bicycle lanes. This is because of a combination of a high demand for on-street parking and the inability to either eliminate a travel lane or narrow the existing travel lanes. It is also physically too difficult and prohibitively expensive to widen the roadway.

Why not just use sharrows instead of bicycle lanes?
Bicycle lanes are still the best solution for creating safe conditions for all roadway users on high vehicle volume streets. With bike lanes, motorists are not delayed by the presence of slower-moving bicyclists in front of them and bicyclists don’t feel intimidated by the presence of following motorists who wish to pass them. Sharrows will be added on roads where adding bike lanes is not feasible.

What does Lafayette hope to accomplish with the sharrows?
We want to create safer conditions for all roadway users on busy streets where we should have bicycle lanes but cannot. We hope to do this by moving bicyclists a little further away from parked cars than they would normally ride in the absence of sharrows and creating a little more awareness and separation between passing motorists and bicyclists than would normally exist.

Do sharrows work?
They seem to. A 2003 study in San Francisco showed that in the presence of sharrows, bicyclists moved further away from parked cars and passing motorists moved further away from cyclists than in the absence of sharrows. California has adopted sharrows as a standard roadway treatment, and San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley have already painted hundreds of them on their streets.

FAQ from the Portland sharrows fact sheet, adapted for Lafayette

After the work covered by your Encroachment Permit is complete (including theremoval of utility and construction identification markings), you must contact Lafayette City Offices, Engineering Department Encroachment Permit Hot Line (925) 299-3277 to request a final inspection.

Once your project has been inspected by the engineering staff and all conditions of the permit have been met, the deposit will be refunded in the same manner in which it was made. For check refunds the process may take 2-4 weeks for you to receive your refund; for credit card refunds, the process may take 1-5 days for you to receive your refund.

To obtain an Encroachment Permit, submit an Encroachment Permit application form, providing the address and detailed description of the project, to the Engineering Department. You may also need to provide plans, drawings, or sketches of the project. 

When the permit application is received, a staff person will visit the job site to determine conditions the City may place on the project. Some construction details and typical conditions are provided for reference on the back of the Encroachment Permit form. If more information is needed about your project, the staff will call you with questions. 

The staff will then determine the amount of the refundable deposit ($500 minimum, $2500 typical) as well as the permit fee to cover the initial staff time ($187.50 minimum). If applicable, additional inspection fees will be deducted from the security deposit when the project is complete.

Someone from the City offices will then contact you (typically within 1-2 days) and let you know that your Encroachment Permit has been processed. You can then submit your payment for the fees and deposit, and pick up your permit.

You are also required to contact the City’s offices at (925) 299-3277 (Encroachment Inspection Hotline) at least 24 hours prior to starting the work covered by your permit (see permit for details).

The City’s General Plan and zoning code establish maximum density limits for each of its residential districts. Developments that exceed these limits are allowed in two ways:

1. The State’s density bonus law mandates that a city allow densities exceeding that set by the General Plan if the development includes a certain number of affordable units. The City has no choice but to approve a project that complies with this law.
2. The General Plan can be amended to rezone a parcel of land; however, in order to do so the City Council must find that there is a community need for the change proposed.  For example, if a developer proposes clustering homes (e.g. condos instead of single family homes) that allows the City to keep more open space.

The best way to contact the council members is to send an e-mail message. You can send a message to the entire council here:  cityhall@lovelafayette.org.

To contact individual council members, click here.

It is the City of Lafayette’s responsibility to provide public services and facilities that maintain our community’s quality of life. City employees continue to work hard every day to provide the services that residents tell us they value most, such as public street, pathway and storm drain maintenance, pothole repair, wildfire preparedness, police services, traffic safety, and senior and youth programs.

Our goal is to keep pace with these service requirements while also being fiscally responsible. The City’s General Fund Budget provides funding for City services and facilities. Recent assessments have shown that Lafayette’s budget has an ongoing deficit of more than $2M annually. Without additional revenue, the Council will have to make difficult decisions about which programs and services to reduce or eliminate.  The Council considered several funding options to address this deficit and has decided to put a ½ cent sales tax measure on the November 5, 2024 ballot.

