FAQ
Have a question? Check here first.
Animal / Pest Control
- A: Call Vector Control at (925) 685-9301. For other questions about animals, pests or vermin on your property, visit the Code Enforcement page.
- A: Visit the Mt. Diablo Bee Keepers Association website to obtain a list of volunteers in your area. For other questions about animals, pests or vermin on your property, visit the Code Enforcement page.
- A: Call Contra Costa Animal Services at (925) 335-8300. For other questions about animals, pests or vermin on your property, visit the Code Enforcement page.
- A: Contact Vector Control at (925) 685-9301.
- A: Local nurseries can recommend some useful measures to help protect your plants. Refer to the local yellow pages.
Building & Zoning
- A:
- 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.
- A: The Contra Costa County Building Inspection Department ("CCCBID") performs plan check and issues building & grading permits on behalf of the City of Lafayette. To inquire whether a permit has been issued for a specific property, contact the CCCBID Lamorinda Office at (925) 299-0263 or lamorinda@dcd.cccounty.us and provide the property address or Assessor’s Parcel Number as well as the scope of work.
- A: The Lafayette Municipal Code is available online.
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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.
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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).
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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.
- A:
- 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.
Q:I think one of my neighbors is in violation of city code or ordinance. Where can I report this problem?
A: Please check out the Code Enforcement web page, to ensure that the problem falls within the city's jurisdiction.- A:
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.
Q:If my proposed work is within the creek setback area, can I apply for an exception to proceed with the work?
A: Yes, the requirements for an exception are explained in Section 6-1842 of the ordinance. You will need to supply three items outlined in paragraph (c) of that section. Please note that the certification by the soils engineer must state, “In the professional opinion of the engineer, there is no likelihood of a hazard to persons or property resulting from the proposed construction.”
The City Engineer will review the exception application and make a recommendation for approval or denial to the City Council. As part of an approval, the City Engineer may impose certain conditions on your project to perform additional work in the vicinity of the project. The conditions will be based on the site conditions and the reports that you provide. If the City Council approves the exception, you will need to enter into a creek setback agreement with the City. A blank copy can be provided for your reference. After the agreement is executed, the City will issue your building permit. If you choose to appeal the City Engineer’s recommendation, you may do so at the City Council meeting when the City Engineer presents the recommendation with your application.- A: Click here to view information on design review including triggers that would require your project to gain design review approval from the City. Additionally, the Planning Project Checklist is a brief form intended to provide a property owner or applicant with an overview of the rules and regulations that would be applicable to a given project. It is designed to be completed by a staff planner, however, it can be informative to an applicant as a blank form which lists the triggers for discretionary review.
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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.
- A: Generally, Construction Hours are as follows:
8am - 6pm, Monday through Saturday. No noise-generating construction is allowed on Sundays & national holidays.
Contact planner@lovelafayette.org for details or questions. - A: If you have a creek-side property and you are contemplating work, you will need a creek setback determination.
Article 5 of the Lafayette Municipal Code Ordinance No. 512 prohibits construction of structures within the creek setback area. Following is a brief explanation of what the setback area is, and how to determine the setback line on your property. (There are other related regulations dealing with flood zones that you should also investigate at the same time by contacting the Planning Services Division at (925) 284-1976.)
Section 6-1841 of the ordinance contains the formula used to determine the setback line. Examples of creek setback determinations can be viewed here. We recommend that you obtain the services of a land surveyor to gather topographic information in the relevant area of your property. Based on the creek depth, the steepness of the bank, and the topography of the top on bank, the land surveyor can determine where the setback line is relative to the toe of the creek bank slope. All of the land between the creek and the setback line is defined as the creek setback area, and no structures are allowed within it.
In order to receive a building permit for your project, you need to submit evidence that your proposed work is outside the setback area. For the City’s review, please submit a topographic plan of the project area, including the creek and its features (i.e., top of bank, toe of bank, bank slopes, flow channel, grade breaks, etc.). You should plot on the plan the setback line in accordance to the ordinance. Lastly, provide a cross-sectional view of the creek, creek bank, the setback line, and your proposed structure. The section should reflect a point where your proposed structure is the closest to the setback line.
We strongly recommend that you use a licensed surveyor to perform this work. You may make the determination yourself. If the City disagrees with your measurements, you may have to submit calculations prepared by a licensed surveyor to prove your case. - A:
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.
