Engineering Division

Encroachment Permits

An Encroachment Permit is required for any construction, activity, or item within the City’s Right of Way. Permit applications are reviewed by the City Engineer and, depending on the scope of work, may require supplemental documentation.

Application Process

Required Documentation
All construction-based permits require submittal of an Application Package which includes:

• Completed Application
• Site Plan, Traffic Control Plan, Schedule (if applicable based on scope of work)
• Contractor’s Certificate of Insurance (for full requirement detail, click here )
• Contractor’s Covina Business License (apply/renew here)
  Contractors State License

For non-construction permits, all the listed above may not be required. Please contact the Engineering Division for more information.

Review Process

1. Complete Encroachment Permit Application. 
2. Submit the Application Package to the Engineering Division either in hard copy or via email to Engineering@covinaca.gov.
   When submitting via email, please include “Encroachment Permit Application” and the location/address in the subject line.
3. Staff will process Application Package and provide Application Reference Number.
   If corrections are required for any of the documents in the application package, multiple review cycles may be required.
4. Applicant Invoiced Upon Application Package approval.
5. Pay the Invoice with the Finance Department.
6. Confirm payment with Engineering Staff.
7. Permit Issued.
8. Schedule Inspection.

Scheduling Inspections

Inspections are required for Encroachment Permits and should be scheduled to take place prior to beginning work and upon completion.
Public Works Inspection is required prior to start work for Encroachment Permits. Please schedule your inspection at least one (1) week prior to the start date and have your permit number available. To schedule, call or email RKA Group Inspections at (909) 594-9702; inspections@rkagroup.com.

After-Hours Work

If proposed work is to take place outside approved construction hours (Monday-Friday 8:30AM – 4:00PM), an After Hours Work Request  must be submitted 48-hours prior to start work.

Roll-Off Bins

A permit number will be provided to you at time of permit issuance which is then used to reserve your Athen’s Services bin. To request a bin from Athens Services, click here at or by call (888) 336-6100.

Tree Installation Request

Available street trees can be found here and are based on parkway width. Staff can assist in making a selection by confirming that the tree is compatible with the parkway. After making a selection, an Encroachment Permit Application can be completed with the desired tree name and size. Post-payment, staff will schedule your tree to be planted by the City’s contracted vendor, West Coast Arborists. Associated fees to furnish and plant are based on tree size as follows.

• 15-Gallon Tree with Root Barrier: $254.00
• 24 Box Tree with Root Barrier: $394.00
• 36” Box Tree with Root Barrier: $994.00

Driveway Approach Modification Permits

Includes driveway approach widening, reconstruction, removal, addition, and circular driveway construction. If you are removing, adding or wish to construct a circular driveway, you must obtain Planning Division approval first. See the Planning Division page for more details. Once you’ve obtained Planning approval, proceed with the regular Encroachment Permit application process. An application checklist can be found here.

Residential Parkway Improvements

The parkway is generally known as the area within the public right-of-way that lies between the sidewalk and the curb line, and may include street trees and landscaping. Please be sure to notify the City before performing any activity in the public right-of-way, as special conditions are applicable.

Property owners that desire to install or update landscaping in their parkway should contact the Engineering Division for options. Residential Parkway Landscaping Guidelines were adopted by the Covina City Council in August 2018. The guidelines are intended to encourage drought tolerant features, and minimize stormwater runoff into the roadway. Use of the guidelines is voluntary, however permit fees are waived for residents that opt to follow the guidelines. The document includes a wide variety of design samples, photos, and recommended plant species.

Street Cut Moratoriums

Before submitting your Encroachment Permit Application, please verify if your proposed location is within a moratorium area. Applications that fall within a moratorium area will require a pre-construction meeting with the Public Works Inspector. Once the application has cleared inspection, the application will be processed for final approval by the City Engineer. Please review the Current Street Cut Moratoriums for location and corresponding expiration dates.

Engineering Standards

Covina City Standards are linked below. For all other Standards, follow the most current version of the “Greenbook”, Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction which can be found at http://www.greenbookspecs.org/.

• Water Facilities and Appurtenances 
• Speed Hump 

Report an Issue

To report a non-urgent work order, please visit. For urgent matters, please call the Engineering Division at (626) 384-5490 during regular business hours of Monday-Thursday 7am-6pm. To make a report after hours, call the Covina Police Dispatch Center at (626) 384-5808.

Traffic Signals

To report a traffic signal issue during normal business hours of Monday-Thursday, 7am-6pm, contact the Engineering Department at 626-384-5490.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This line is not monitored outside business hours. For Urgent reports after hours, contact Covina Police Department Dispatch Center at (626) 384-5808. If you have an emergency, please call 911.

A map of the signals maintained by the City of Covina can be confirmed by viewing the Traffic Signal Map. Not a Covina-maintained signal? The Engineering Division can assist in identification. A list of neighboring cities and LA County is also listed below.

Street Lights

Most street lights in the City are owned and maintained by Southern California Edison (SCE). This can be confirmed by locating the 7-digit pole number ending in “E” on the light pole.

To report an issue to SCE, visit Report a Street Light Outage | Outage Center | Home – SCE.
If you have any questions regarding who maintains the pole or need assistance in reporting, contact the Engineering Division at (626) 384-5490.

Public Improvements and Capital Improvement Program Projects

The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is a projection of the City’s capital investments over a five‐year period. The CIP is a fiscal and planning tool that allows the City to monitor all capital project costs, funding sources, departmental responsibilities, and timing. Each year, the CIP will be reviewed within the context of ongoing city, county, state, and federal planning programs and policies. Capital investments involve major City projects that produce outputs having long and useful life spans. For a list of the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 projects and their funding sources, click here.