These funds would go directly into the City’s General Fund to help pay for city services, including:

• Maintaining public streets and storm drains in their present condition and providing timely pothole repair.
• Sustaining wildfire preparedness activities.
• Maintaining the number of sworn police officers at the current level.
• Services for senior citizens.
• Maintaining city parks, open spaces, paths, and playfields.
• Traffic safety improvements on our streets and roads for all users including people driving, biking and walking.
• Continuing support for our community partners like the Chamber of Commerce and the School District.

This measure will appear on the November 5, 2024 ballot for Lafayette voters. It will require a 50% +1 vote to pass.

The ballot question language reads as follows:

CITY OF LAFAYETTE SALES TAX MEASURE.

To provide funding to maintain City services, including public streets, storm drains, pothole repairs, wildfire preparedness, number of police officers, traffic safety, senior and youth programs, and other general city services, shall the measure enacting a 1/2¢ sales tax for 7 years generating approximately $2,400,000 annually with yearly financial audits, public review of expenditures by a citizen oversight committee, and all funds benefitting Lafayette be adopted?

PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT: The cost to maintain our 92 miles of public roads in their current condition has increased by $1M a year. The cost of contracted labor and materials has increased 33% over the past five years, compared to a 23% increase in available revenue over the same period.

INSURANCE: The cost of general liability, property, and employment insurance has increased 144% over the last five years. Lafayette has not had any disaster-related losses or large jury awards, but several factors have caused the national insurance industry to raise premiums.

UNFUNDED MANDATES: The State continues to mandate programs and policies onto cities, but without providing additional revenue. Although it is only a small percentage of the total $2M+ deficit, unfunded mandates are an on-going, and growing expense that the City is obligated to fulfill. For example, our costs for Stormwater Pollution compliance have increased 78% over the last 10 years while revenue has remained flat. Another recent example is the staff, time, and resources required to implement the 60 programs required by the Department of Housing as part of the most recent Housing Element submission. See more details below.

INFLATION: Due to inflation, everything is more expensive than it used to be, and revenues are not keeping pace with expenses. Even if inflation moderates in the coming years, the deficit will remain without additional revenue or service cuts.

DEFERRED MAINTENANCE: For many years, the City has been prudent about accruing money in 'sinking funds' for large capital expenses and maintenance for our infrastructure ' the library and police station, the community center, ballfields, parks, playground equipment, etc. However, as the City has grown and acquired assets -- and as inflation has also increased -- these amounts are insufficient for future needs.

For the past two years, the Council has focused on its short-term and long-term fiscal sustainability as one of its highest priorities and discussed options at several public meetings. A year ago, at their June 26, 2023 meeting, the Council asked City staff to review all City services, projects, and programs to identify which services could be cut to match expected revenues.

City staff underwent an extensive budget analysis to identify a 10% cut in expenses -- equal to the $2M deficit. The Council's Fiscal Sustainability Subcommittee reviewed a list of potential reductions that would fill the budget gap and determined that making those cuts could negatively impact Lafayette residents. The report noted, 'There is little fat; we need to cut muscle.'

More recently, a scientific survey found that 93% of residents were satisfied with the services and programs offered by the City, and 83% were concerned that a deficit would negatively affect them. Rather than making immediate cuts that would impact services such as the number of police officers, street and drain maintenance, support for senior services, the Chamber of Commerce and other community partners, the Council decided to:

• freeze hiring for four approved staff positions,
• utilize remaining one-time American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to bridge the deficit through FY24-25
• forego adding any new tasks or projects to the current workload

The Weekly Roundup discussed the deficit and shared possible options on several occasions in addition to publicizing how residents could get more information and participate in City Council meetings. The City published two issues of Vistas to inform residents about the subject:  the Winter 2024 issue explained how the City’s finances work and introduced residents to the ongoing deficit while the Spring 2024 issue described the reasons the City is facing a deficit and announced that a possible sales tax was being discussed. In addition, the City conducted two scientific surveys to assess voters’ satisfaction, priorities, and attitudes. The City also instituted a dedicated email address (LafayetteListens@lovelafayette.org) to engage residents, accept feedback, and answer specific questions.