- A: If you perform any work or store materials and equipment within the City’s right-of-way, you need an Encroachment Permit. Generally, the City’s right-of-way extends about 20-25 feet from the center of the road on most residential streets, and much wider on through-roads.
Light landscaping (ground cover, low shrubs) without irrigation may be installed in the right-of-way without a permit. However, you do so at your own risk, and anything planted within the City’s right-of-way may be removed if it conflicts with future City road or drainage construction activities.
Permanent structures such as a wall, fence, decorative mail box, or building are not allowed within the City’s right-of-way. Under special circumstances and as a last resort, you may apply for an Encroachment Agreement for these structures, which will be considered by the City Council, in addition to an Encroachment Permit. - A:
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:
- 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.
- 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.
Chip Seal Program
- A: A chip seal costs about 75 cents/sq. ft. while a full road reconstruction -- which is what is needed on these roads -- costs about $10/sq. ft. This process is admittedly a “band aid”, however, the goal is to provide a minimal treatment that will that will keep these failed roads in a drivable condition during the next 5-10 years, which is how long it may take get funding for a full reconstruction.
- A: There is currently a backlog of approximately $12 million. The City estimates that it needs to spend an average of $2.6M annually for each of the next 10 years to fix the remaining failed roads in addition to maintaining the roads that have already been repaired. The City currently has $1.7 million annually in secured funding in place for these purposes.
- A:
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.
- A: The City has an ongoing road reconstruction and pavement maintenance program for selected public streets. An alphabetical list of street repair projects scheduled over the next five years is available in the 5-Year Capital Improvement Program Streets List.
- A: The City contributes $1 million annually from the General Fund. In addition, another $700,000 comes from gas taxes and revenue from the county transportation measure (Measure J). Also, since 1995, the City has made additional contributions totaling $7 million from the General Fund reserve.
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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.
- A: When properly constructed and maintained, a road can last for up to 40 years. However, without proper maintenance, the condition of a road deteriorates precipitously after about 10 years and the cost to rehabilitate those streets may be 5 to 10 times what it would have cost to just maintain the good pavement. If the City were to neglect this necessary maintenance on “good roads” in favor of streets that are already costly to repair, the newly improved streets would fall back into the more expensive reconstruction category and actually end up increasing the funding gap we already face.
Finance
Q:Can we increase fines for speeding? Can we decrease the speed limit and enforce fines for even 5 mph over that limit?
A: The Contra Costa County Superior Court sets the fines for speeding therefore Lafayette has no jurisdiction to increase those fines. In addition, the California Vehicle Code defines areas that can be increased fine areas and again, Lafayette has no jurisdiction to define those areas subjectively.
The traffic and speed surveys determine the safe speed for the roadway therefore it is not legal for municipalities to arbitrarily decrease speed limits on specific roadways. Driving 5 mph over the speed limit is also not necessarily against the law. Speeding is defined as driving faster than the safe speed, not the speed limit sign so each roadway has a different safe speed, which depends on road conditions at the time.Q:How many City employees are there? Why has the number of City employees grown over the last 40 years if the population has stayed relatively the same?
A: The City currently has 39 Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) plus a number of contract and temporary employees that increase and decrease depending on the current workload.
When the City incorporated in 1968 most of the functions were contracted. There were few planners, no engineers, and no recreation or public works employees.
Although the City started with only 6 employees (mostly administrative), by 1978, there were 20 -- all of which were being carried by the General Fund. Today, the General Fund supports only 21.3 FTEs -- very similar to 1978 -- because many of the positions added since then are outside the General Fund (e.g. Recreation, Code and Parking Enforcement, Lamorinda Bus Program Manager, Redevelopment).
Since 1968, the state and federal government has imposed many new regulations and mandates (stormwater pollution control, environmental reviews and protections, redevelopment, permit streamlining). In addition, the City, in an effort to maintain the semi-rural character of the city engaged in additional complex planning activities (e.g. hillside ordinance, parking & circulation, tree protection, sign ordinance, etc.). The planning functions are largely supported by fees.
Finally, the Pavement Management Program since 1995 has required at least 3 engineers.- A:
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. 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.
NOTE: For more information about City finances, you can view a short video and read the Fall 2007 issue of Vistas: Where Do Your Taxes Go? Municipal Finance 101. Q:Why do we continue to contract with the County for police services? Wouldn’t it be cheaper and more efficient to have our own police force?
A: Because of the relatively small size of the police force, the City benefits from economies of scale provided by the County. A stand-alone police force would likely result in additional administrative costs for payroll, human resources, communications, forensics and workers compensation/disability.
