How can I report a flooded area or broken sprinklers at a park? The Public Works Department conducts regular inspections to the irrigation systems at all City parks. If you see a sprinkler problem, leaking water fountains, water coming out of the ground, or other water related problems, please call the Public Works Department at (949) 461-3480.
How do I contact Southern California Edison? Call the SCE 24-hour Customer Service line at (800) 655-4555. Or, visit SCE's website at www.sce.com.
How do I contact the Gas Company? Call the Southern California Gas Company at (800) 427-2200. Or, visit their website at http://www.socalgas.com/.
How do I get my parkway tree trimmed? Each type of City-owned parkway tree has been assigned a trimming schedule. City-owned parkway trees are trimmed every three years. The City of Lake Forest contracts with a vendor to trim the trees based on this schedule. If you believe your tree needs trimming now, please contact the Public Works Department at (949) 461-3480.
My vehicle has been towed. How do I find out where it is being stored? You will need to obtain the license plate number or VIN and call the Orange County Sheriff's Office at (714) 647-7000. The Desk Officer will be able to tell you where it was towed and why.
What is the Holiday trash pick-up schedule? Trash pickup is delayed one day for the following holidays: Christmas Day, New Years Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day and Thanksgiving Day.
What is the rainy day and holiday street sweeping schedule? The City does not sweep on rainy days. Streets will be swept on the next scheduled day. If your trash collection day is moved to a Saturday due to a holiday, sweeping will be done on the following Monday.
What should I do to report suspected pollutions, spills, dumping, or illegal discharges into the storm drain system? If it is a chemical spill/hazardous materials emergency, please call 9-1-1.
For other spills, illegal dumping, illegal discharges, or suspected pollution, please contact the City's 24-hour Pollution Reporting Hotline at (714) 561-6363, or during business hours, please contact the Public Works Department at (949) 461-3480.
When and how often is my street swept? Public streets in Lake Forest are swept once a week by Sunset Property Services. Sweeping day in your neighborhood occurs on the day after your trash is collected. If you trash is collected on a Friday, your street is swept on Monday. If you live on a private street, please contact your association to obtain your street sweeping schedule.
Where can I dispose of old paint, batteries, pesticides, cleaners, solvents, and other household hazardous waste? The County of Orange Collection Centers, located at 6411 Oak Canyon in Irvine and 32250 La Pata Avenue in San Juan Capistrano, accept household hazardous waste such as old paint, solvents, etc., at no cost. The Collection Centers are open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 AM to 1 PM. The centers are closed on rainy days, Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving and Independence Day. For more information, please call (714) 834-6752 or visit www.oclandfills.com.
Which City parks have barbecues? Barbecues are located at:
Darrin Park (22461 Cherry Ave.)
El Toro Park I (23701 Los Alisos Blvd.)
Montbury Park (21962 Montbury Drive)
Mountain View Park (4061 Cylan St.)
Pebble Creek Park (26441 Pepple Creek Rd.)
Pittsford Park (21701 Pittsford Drive)
Rancho Serrano Park (20842 Paseo Sombra)
Sundowner Park (22041 Sundowners Lane)
Village Pond Park (23102 Ridge Route Dr.)
Vintage Park (21000 Vintage St.).
Which City parks have restrooms? Restrooms are located at Borrego Park, Concourse Park, El Toro Park, Foothill Ranch Community Park, Heroes Park, Mountain View Park, Pittsford Park, and Serrano Creek Park.
Who can I call to take care of cleaning or repair in the restrooms at El Toro Park, Heroes Park, Pittsford Park, or Serrano Creek Park? If you see a broken water pipe, restroom fixture, lighting that does not work, overflowing trashcans, or any other mess or problem, please call the Public Works Department at (949) 461-3480.
Who do I call for a special trash pickup for large items? Every residential customer is entitled to two "bulky item" pick-ups per calendar year, free of charge. To arrange for the free pick-up of items such as refrigerators, sofas, mattresses, or water heaters without extra charge, call Waste Management of Orange County Customer Service at (949) 642-1191 or visit their website at http://www.wmorangecounty.com/.
Who do I contact about concerns regarding traffic signals? Please contact the Public Works Department at (949) 461-3480 (24-hour voicemail). Be sure to mention the location of the traffic signals in question.
Who do I contact about my water and sewer service?
Lake Forest is served by three separate agencies that provide water and sewer service. The majority of Lake Forest, including Foothill Ranch and most of Portola Hills, is served by the Irvine Ranch Water District.
The Irvine Ranch Water District is located at 15600 Sand Canyon Ave., Irvine, CA 92618-3102, and can be reached at (949) 453-5300, or online at www.irwd.com.