Call Central Contra Costa Sanitary District at (925) 228-9500.

For emergencies call (925) 933-0990 or (925) 933-0955 (24 hours, 7 days a week).

For toxics, call (925) 689-3890.

Lafayette's current sales tax rate is 8.75%. If voters approve a 1/2 cent sales tax measure, Lafayette's rate will be equal to Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek with a 9.25% sales tax rate. Even with this new tax, Lafayette's overall sales tax rate would be lower than those of Orinda, Moraga, and Concord.

While specific decisions have yet to be made, the City Council reviewed the extent of cuts that would potentially need to be made at its June 10, 2024 meeting; you can read about these potential cuts in the June 10, 2024 staff report.

Parking permits are available at the city offices through the accounting department. Make sure that your street has a Residential Parking Permit Program. Please be prepared to show proof of residency by showing two of any of the following:

• Recent phone, PG&E, water or other utility bill

• Recent receipt of rent payment

City of Lafayette Planning Dept. Zoning Plan Check via idtPlans 

Applying for a building permit in the City of Lafayette is a four-step process. The process is outlined in the handout titled How to Get a Building Permit in Lafayette, which includes detailed information on the permitting process as well as location and contact information for each agency.

Online Submissions

Building permit applicants looking for zoning clearance from the Lafayette Planning Department must create an online account to submit plans and a completed Contra Costa County building permit application through lovelafayette.idtplans.com.

• Use the following link to register for an idtPlans account: https://lovelafayette.idtplans.com/secure/.
• Click here for a step-by-step guide on creating an account: https://support.idtplans.com/kb/a14/account-registration.aspx 
• Technical support for this process is provided by idtPlans; for issues with account registration or application submittal, call 1 (844) 848-8667 or click here: https://bit.ly/3xpbQYe.

Contra Costa County Building Department Plan Review 

Like many small cities in the area, Lafayette contracts with the Contra Costa County Building Inspection Department (CCCBID) to perform building permit plan-check and inspection services. The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (CCCSD) and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (CCCFPD) review plans to ensure their development standards are met. Check the How to Get a Building Permit handout to see whether Fire and Sanitary review are required

Online Submissions: Contra Costa County Building Inspection Department (CCCBID) is also only accepting digital submittals for building permits.  The department is reopening its facilities to the public and you can make an appointment with staff here.  More information is also at this link.  

During the pandemic, the federal government proscribed very specific uses for which the American Rescue Plan A funds could be used. Of the $6,372,376 in ARPA funds received, $3.8M was used to backfill general fund revenues that were reduced due to the covid pandemic. These funds were allocated to road repair, stormwater pollution, downtown core area maintenance and other general fund expenses to bridge the budget gap. The remaining funds were spent assisting local businesses and non-profits and making City facilities safe and sanitary. For more details, read the ARPA FAQs.

Applicants may submit PDFs via email, Dropbox or other method to the Planner inbox (Planner@LoveLafayette.org). At a minimum, the application must include the appropriate application form, photos, response to findings and plans. 

The subject line of the email should be “New Application for ___(application type) at ___(address)”. Applications will be assigned to planners to begin completeness review and CEQA evaluation after payment of the application fee.  The Permit Streamlining Act (PSA) timeline will not start until payment is made. A planner will email you the fee amount due and payment instructions to pay with a credit card via Square, the preferred method of payment. You may also submit payment by check.

The City paid Strategy Research Institute $54,000 for two scientific polls.  The City also retained Strategy Research Institute’s subsidiary, IMC Corporation for informational outreach and public relations and paid $40,000 for those services. It is common practice for cities (and other public agencies) to engage consulting services when placing a measure on the ballot, because it is essential for the City Council to have a clear understanding of residents’ priorities and to gauge the level of support for the proposed measure before taking the time and expense necessary for placing a measure on the ballot.

