Frequently Asked Questions

Public records, City Council resolutions and ordinances, and other information can be requested by submitting the Records and Information Request Form online. See the Schedule of Fees (PDF) for information on copying costs and record retrieval fees.

City Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall Council Chamber, 2175 Cherry Avenue, Signal Hill, CA 90755. Video and teleconference participation options are also available. Instructions to participate in the meeting will be provided on the meeting agenda. 

City Council agendas and minutes are available on the city website. Go to the home page and look at the left menu, then click on Meeting Agendas.

We no longer process passport applications at City Hall. You may go to the U.S. Post Office, 2371 Grand Avenue, Long Beach.

You may pick up a California Voter Registration Form at City Hall, 2175 Cherry Avenue, Signal Hill or visit the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk website to register online.

City Hall is currently under renovations to enhance services and better service out community. To accommodate the City Hall Renovation Project, several City services will be moving. 

Effective October 21, 2024- Administration and Finance Department is temporarily relocated to the Signal Hill Police Department: 2745 Walnut Ave Signal Hill, CA 90755 for assistance, please call (562) 989-7316.

Effective October 28, 2024- Community Development and Public Works office is temporarily relocated to the Council Chamber: 2175 Cherry Ave Signal Hill, CA 90755 for assistance, please call (562) 989-7340.

TO SUBMIT AN ONLINE PERMIT APPLICATION visit Citizen Portal at www.iworq.net. For assistance with any other permitting needs, call (562) 989-7340 or email comdev@cityofsignalhill.org.

Office hours are Monday to Thursday from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M, and Friday 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. 

Powered by Froala Editor

Call the Signal Hill Police Department at 562-989-7201. An officer can issue a citation if there was a witness to the incident, even if the officer did not see the incident occur.

No. Breeding animals is illegal in Signal Hill (Municipal Code 6.04.05).

Call Code Enforcement at 562-989-7300 if the issue is related to foul smells or waste. Household pets shall be kept in a manner that does not damage or pose hazards to people or property and does not generate offensive dust, odors, or noise.

For licensing requirements and information, please view the following webpage.

To report a habitual barking dog, please contact the Long Beach Animal Care Services at 562-570-7387.

The City of Signal Hill does not handle calls regarding bees or their removal. If you have a problem with bees, do not attempt to kill or remove the bees yourself.

• For Africanized honey bee information, call 800-233-9279.
• For honey bee swarms or nests inside or on a structure, check for local pest control for a licensed control operator. Only a licensed pest control operator can kill bees in or on a structure.
• For honey bee swarms or nests outside and not on a structure, contact the Department of Health & Human Services at 562-570-4132.
• For stinging incidents (victim involved), call 9-1-1.

Call the Long Beach Animal Care Services at 562-570-7387 to file a complaint. It is illegal to tether a dog to a post or tree for long periods of time.

Signal Hill Dog Park at 3100 California Avenue.  

Dogs may only roam off leash in a private, fenced yard. It is illegal to allow dogs off leash on any public property, including school grounds and in parks. It is also illegal to allow dogs off leash on any property that can be accessed by the public. This includes the oil fields on Signal Hill.

Library cards are free. Replacement library cards are $3.00.

• Can write their own names unassisted
• Have a parent or guardian with necessary documentation
• Have permission from a parent or guardian

No. Anyone with a valid California photo ID can get a library card.

• A recent piece of mail
• Car registration
• Driver’s license
• Identification
• Personal check
• Utility bill

You will need to report your missing card to the library and have it replaced. The replacement fee is $3.00.

If there are no reservations for the books you currently have checked out, you can renew them once for an additional three-week period either by phone at (562) 989-7323 (voice mail messages are not accepted), or in person at: 1800 E. Hill Street, Signal Hill, CA 90755.

Patrons are encouraged to return materials in a timely fashion to the Library so others may enjoy these shared resources. Items not returned within 28 days of their due date will go to a “lost” status and patrons will be billed for their replacement. Patrons will continue to be responsible for reconciling any lost items or fees on their library account by either returning the item(s) or paying the replacement fee. Patrons with a billed status over $10 on their library account fall out of good standing.

Entertainment and Educational DVDs are free.

Patrons are encouraged to return materials in a timely fashion to the Library so others may enjoy these shared resources. Items not returned within 28 days of their due date will go to a “lost” status and patrons will be billed for their replacement. Patrons will continue to be responsible for reconciling any lost items or fees on their library account by either returning the item(s) or paying the replacement fee. Patrons with a billed status over $10 on their library account fall out of good standing.

If there are no reservations for the book on CD you currently have checked out, you can renew it once for an additional three-week period by phone at (562) 989-7323 (voice mail messages are not accepted), or in person at: 1800 E. Hill Street, Signal Hill, CA 90755.

