Major Departments in the City of LA
The City of Los Angeles has dozens of departments and agencies. Some of them are governed directly by commissions, others governed by paid staff but supervised by commissions, and still more have no commissions over them at all. Commissioners are appointed by the Mayor and/or City Councilmembers.
One thing to remember is that oftentimes, multiple departments are responsible for an issue you care about. On housing for instance, Housing + Community Investment Department (HCID) administers programs related to tenant protections and affordable housing production, while the City Planning Department creates plans for housing production and approves new construction, and Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) runs the City’s limited stock of public housing.
For transportation, the City’s Department of Transportation runs many programs, including the DASH bus system, but much of transit within the City is actually operated by the LA Metro agency, which has a board that includes representatives from both the City of LA, the County of LA, and other local municipalities. And there are other departments responsible for aspects of public space like the Bureau of Street Services and Department of Public Works.
There are also indirect policies through which the City can make a sizeable impact. For example, the City has the power to guide new development to be near job centers to reduce commuting distances, to encourage people to rely on energy-efficient transit instead of personal vehicles, and to prevent displacement and increase affordable housing near transit.
Stay tuned for more details on departments and issues in future versions of this guide. In the meantime, you can find a full organizational chart for the City of LA here.
Here’s a List of Major Departments:
Department of City Planning
Housing + Community Investment Department (HCID)
Economic & Workforce Development Department (EWDD)
Building & Safety
Board of Public Works (Engineering, Sanitation, Street Services, Street Lighting)
Neighborhood Empowerment
Department of Water & Power (DWP)
LA World Airports
Los Angeles Harbor Department
Libraries
Department of Recreation and Parks
Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)
Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD)
Department of Water & Power (DWP)
The DWP is the largest municipal supplier of water and power utilities in the nation, and services the City of Los Angeles. The DWP has the authority to supply buildings safe drinking water and electricity. A five-person Board of Water and Power Commissioners appointed by the Mayor have the power to establish policies for the LADWP.
For more information on the Department of Water & Power please follow the link here.
Department of Water & Power (DWP)
LA World Airports
The Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) is the City of Los Angeles department that owns and operates Los Angeles International (LAX) and Van Nuys (VNY) general aviation airports. LAWA is governed by a seven-member Board of Airport Commissioners, which is appointed by the Mayor and approved by City Council.
For more information on LA World Airports please refer to the link here.
Los Angeles International Airport
Libraries
The Los Angeles Public Library provides free library services — access to books (audio-books, magazines, newspapers, podcast, music), information, technology, and education programs, to residents in the City of Los Angeles. Los Angeles Public Libraries features over 70+ branches. LAPL is overseen by a 5-member Board of Library Commissioners, which is appointed by the Mayor and approved by City Council. The Board of Library Commissioners has the power to make and enforce all necessary rules and regulations, control funds, and provide equipment and support (maintenance, construction, staffing), for libraries.
For more information on the Los Angeles Public Library please visit the link here.
Los Angeles Harbor Department
The Los Angeles Harbor Department is governed by a Mayor appointed Board of Harbor Commissioners. Located in San Pedro Bay, 25 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, the Port encompasses 7,500 acres of land and water along 43 miles of waterfront. The Port of Los Angeles is maintained by revenue derived from Port services (shipping services, property rentals, royalties) in lieu of tax collected. The Port of Los Angeles is one of the world’s busiest seaports in the world and has been ranked the number one seaport in the United States since 2000.
For more information on the Los Angeles Harbor Department please refer here.
Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is the police department for the City of Los Angeles, and is the 3rd largest police department in the County behind New York City and Chicago Police Department. LAPD features over 10 specialized units that cover specific duties such as gangs, narcotics, air support, motors and commercial enforcement, S.W.A.T and more.
LAPD is led by the Chief of Police, the highest-ranking officer in the Police Department; Michel Moore currently serves as Chief of Police. The Chief of Police is a two five-year term position. The Chief of Police is appointed to the position by the Mayer, who is subject for approval by the Police Commission and City Council.
This year, the LAPD was the only City department that saw salary increases despite the economic turmoil caused by COVID, also amidst nationwide protests against police brutality.
The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks
The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks maintains and operates over 16,0000 acres of parkland, hiking trails, lakes, dog parks, and recreational spaces. The Department of Recreation and Parks also provides recreational, social and cultural programs at over 400 parks sites.
