Our Office Engineering Section oversees engineering operations including reviewing and approving residential and commercial development projects, issuing permits; maintaining engineering records and maps; and responding to public inquiries.

Services:

• Provide survey, engineering, and construction management services.

• Review and approve street improvement and grading/drainage for compliance with the local and City code of laws and policies.

• Inspect construction of roadways to be publicly dedicated.

• Review and approve of final subdivision parcel/tract maps for recordation into the Official Records at Los Angeles County.

• Administer construction improvements and inspection of utilities such as water and sewer construction. Also, underground utilities within the public right-of-way.

• Permit issuance and inspection of commercial and residential standards. 

• Administer permitting and inspection of driveway connections to the City’s roadway system.

• Provide GIS data and graphical presentations with the automated systems.

• Provide information to the general public inquiries such as flood mapping, aerial photography, property lines and lot dimensions as well as parkway width; centerline ties etc.

• Develop, administer and manage contractual agreements with outside consultants and contractors.

• Provide data and participate in litigation issues for and against City of Downey.

• Administer the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements as established by the Clean Water Act.

ENGINEERING COUNTER AIDS

Best Management Practices Pamphlets - Storm Water Pollution

These pamphlets outlines a simple and effective ways to reduce pollution to the environment during daily activities. These pamphlets are available at the engineering counter.

• General Construction and Site Supervision

• Food Service Industry

• Landscaping, Gardening and Pest Control

• Painting

• Fresh Concrete And Mortar Application

• The Ocean Begins at Your Front Door

• Automotive Maintenance and Car Care

• Home Repair and Remodeling

• Roadwork and Paving

Flood Zone Locator Information Database

The Office Engineering Section maintains a GIS database created from the Information available from Federal Emergency Management Agency. Residents and permit applicants can reach the City at 562.904.7113 to obtain information about flood zone status in the City.  

NPDES Program

The Federal Clean Water Act regulates and promotes the reduction of pollutants in the United States waters.  To carry out this program National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) was created.  The County of Los Angeles and 85 incorporated cities within the County, referred to as permittees, contribute to the storm water discharge and urban runoff into receiving waters of the Los Angeles basin under NPDES Permit No. CA0061654.

The City of Downey is an active participant of the NPDES program.

RECORDS & MAPS

Available information includes survey records, subdivision maps, city maps, aerial photos, City standard drawings, sewer connection locations, bench marks, and centerline ties:

Survey Records

• Center Line Ties and Property Corner Offsets

• Tract and Parcel Maps

• Survey elevation at street intersections (Benchmarks)

• Street Right-of-Way information (width of street, sidewalk, and parkway)

Property Information

• County Assessor Maps

• Parcel Maps

• Tract Maps

Maps

• General City Map

• Hardcopy City Maps at Various Scales

• Substructure Maps of Utilities

• House Numbering Maps

Utility Information

• Substructure Maps 

• Flood Zone Maps and Database

• Database for Permits    

Standard Drawings

• Standard Details for Domestic Water Services Connections

• Standard Details for Sewer Services and Connections

• Standard Details for Fire Services and Connections

• Standard Details/Requirements for Utility Excavation and Backfill

• City standards for Driveway, Curb, Gutter, and sidewalk

• City standards for Alley Construction

• City standards for Street Light Installation

• City Standards for various other Street Improvements

Aerial Photos

• 2000 Aerial Photos

PERMITS

The following permits can be obtained from the Engineering counter.

• Construction

• Encroachment

• Dumpster

• Driveway, Sidewalk, Disabled Ramps, Curb, Gutter

• Other Street Improvement

• Sewer Connection

• Utilities

• Street Closure

Construction

This permit is required for all type of construction work within the City public right of way. Contractors applying for a Construction Permit must have a Class A license, a valid City Business License, and a Certificate of General Liability Insurance.

Encroachment 

Encroaching on the public right-of-way for construction purposes, such as erecting scaffolding to the temporary storage of construction materials, requires an encroachment Permit. Contractors applying for this type of permit must have any Class license, a valid City Business License and a Certificate of General Liability Insurance.

Dumpster

Owners or contractors must apply for a  Encroachment Permit before installing a trash dumpster on the public right-of-way. 

Drive Approach, Sidewalk, Disabled Ramps, Curb, and Gutter

This permit is required for drive approach, sidewalk, disabled ramps, curb, and gutter on the public right-of-way. Contractors applying for this type of permit must have a Class A or Class C-8 license, a valid City business License, and the City approved insurance.

Sewer Connection

Installation of sewer laterals, or any work to be done related to sewer connection, including trenching, traffic delineation, backfilling and compaction requires a Sewer Connection Permit. TO obtain this permit the contractor must have a Class A, or Class C-42 license, a valid City Business License, and the a Certificate of General Liability Insurance.

Utilities

A Utility company/contractor intended to do work on the public right-of-way must obtain a Utility Permit.  The company/contractor  must have valid City Business License, as well as the City approved insurance.

Street Closure

Temporary closure of a public street for runs, races, fairs, or parades requires a Street Closure Permit.  All applicant must  submit the necessary insurance, petitioned signatures, license, and the Street Closure Permit Application at least 30 days prior to the event.

Street Improvement

This permit is required for all work done in connection with street improvements, including but not limited to driveway construction, sidewalk construction, handicapped ramp construction, street light installation, traffic signal installation, landscaping, paving, sewer main installation/replacement, and storm drain installation/replacement.  Contractors applying for permit under this category must posses a valid Class A license, a valid Business License, and City approved insurance.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO OBTAIN A PERMIT

Following are the minimum requirements to obtain the permit. Please read the specific permit description for  more detailed specifications. City Business License and the insurance must be valid for at least thirty days after the completion date of work. 

City Business License

City business license can be obtained through the Finance Department, 11111 Brookshire Ave, Downey.

Insurance Requirements

• General Liability Insurance

One million dollars($2,000,000) contractors and ($200,000) for homeowners per occurrences.
The certificate must be original and bear the wet signature of the insurance agent.              
The business street address (no P.O.Box) and telephone number of the insurer must be provided.

•  Endorsement on ISO Form CG 2010 11 85

The endorsement must be original and bear the wet signature of the insurance agent.
The endorsement must be on ISO Form CG 2010 11 85.

•  The City of Downey shall be named as additional insured