The El Toro Water District provides service to addresses south of El Toro Road between Northcrest and Marguerite Parkway, south of Cherry between Northcrest and the railroad tracks, south of El Toro between railroad tracks and Muirlands, and south of Ridge Route between the railroad tracks and the I-5 freeway is served by the El Toro Water District.
The El Toro Water District is located at 24251 Los Alisos Blvd. and can be reached at (949) 837-7050, or online at www.etwd.com. A portion of Portola Hills is served by the Trabuco Canyon Water District, located at 32003 Dove Canyon Dr. Trabuco Canyon, CA 92679. The Trabuco Canyon Water District can be reached at (949) 858-0277, or online at www.tcwd.ca.gov.
Who do I contact if I notice a problem in a median or on a slope? Please report any concerns to the Public Works Department at (949) 461-3480.
Who do I contact to report problems with play equipment at my local park? All park equipment is inspected frequently for loose parts and other safety issues. If you notice something amiss, please call the Public Works Department at (949) 461-3480.
Who do I contact when a street light is out? Street lights are owned and operated by Southern California Edison (SCE). To report a street light outage, please call the SCE 24-hour Customer Service line directly at 1-800-655-4555. Or, visit SCE's website http://www.sce.com/ click on Customer Care, and then click on Online Service Requests to report the outage.
Why did the street sweeper skip my house today? The street sweeper may skip your house for one of three reasons:
1: A parked car was blocking the area. Street sweepers take up to two car lengths, before and after parked vehicles, to swing out and around a parked car.
2: There was a large pile of debris in the gutter. Large debris piles can hide items that damage the sweeper and will be avoided by the sweeper operator.
3: It is an observed holiday. Please contact the Public Works Department at (949) 461-3480 for information on holiday sweeping schedules.
How do I report graffiti?
To report graffiti, simply call the City of Lake Forest graffiti hotline at (949) 461-3583 (24-hour voice mail available). Please provide either an address or the cross streets where the graffiti is located.
How long does it take for graffiti to be covered once it is reported?
Graffiti located on public property or private property visible from the public right-of-way is covered within 24 hours. Property owners are notified if graffiti is located on private property but is not visible from the public right-of-way.
Who maintains the parkway tree in front of my home?
Residential parkway trees are owned and maintained by the property owner. As such, the property owner is responsible for watering and pruning the tree. However, the City will conduct a safety prune of any tree branches that fall below 14' above the street or 9' above the sidewalk.
Do I need a permit to cut down or trim a tree on my own property?
No, with the exception of eucalyptus trees. From April 1 through October 31, a permit is required for the cutting of eucalyptus trees. The Development Services Department, located on the 1st floor of Lake Forest City Hall, is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. - noon, and 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., and alternating Fridays from 8:00 a.m. - noon, and 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. to accept permit applications. If you are a member of a homeowners association, please check to see if your homeowners association has a master permit for this purpose.
Does the City have a program where I can sponsor a tree?
Yes. You can participate in the Expand the Forest program to sponsor a tree to be planted in public parks, open spaces or other City-maintained areas for $70.00. Visit the City's Expand The Forest web page to view the City Council selected tree palette of approved trees. The Public Works Department will perform all future tree maintenance deemed necessary by the Department. Sponsors will receive a formal Certificate of Acknowledgment, signed by our City Council. Names of sponsors, trees selected, planting location and any pertinent dedication information is also published in The Leaflet, the City's bimonthly newsletter. For more information, please contact the Public Works Department at (949) 461-3485.
There is a problem with the play equipment at my local park, who should I contact?
All park equipment is inspected frequently for loose parts and other safety issues. If you notice something amiss, please call the Public Works Department at (949) 461-3480.
Which City parks have restrooms?
The following city parks provide restroom facilities:
Borrego Park (26982 Cabriole)
Concourse Park (18931 Saddleback Ranch Road)
El Toro Park (23701 Los Alisos Blvd.)
Etnies Skate Park (20028 Lake Forest Drive)
Foothill Ranch Community Park (19422 Rue de Valore)
Heroes Park (25420 Jeronimo Rd.)
Mountain View Park (4061 Dylan Street)
Pittsford Park (21701 Pittsford Drive)
Serrano Creek Park (25101 Serrano Rd.)
Who do I call if a restroom at our parks is in need of repair or cleaning?
If you see a broken water pipe, broken restroom or light fixture, overflowing trash cans, etc., please call the Public Works Department at (949) 461-3480.
The park has flooded areas or sprinklers that are not working properly. How can I report this?
The Public Works Department conducts regular inspections of the irrigation systems at all City parks. If you see a sprinkler problem, leaking water fountains, water coming out of the ground, or other water related problems, please call the Public Works Department at (949) 461-3480.
Can I arrange to host a bounce house in a Lake Forest park?
