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Engineering Permits
ENCROACHMENT PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS under the covid-19 emergency
For any Encroachment Permit related questions, please email the Engineering Division at encroachmentpermit@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us or call (510) 215-4382.
TO SUBMIT AN ENCROACHMENT PERMIT:
- Please fill out the application here: Encroachment Permit Application and send to encroachmentpermit@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us and include any plans, traffic control plans, certificate of liability insurance, and any other pertinent documentation. Please see below for Encroachment Permit requirements, City Standard Details, and Insurance Requirements.
- Please email encroachmentpermit@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us or call 510-215-4382 to schedule an inspection. Please call at least 72 hours in advance of scheduling an inspection and by Wednesday for a Monday inspection because we are closed every Friday for the remainder of the year. Due to the closure, our responses may be delayed.
- If you must submit your application in person, please email encroachmentpermit@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us to schedule an in-person appointment.
Engineering Encroachment Permits
Whenever a contractor, public utility, or property owner engages in work within the public right-of-way or City property, a City-issued encroachment permit is required. Some examples of work which require an encroachment permit are:
- Any excavation in the street or sidewalk to install or replace a sewer lateral, water service, or drain line
- Repair or replacement of the concrete curb, gutter, driveway approach or sidewalk
- Construction of any permanent structure such as a fence, stairway, or a retaining wall which is partially or totally within the public right-of-way
- Planting of a street tree in the parking strip between the curb and the sidewalk
- Temporary storage containers on the street
- Standard Permit Conditions
- Encroachment Permit Application
- Additional Information and Inspection Requirements Standard Details, Excavation Moratoriums, Sewer Lateral Info.
- Excavation Moratorium
- Public Works Insurance Requirements
Public Right of Way
In most cases, the front property line or edge of the public right-of-way is located at the back of the sidewalk. However, there are significantly wide public right-of-ways in many parts of the city where this property line is back some distance from the street.
If you are planning to do any type of construction work close to the street and are unsure of the public right-of-way boundary, you should contact the Public Works Department at
510-215-4382 or email.
Other Types of Engineering Division Permits:
- Grading and Transportation
- Newsrack
- Transportation (Oversized Loads)