For more information on the Department of Recreation and Parks please visit here.
Department of City Planning
The Los Angeles Department of City Planning is in charge of preparing, maintaining, and implementing a General Plan for the development of the City of Los Angeles. The General Plan provides a framework for development and regulates transportation, housing, open space, and land use elements. The Department of City Planning is responsible for reviewing project applications, processing entitlements, administering zoning code, promoting/developing urban design principles, and managing environmental review of projects.
The housing element of the General Plan is currently being updated. You can find out how to get involved here.
Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD)
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) provides fire prevention/protection, emergency medical services (traffic accidents, strokes, heart attacks), technical rescue, hazardous materials mitigation, and disaster response services to residents of the City of Los Angeles.
For more information on LAFD please refer to the link here.
HCID - Los Angeles Housing + Community Investment Department
Los Angeles Housing + Community Investment Department (HCID) serves as the head housing department for the City of Los Angeles. A core responsibility of HCID includes developing housing programs to expand access to housing to low-income, homeless, and special needs populations/communities. HCID’s Regulatory Compliance and Code Bureau serves as a resource center to landlords and tenants, to provide information on their rights and responsibilities under City and State Housing Code, Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), and evictions. Lastly HCID acts as a research and data hub for government agencies and the general public on market trends and socio-economic factors around housing.
Economic & Workforce Development (EWDD)
The Economic & Workforce Development Department (EWDD) oversees and creates business development and career training opportunities, with the main goal of enhancing the City’s economy. EWDD has six core programs - Business Source Centers, Economic Development, WorkSource Centers, Youth Source Centers, Summer Youth Employment Program, and Day Labor Centers.
Building & Safety
The Department of Building and Safety advises, guides, and assists in ensuring compliance with the building, zoning, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, disability access, energy, and green codes. The bureau also ensures codes meet local and state laws for building. Their key services are Plan check and Permit, Inspection, and Code Enforcement. This department is also in charge of overseeing zoning laws and ensuring new construction and redevelopment projects meet zoning regulation for the specific neighborhoods within city limits.
Board of Public Works
The Board of Public Works is a five member full-time paid executive team focused on projects to enhance quality of life, economic growth, public health and the environment. The bureau and current lead members assigned to each department can be found below:
Bureau of Contract Administration: The bureau oversees and monitors contract provisions and construction processes to ensure they are in the best interest of the City. The core mission of the department is to maintain a transparent and consistent contract bidding environment that promotes both personal and business opportunities.
Lead Commissioner: Michael R. Davies
Bureau of Engineering: The Bureau of Engineering is the City’s lead agency for planning, design, and construction management of public buildings, open space, and general infrastructure. The bureau oversees projects concerning municipal buildings and projects ranging from police and fire stations to bridges and cultural facilities. Engineering also manages permitting for construction projects in the right away as well as overseeing the City’s online mapping system.
Lead Commissioner: Jessica M. Caloza
Bureau of Sanitation: Is the lead agency responsible for the City’s environmental programs and initiatives. They manage three program areas: Clean Water (wastewater), Solid Resources (solid waste management), and Watershed Protection (storm water). The department and its programs are responsible for the collection, treatment, recycling, and disposal of solid and liquid waste.
Lead Commissioner: Greg Good
Bureau of Street Lighting: The bureau is responsible for the design, construction, operation, maintenance and repair of street lighting systems within LA City limits. The Street Lighting bureau oversees the more than 210,000 lights in the City and ensures that they are visible and maintained for vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Lead Commissioner: Aura M. Garcia
Bureau of Streets Services: Bureau of Streets Services, also referred to as “Streets LA” is responsible for the planning, construction, maintenance, and enforcement of the City’s streets infrastructure. Some of the key programs the bureau is in charge of overseeing include: street trees and median maintenance, street improvement construction, street sweeping, sidewalk repair, great streets, investigation and enforcement.
Lead Commissioner: M. Teresa Villegas
Neighborhood Empowerment
The Department of Neighborhood Empowerment is the agency that supports Los Angeles City’s 99 neighborhood councils. The department is also known as “Empower LA” with a core mission to empower City residents through civic engagement. Neighborhood Councils advocate on issues regarding homelessness, housing, public safety, parks, etc. The Department of Neighborhood Empowerment is the City’s primary coordinator and support between the neighborhood councils and City Hall.