In 2005 the City analyzed opportunities to reduce costs by forming a Lamorinda police force or contracting with another agency, however the study concluded that the costs would be higher than what we are paying now.- A: When properly constructed and maintained, a road can last for up to 40 years. However, without proper maintenance, the condition of a road deteriorates precipitously after about 10 years and the cost to rehabilitate those streets may be 5 to 10 times what it would have cost to just maintain the good pavement. If the City were to neglect this necessary maintenance on “good roads” in favor of streets that are already costly to repair, the newly improved streets would fall back into the more expensive reconstruction category and actually end up increasing the funding gap we already face.
Q:Why don’t EMBUD, PG&E, Comcast and CentralSan pay for the damage they do to the streets? Why doesn’t the City coordinate their street repairs with these agencies?
A:EBMUD, PG&E, Comcast and the Central Sanitary District are all responsible for repairing the damage they do to our streets and we hold them to the highest standards allowed by law. In the case of planned maintenance, we do try to coordinate street repair with other agencies and businesses, however, it is not always feasible, particularly in emergency cases.
- A:
Moraga residents, as well as those in neighboring cities, use our streets, but there is no practical way for the City to charge them their “fair share” of road repair. Not maintaining a busy thoroughfare like Moraga Road would also adversely impact Lafayette residents. However, Moraga and other neighboring residents do shop and eat in Lafayette, and their contributions to our sales tax revenue helps fund a portion of the $1 million the City contributes to the road repair budget each year. In addition, when the new homes are built in Palos Colorados (Moraga) Lafayette will receive a monetary settlement of $2.5 million as mitigation for the increased traffic the development will generate. It expected that most, if not all, of this money will be put towards local road repair.
General
- A: Yes. Check the Lafayette Police Department web page for more information, or call them at (925) 283-3680.
- A: Call Niroop Srivatsa, City Manager, at (925) 284-1968 or e-mail her at nsrivatsa@lovelafayette.org.
- A:
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.
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The City of Lafayette does not require a Business License or Business Registration. Businesses are free to operate without a Business License or Registration from the City, provided that they comply with local zoning regulations (e.g. the use is permitted in the zoning district, parking standards are met, etc.) Please contact Planner@lovelafayette.org or (925) 284-1976 to inquire about permitted uses and parking standards.
However, if your business is located in the unincorporated area or are conducting business in the unincorporated area of Lafayette, contact the County offices at (925) 957-5290 for their licensing requirements.
- A: The Lafayette Municipal Code is available online.
Q:How many City employees are there? Why has the number of City employees grown over the last 40 years if the population has stayed relatively the same?
A: The City currently has 39 Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) plus a number of contract and temporary employees that increase and decrease depending on the current workload.
When the City incorporated in 1968 most of the functions were contracted. There were few planners, no engineers, and no recreation or public works employees.
Although the City started with only 6 employees (mostly administrative), by 1978, there were 20 -- all of which were being carried by the General Fund. Today, the General Fund supports only 21.3 FTEs -- very similar to 1978 -- because many of the positions added since then are outside the General Fund (e.g. Recreation, Code and Parking Enforcement, Lamorinda Bus Program Manager, Redevelopment).
Since 1968, the state and federal government has imposed many new regulations and mandates (stormwater pollution control, environmental reviews and protections, redevelopment, permit streamlining). In addition, the City, in an effort to maintain the semi-rural character of the city engaged in additional complex planning activities (e.g. hillside ordinance, parking & circulation, tree protection, sign ordinance, etc.). The planning functions are largely supported by fees.
Finally, the Pavement Management Program since 1995 has required at least 3 engineers.- A:
Lafayette has 18 commissions and committees comprised of 137 volunteers. While all the volunteers are unpaid, city staff members are assigned to each commission and committee, not only to take minutes of the meetings, but also to perform research and analysis as directed by the commission/committee. 2023 Maddie Act Document.
Since only a portion of a staff member’s time is usually allocated to the committee, simply reducing the number of times a commission/committee meets will not necessarily decrease expenses. In order to save a substantial sum, the structure of the commissions/committees would need to be evaluated such that reorganization would result in being able to reduce the overall number of employees. Simply eliminating the smaller committees would have little impact on expenses. - A:
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. 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.
NOTE: For more information about City finances, you can view a short video and read the Fall 2007 issue of Vistas: Where Do Your Taxes Go? Municipal Finance 101. - A:
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
- A: Voter registration forms are available at the city offices.
