Jurisdiction Library
The same work can follow different rules depending on who owns the road. This library identifies the governing authority at each level — federal, state, county, and city — and points to the official source where each requirement is verified.
Last reviewed: June 24, 2026
Identifying who owns and maintains the road is the first step to knowing which permit and which standards apply. Each page below names the governing agency, the standards that apply, and where to verify the specifics — it does not restate fees, hours, or conditions, which must be confirmed with the agency of jurisdiction.
Federal
State
- California (Statewide — CA MUTCD, Cal/OSHA, ADA)Some standards apply to a California work zone no matter who owns the road — the California MUTCD, Cal/OSHA, and accessibility law — and local agencies add their own requirements on top.
- Caltrans (State Highway System)Caltrans owns and maintains the state highway system, and work in that right-of-way is authorized through a Caltrans encroachment permit issued by the district that covers the area.
County
Regional
City
- City of Los Angeles (BOE, StreetsLA/BSS, LADOT)In the City of Los Angeles, work in streets and sidewalks involves several departments — the Bureau of Engineering, StreetsLA (Bureau of Street Services), and LADOT — each with a distinct role.
- Other Southern California CitiesEvery incorporated city in Southern California issues its own permits for work in city streets and sidewalks, through its public works or engineering department — so the first step is always identifying the right city and department.
- Beverly Hills Work-Zone ComplianceIn Beverly Hills, work in city streets and sidewalks is permitted through the City of Beverly Hills Permit Center, and temporary traffic control follows the California MUTCD and the city's conditions.
- Santa Monica Work-Zone ComplianceSanta Monica permits work in the right-of-way through its Public Works department and Permit Services Center, and separately handles roadway closures and temporary traffic control plan submissions.
- Pasadena Work-Zone CompliancePasadena permits work in the public right-of-way through its Public Works department, Engineering & Construction division (Public Works Permitting).
- Culver City Work-Zone ComplianceCulver City permits work in the public right-of-way through its Public Works Engineering Division, and temporary traffic control follows the California MUTCD and the city's conditions.
- West Hollywood Work-Zone ComplianceWest Hollywood permits work in the public right-of-way through its Public Works Engineering Division, which issues encroachment permits and publishes right-of-way goals and requirements.
- Long Beach Work-Zone ComplianceLong Beach permits work in the public right-of-way through its Public Works department, with permitting handled through Public Works Permits and the city's Permit Center.
Working across county and city lines in Southern California? Start with the Southern California Jurisdictions overview to see which agency governs which road across the region.