Pursuant to the El Segundo Municipal Code governing work within the public right-of-way, all utility and telecommunications companies — including AT&T, Spectrum, Crown Castle, Sonic, and others — are required to obtain an Encroachment Permit from the City prior to performing any work in the public right-of-way. To obtain this permit, applicants must submit detailed plans outlining the scope of work, traffic control plans, proof of required insurance, and applicable registrations and licenses, in compliance with Municipal Code requirements. Once the permit is issued, a pre-construction meeting is conducted, after which construction activities may commence. Throughout the duration of the work, City staff perform regular field inspections to ensure full compliance with the approved plans and applicable Municipal Code provisions.

An encroachment permit fee, established by City Council resolution pursuant to the Municipal Code, is assessed based on the scope of work. This fee is intended to recover the City’s costs associated with permit processing, plan review, and construction inspection services.

The purpose of these requirements is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents, businesses, and visitors in El Segundo and to ensure that work within the public right-of-way is performed safely and responsibly. While this regulatory framework has been in place for many decades, the associated permit fees are periodically reviewed and adjusted by the City Council to reflect actual service costs. The last comprehensive review of these fees occurred approximately four years ago. City staff plans to conduct a fee review this year to evaluate whether adjustments are warranted.

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