- A: The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce is located at 251 Lafayette Circle. The phone number is (925) 284-7404.
Q:Why do we continue to contract with the County for police services? Wouldn’t it be cheaper and more efficient to have our own police force?
A: Because of the relatively small size of the police force, the City benefits from economies of scale provided by the County. A stand-alone police force would likely result in additional administrative costs for payroll, human resources, communications, forensics and workers compensation/disability.
In 2005 the City analyzed opportunities to reduce costs by forming a Lamorinda police force or contracting with another agency, however the study concluded that the costs would be higher than what we are paying now.
Maintenance
Q:How do I report a problem with street cleaning, clogged culverts, a fallen sign, branches that need trimming, graffiti, and other maintenance problems?
A: Call the Public Works Department at (925) 934-3908 and be prepared to leave a detailed message and contact information. If you prefer, you can fill out an on-line Public Works Service Request.- A: No, private streets are maintained by the property owners on that street. List of public and private roads.
Q:I think one of my neighbors is in violation of city code or ordinance. Where can I report this problem?
A: Please check out the Code Enforcement web page, to ensure that the problem falls within the city's jurisdiction.- A: Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm call the Public Works Department at (925) 934-3908. On weekends and after hours, call the police department dispatch at (925) 284-5010.
- A: Homeowners are responsible for maintaining sidewalks that are adjacent to their homes.
- A: When properly constructed and maintained, a road can last for up to 40 years. However, without proper maintenance, the condition of a road deteriorates precipitously after about 10 years and the cost to rehabilitate those streets may be 5 to 10 times what it would have cost to just maintain the good pavement. If the City were to neglect this necessary maintenance on “good roads” in favor of streets that are already costly to repair, the newly improved streets would fall back into the more expensive reconstruction category and actually end up increasing the funding gap we already face.
Permits
- A:
- 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.
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No, the city does not require a permit for yard or garage sales. However, signs advertising for these types of sales must be taken down immediately after the sale is over.
- A: Click here to review the How to Get a Building Permit in Lafayette pamphlet. Review page 7 of the document, entitled "Exempt from a Building Permit," for work that does not require a building permit. For additional questions, please contact the Contra Costa County Building Inspection Department at (925) 299-0263 or lamorinda@dcd.cccounty.us.
- A: The Contra Costa County Building Inspection Department ("CCCBID") performs plan check and issues building & grading permits on behalf of the City of Lafayette. To inquire whether a permit has been issued for a specific property, contact the CCCBID Lamorinda Office at (925) 299-0263 or lamorinda@dcd.cccounty.us and provide the property address or Assessor’s Parcel Number as well as the scope of work.
- A:
The City of Lafayette does not require a Business License or Business Registration. Businesses are free to operate without a Business License or Registration from the City, provided that they comply with local zoning regulations (e.g. the use is permitted in the zoning district, parking standards are met, etc.) Please contact Planner@lovelafayette.org or (925) 284-1976 to inquire about permitted uses and parking standards.
However, if your business is located in the unincorporated area or are conducting business in the unincorporated area of Lafayette, contact the County offices at (925) 957-5290 for their licensing requirements.
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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.
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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.
- A:
- 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.
Q:I think one of my neighbors is in violation of city code or ordinance. Where can I report this problem?
A: Please check out the Code Enforcement web page, to ensure that the problem falls within the city's jurisdiction.Q:If my proposed work is within the creek setback area, can I apply for an exception to proceed with the work?
A: Yes, the requirements for an exception are explained in Section 6-1842 of the ordinance. You will need to supply three items outlined in paragraph (c) of that section. Please note that the certification by the soils engineer must state, “In the professional opinion of the engineer, there is no likelihood of a hazard to persons or property resulting from the proposed construction.”
The City Engineer will review the exception application and make a recommendation for approval or denial to the City Council. As part of an approval, the City Engineer may impose certain conditions on your project to perform additional work in the vicinity of the project. The conditions will be based on the site conditions and the reports that you provide. If the City Council approves the exception, you will need to enter into a creek setback agreement with the City. A blank copy can be provided for your reference. After the agreement is executed, the City will issue your building permit. If you choose to appeal the City Engineer’s recommendation, you may do so at the City Council meeting when the City Engineer presents the recommendation with your application.- A: Click here to view information on design review including triggers that would require your project to gain design review approval from the City. Additionally, the Planning Project Checklist is a brief form intended to provide a property owner or applicant with an overview of the rules and regulations that would be applicable to a given project. It is designed to be completed by a staff planner, however, it can be informative to an applicant as a blank form which lists the triggers for discretionary review.