With respect to Storm Water Pollution – which our largest unfunded mandate – the City and other storm water agencies throughout California have been pursuing recovery for unfunded mandates for at least two decades.  These collective efforts have resulted in a favorable California Supreme Court case involving the LA permit and two favorable Court of Appeal cases involving the San Diego permit.  These cases demonstrate that certain parts of the storm water program are unfunded state mandates, and at least in LA and San Diego there may be some ability to recover for some of those costs.  However, it has taken cities in LA about 20 years to get any money back, and San Diego is still waiting for reimbursement after 17 years.  In the end, funding of the storm water program is very complicated and there is no easy answer to how to meet the City’s obligations. 

The State argues that municipalities could adopt a fee to be paid by property owners to cover the expenses, therefore it is not the State’s obligation to reimburse cities. However, cities (along with the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association) disagree about the legal authority to levy such a fee at the Council level without preapproval by the voters. As a small city, spending our limited resources – both staff time and money -- fighting the state on this issue is not fiscally prudent. We will however continue to join with our fellow cities on any efforts they put forth that may eventually come to fruition with respect to these reimbursements.   However, however we do not anticipate this happening in the near future, nor do we anticipate even successful claims being paid timely.

While  the Storm Water Pollution unfunded mandates account for only about $300K (15%) of the projected $2M+ deficit, Lafayette has current programs that need to be funded now.

Other examples include planning-related mandates that require staff, time, and resources to implement. Some examples include:

• Housing Element Update: Cities are required to update their Housing Elements every 8 years. State has provided some one-time grants toward certain tasks associated with preparing the most recent (2023-2031) Housing Element, however, the State provides no direct funding to jurisdictions like Lafayette for preparing the Housing Element. 
• Beyond the expense to undertake the update of the Housing Element, we included 60 new programs in our Housing Element in order to meet the State’s housing requirement; Those new programs must be implemented, requiring the equivalent of at least one full-time employee for the next several years. Currently, the Planning Department has one FTE position frozen because of the deficit.
• The State requires jurisdictions to track data and prepare various reports (sometimes as frequently as each year) on housing applications and housing production.  The requirements of this report expand each year as more legislation is passed. 
• New State housing laws often require cities to update their codes to keep up with new legislation (like SB 330, SB 9 and 10, AB 2923, AB 2911, ADU bills etc.)
• Another small but recent example is AB2022 which required the term “squaw” to be removed as a place name. We estimate it cost us thousands of dollars in staff time to research and prepared documentation for the State regarding if any places or geographic features in Lafayette used the term “squaw” in its name.

And, here are some examples of other unfunded administrative/recordkeeping expenses:

• The City is obligated to prepare numerous reports/records, ensure that both regular employees and elected officials receive regular training on ethics and sexual harassment, and update our local codes to keep up to date with ever-changing State laws; the staff time to perform this work is not reimbursed by the State.
• Brown Act specifications for Agenda Posting
• FPPC Filing Requirements, Maddy Act Appointment List, State Controller's Office (SCO) Annual Reporting, etc.
• Yet another small but recent example is SB 1383 Organics - Starting in 2023, Cities are now required to spend time reporting/recording compliance with the state’s new mandate to purchase bio-recycled products, such as compost, renewable gas and recycled-content paper.

The City has applied for reimbursement for unfunded mandates where appropriate and applicable. For example, in the past, we used to file annually to be reimbursed for the cost of implementing the Brown Act and never received anything from the State. That being said, of course, we are happy to absorb the cost of posting agendas and providing employee training to promote transparency, but what it indicates is that even what amounted to a nominal reimbursement never actually materialized from the state.

On our website, see the City-Owned Parcels List (PDF). For properties acquired within the last 25 years, it also includes the source of the funds used for the purchase. Some parcels are “excess right of way” or dedicated open space and don’t have specific addresses.

We have information about staff compensation on our website, including:

• salary ranges for all regular positions

• 2023 list of highest paid employees

Lafayette's compensation package aligns with that of other cities in our region and state; We conduct bi-annual survey of salaries for key staff positions. As a result, the City has been able to attract and retain highly qualified and seasoned personnel.

Note: It has come to our attention that the current information on the Transparent California site is incorrect; We have notified the Nevada Policy Research Institute about the errors.  Correct information is available on the State Controller’s website.