Bounce houses are not allowed in City parks. However, bounce houses are allowed on private properties without a permit.
The activity I am planning at the park requires electricity. Is power available at the park?
No. Electricity is not available at City parks.
How do I reserve a baseball field at either Heroes, Mountain View, Foothill Ranch, or Tamarisk?
Groups seeking to reserve fields must submit an application to the Community Services Department. Please call (949) 461-3450.
Which parks have baseball fields?
Heroes Park (formerly El Toro Park II), located at 25420 Jeronimo Road, has four (4) baseball fields with lights.
Mountain View Park, located at 4061 Dylan Street, has one (1) unlit baseball field.
Foothill Ranch Community Park, located at 19422 Rue de Valore, has two (2) unlit fields.
Tamarisk Park, located at Tamarisk & Peachwood, has one (1) unlit field.
Which City parks have barbecues?
Barbecues are located at: w/number of barbecues (#)
Alton Park (18992 Alton Parkway) (4)
Borrego Park (26982 Cabriole) (5)
Borrego Overlook Park (21 Viaggio Lane) (3)
Cherry Park (22651 Cherry Ave.) (6)
Concourse Park (18931 Saddleback Ranch Road) (2)
Darrin Park (22461 Cherry Ave.) (6)
El Toro Park I (23701 Los Alisos Blvd.) (4)
Heroes Park (25420 Jeronimo Road) (1)
Montbury Park (21962 Montbury Drive) (1)
Mountain View Park (4061 Dyland Street) (3)
Pittsford Park (21701 Pittsford Drive) (2)
Rancho Serrano Park (20842 Paseo Sombra) (3)
Rimgate Park (29772 Rimgate) (1)
Serrano Creek Park (25101 Serrano Road) (3)
Sundowner Park (22041 Sundowners Lane) (1)
Vintage Park (21000 Vintage Street) (5)
What can I do about cars and trucks parked in front of my house?
California State law states vehicles parked on the street for more than 72 hours may be considered abandoned vehicles. Please contact Lake Forest Police Services at (949) 770-6011 to report the location and description of the automobile. Parking control staff will come out, check to make sure the vehicle is not stolen, confirm it is properly registered, and mark the vehicle's tire. The vehicle can be cited 72 hours after it is marked and ultimately towed away at the owner's expense. For abandoned vehicle abatement purposes, the vehicle will be monitored for 10 days prior to being towed. Anyone may park their vehicle on a public street if it is legally parked and properly registered.
Who do I contact about concerns regarding traffic signals?
Please contact the Public Works Department at (949) 461-3480 (24-hour voice mail available). Be sure to mention the location of the traffic signal(s) in question.
What can I do about speeding vehicles on my street?
If vehicles speeding on your street is a recurring issue, contact Sgt. Angel Andrade at (949) 461-3542 to discuss options such as deploying a radar trailer equipped with speed display.
Where can I obtain information on billing for residential and commercial trash service?
Waste Management of Orange County provides residential and commercial trash service under a franchise awarded by the Lake Forest City Council. For billing information, please contact Waste Management directly at (949) 642-1191.
How do I dispose of large or bulky items, such as a water heater, sofa or appliance? (single-family homes)
Residents may request two (2) large item pick-ups per year. The City of Lake Forest contracts with Waste Management for trash services. To arrange for a large item pick-up, call Waste Management directly at (949) 642-1191.
What is the holiday trash pick-up schedule?
Trash pickup is delayed one day for the following holidays: Christmas Day, New Years Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day and Thanksgiving Day.
Where can I dispose of old paint, batteries, pesticides, cleaners, solvents, and other household hazardous waste?
The County of Orange Collection Centers, located at 6411 Oak Canyon in Irvine and 32250 La Pata Avenue in San Juan Capistrano, accept household hazardous waste such as old paint, solvents, etc., at no cost. The Collection Centers are open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 AM to 1 PM. The centers are closed on rainy days, Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving and Independence Day. For more information, please call (714) 834-6752 or visit www.oclandfills.com
Where can I take my used oil to be recycled?
There are seven businesses in Lake Forest that are State Certified Used Oil Collection Centers that accept used motor oil: Big O Tires (20742 Lake Forest Dr., 462-9088), EZ Lube Inc. (26731 Rancho Prkwy, 465-9912), Firestone (24221 Rockfield Blvd., 581-2660), USA Express Tire & Service Inc. (24561 Trabuco Rd., 454-8001), Jiffy Lube (20781 Lake Forest Dr., 583-0470), Kragen Auto Parts (24601 Raymond Way, 829-8292), and Pep Boys (22671 Lake Forest Dr., 855-9593).
Who should I call for questions about water quality and pollution prevention?
Please contact Devin Slaven, Water Quality Specialist, Public Works Department, at (949) 461-3436.