- A: Yes, the fee for the setback determination review is $125, and the fee for processing an exception is $500. Lengthy applications and appeals requiring more than 1 hour of staff time for the initial review and 4 hours for the exception review will be charged an additional $125 per hour. You may mail your submittal or deliver it to the City Offices -- attention of the City Engineer. The Engineering office will usually contact you within one week for the initial review and two weeks for the exception review. Please make checks payable to the City of Lafayette.
If you still have questions, please call the Engineering Technician at (925) 284-1951. - A:
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.
- A: Generally, Construction Hours are as follows:
8am - 6pm, Monday through Saturday. No noise-generating construction is allowed on Sundays & national holidays.
Contact planner@lovelafayette.org for details or questions. - A: The Lafayette Municipal Code regulates signage within Lafayette and classifies political signs as temporary noncommercial signs, which do not require a permit so long as they comply with the provisions of the Municipal Code, which are summarized in the political signs handout.
- A: If you have a creek-side property and you are contemplating work, you will need a creek setback determination.
Article 5 of the Lafayette Municipal Code Ordinance No. 512 prohibits construction of structures within the creek setback area. Following is a brief explanation of what the setback area is, and how to determine the setback line on your property. (There are other related regulations dealing with flood zones that you should also investigate at the same time by contacting the Planning Services Division at (925) 284-1976.)
Section 6-1841 of the ordinance contains the formula used to determine the setback line. Examples of creek setback determinations can be viewed here. We recommend that you obtain the services of a land surveyor to gather topographic information in the relevant area of your property. Based on the creek depth, the steepness of the bank, and the topography of the top on bank, the land surveyor can determine where the setback line is relative to the toe of the creek bank slope. All of the land between the creek and the setback line is defined as the creek setback area, and no structures are allowed within it.
In order to receive a building permit for your project, you need to submit evidence that your proposed work is outside the setback area. For the City’s review, please submit a topographic plan of the project area, including the creek and its features (i.e., top of bank, toe of bank, bank slopes, flow channel, grade breaks, etc.). You should plot on the plan the setback line in accordance to the ordinance. Lastly, provide a cross-sectional view of the creek, creek bank, the setback line, and your proposed structure. The section should reflect a point where your proposed structure is the closest to the setback line.
We strongly recommend that you use a licensed surveyor to perform this work. You may make the determination yourself. If the City disagrees with your measurements, you may have to submit calculations prepared by a licensed surveyor to prove your case. - A: If you perform any work or store materials and equipment within the City’s right-of-way, you need an Encroachment Permit. Generally, the City’s right-of-way extends about 20-25 feet from the center of the road on most residential streets, and much wider on through-roads.
Light landscaping (ground cover, low shrubs) without irrigation may be installed in the right-of-way without a permit. However, you do so at your own risk, and anything planted within the City’s right-of-way may be removed if it conflicts with future City road or drainage construction activities.
Permanent structures such as a wall, fence, decorative mail box, or building are not allowed within the City’s right-of-way. Under special circumstances and as a last resort, you may apply for an Encroachment Agreement for these structures, which will be considered by the City Council, in addition to an Encroachment Permit. - A:
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
- A:
Online Permit Records Search (1980s to Present)
For information about recent and current building permits, visit the Contra Costa County Building Department Citizen Access Portal to search for building permits by property address.
If you have any difficulty with the online system, please contact:
Contra Costa County Building Inspection Department
Lamorinda Field Office
3685, Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite 120
Lafayette, CA 94549
Tel. (925) 299-0263Permits Issued Prior to the 1980s
For information about permits issued prior to the 1980s or if you need copies of the permits, please contact:
Contra Costa County Building Inspection Department
30 Muir Road
Martinez, CA 94553
Tel. (925) 674-7213Alternatively, you may download the "Records Research Request Form" by clicking here and faxing the completed form to (925) 674-7238 or (925) 674-7239.
Please note that all plans must have permission from the owner and any licensed professional before they may be reproduced.
- A:
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:
- 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.
- 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.
Roads
Q:Can we increase fines for speeding? Can we decrease the speed limit and enforce fines for even 5 mph over that limit?
A: The Contra Costa County Superior Court sets the fines for speeding therefore Lafayette has no jurisdiction to increase those fines. In addition, the California Vehicle Code defines areas that can be increased fine areas and again, Lafayette has no jurisdiction to define those areas subjectively.
The traffic and speed surveys determine the safe speed for the roadway therefore it is not legal for municipalities to arbitrarily decrease speed limits on specific roadways. Driving 5 mph over the speed limit is also not necessarily against the law. Speeding is defined as driving faster than the safe speed, not the speed limit sign so each roadway has a different safe speed, which depends on road conditions at the time.- A: No, private streets are maintained by the property owners on that street. List of public and private roads.
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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
- A:
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.
- A: The City has an ongoing road reconstruction and pavement maintenance program for selected public streets. An alphabetical list of street repair projects scheduled over the next five years is available in the 5-Year Capital Improvement Program Streets List.
- A: Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm call the Public Works Department at (925) 934-3908. On weekends and after hours, call the police department dispatch at (925) 284-5010.
- A: The City contributes $1 million annually from the General Fund. In addition, another $700,000 comes from gas taxes and revenue from the county transportation measure (Measure J). Also, since 1995, the City has made additional contributions totaling $7 million from the General Fund reserve.
- A:
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.
- A: When properly constructed and maintained, a road can last for up to 40 years. However, without proper maintenance, the condition of a road deteriorates precipitously after about 10 years and the cost to rehabilitate those streets may be 5 to 10 times what it would have cost to just maintain the good pavement. If the City were to neglect this necessary maintenance on “good roads” in favor of streets that are already costly to repair, the newly improved streets would fall back into the more expensive reconstruction category and actually end up increasing the funding gap we already face.
Q:Why don’t EMBUD, PG&E, Comcast and CentralSan pay for the damage they do to the streets? Why doesn’t the City coordinate their street repairs with these agencies?
A:EBMUD, PG&E, Comcast and the Central Sanitary District are all responsible for repairing the damage they do to our streets and we hold them to the highest standards allowed by law. In the case of planned maintenance, we do try to coordinate street repair with other agencies and businesses, however, it is not always feasible, particularly in emergency cases.
- A:
Moraga residents, as well as those in neighboring cities, use our streets, but there is no practical way for the City to charge them their “fair share” of road repair. Not maintaining a busy thoroughfare like Moraga Road would also adversely impact Lafayette residents. However, Moraga and other neighboring residents do shop and eat in Lafayette, and their contributions to our sales tax revenue helps fund a portion of the $1 million the City contributes to the road repair budget each year. In addition, when the new homes are built in Palos Colorados (Moraga) Lafayette will receive a monetary settlement of $2.5 million as mitigation for the increased traffic the development will generate. It expected that most, if not all, of this money will be put towards local road repair.
Traffic & Parking
Q:Can we increase fines for speeding? Can we decrease the speed limit and enforce fines for even 5 mph over that limit?
A: The Contra Costa County Superior Court sets the fines for speeding therefore Lafayette has no jurisdiction to increase those fines. In addition, the California Vehicle Code defines areas that can be increased fine areas and again, Lafayette has no jurisdiction to define those areas subjectively.
The traffic and speed surveys determine the safe speed for the roadway therefore it is not legal for municipalities to arbitrarily decrease speed limits on specific roadways. Driving 5 mph over the speed limit is also not necessarily against the law. Speeding is defined as driving faster than the safe speed, not the speed limit sign so each roadway has a different safe speed, which depends on road conditions at the time.- A: Visit the Police Department webpage to learn how to dispute a parking ticket.
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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
Utilities
- A:
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).
- A: For a list of utility providers within Lafayette go here.
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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.
- A: Call Comcast Cable at (800) 945-2288. Although the City does have a franchise agreement with Comcast, the City does not have control over prices or programming. If you have tried unsuccessfully to resolve the problem directly with Comcast, you may contact the Administrative Services Director at (925) 284-1968.
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The Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority at (925) 906-1801 handles garbage services for the City of Lafayette.
Q:Why don’t EMBUD, PG&E, Comcast and CentralSan pay for the damage they do to the streets? Why doesn’t the City coordinate their street repairs with these agencies?
A:EBMUD, PG&E, Comcast and the Central Sanitary District are all responsible for repairing the damage they do to our streets and we hold them to the highest standards allowed by law. In the case of planned maintenance, we do try to coordinate street repair with other agencies and businesses, however, it is not always feasible, particularly in emergency cases.