Patrons are encouraged to return materials in a timely fashion to the Library so others may enjoy these shared resources. Items not returned within 28 days of their due date will go to a “lost” status and patrons will be billed for their replacement. Patrons will continue to be responsible for reconciling any lost items or fees on their library account by either returning the item(s) or paying the replacement fee. Patrons with a billed status over $10 on their library account fall out of good standing.

Computer sessions are one hour long. Additional time or sessions may be granted depending on the availability of computers.

You can log into the computers using your library card number and pin. Guest users may request a guest pass at the Reference Desk.

Patrons can print black and white documents at $0.20 per page and $0.35 per page for color.

The registered owner must respond to the Signal Hill Police Department with:

• $140 in cash only and in exact change (no fee if towed for 22651(g) or 22651(c) VC)
• A valid driver’s license, or a valid U.S. government-issued I.D. or passport and a licensed driver
• A valid vehicle registration or moving permit

Additional towing and storage fees will be charged and are payable at the tow yard. A release must be obtained from the Police Department prior to the vehicle being released from the impound yard. Driver's licenses and vehicle registration status will be verified by the department prior to releasing the vehicle. Please see Service Fees and Charges (PDF) for additional fee information.

Requests for police reports are made at the front desk of the Signal Hill Police Department during normal business hours. The person requesting the report must fill out a request form and show proof of identity.

Insurance companies and law offices may obtain reports by mail. The report number and a check for the correct fee must be mailed with the request. All reports are $20.

Signal Hill Police Department

2745 Walnut Ave.

Signal Hill, CA 90755

Business Hours:

Monday - Thursday
7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Friday
7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The Signal Hill Police Department uses Nixle, a free service that sends alerts, updates and emergency information straight to your cell phone via text. You can also receive alerts via e-mail. Sign-up is free, fast and easy: simply visit Nixle's website and they'll take it from there.

Los Angeles County Crime Stoppers allows anyone to report a tip safely and completely anonymously, with a chance at a $1,000 reward if your tip leads to an arrest or the location of a missing person. All tips are handled by a third party service provider, meaning you don't have contact with any law enforcement agency. Your information is never collected or stored. You can submit a tip by phone (1-800-222-8477), e-mail or online.

For more information, visit Los Angeles County Crime Stoppers online.

The City of Signal Hill's municipal code can be found in its entirety online. If you have additional questions, you may contact SHPD during normal business hours at 562-989-7200.

Information on prisoners still in custody at the Signal Hill Jail may be obtained by calling 562-989-7200 and asking for the jail. To find out if a particular prisoner is going to court that day, call at noon. Additionally, VINE is a program instituted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. This program allows you to check on the status of an inmate via a toll-free 24-hour telephone service. This phone number is 877-VINE-4-LA (877-846-3452). You will need the prisoner’s L.A. County booking number to use this service. Please note: Do not depend solely on the VINE service for your protection. If you feel that you may be at risk, take precautions as if the offender has already been released.

You can find more information on our website about the jail, booking process and prisoner information.

Citations can be paid by check through the self-addressed envelope attached to the citation. The City also offers a way to electronically pay for parking citations and to contest parking citations through Paymycite.com. The site has easy to follow instructions that will assist you in paying your citation.

Contesting Citations

If you wish to learn more about contesting a parking citation, visit our Parking Citations page.

When you call 911 within Signal Hill city limits, the call will be answered by a Dispatcher/Jailer at the Signal Hill Police Department. All 911 calls, regardless of whether they are a medical emergency, police emergency, or a misdial, are answered at this one location. See our page on 911 Calling Procedures to learn all about how dispatchers handle 911 calls in Signal Hill.

To contest a parking citation, you must request an administrative review form within 21 days of issuance of the parking citation or within 14 days of the mailing of the delinquent penalty notice. You may pick up the form at the Signal Hill Police Department or request that the form be mailed to you by calling (562) 989-7200. The Police Department is located at: 2745 Walnut Avenue, Signal Hill, CA 90755

No. Requests for outdoor events exceeding 50 guests must submit a letter of intent describing event and crowd control measures for review and approval by the Community Services Department. If the event will have more than 75 guests, approval may be required from the Parks and Recreation Commission. No payment will be accepted for such a reservation until the event and crowd control measures have been approved. Please contact Community Services at 562-989-7330 for more information.

Yes. A permit issuing written approval from the Community Services Department must be secured prior to setting up a jumper / bounce house at a city park. Only vendors on the pre-approved vendor list are permitted to set up in the park. The house must be placed on turf and situated so that its entrance is at least eight feet away from any object that could hurt an occupant. The maximum space allowed for the house is 20' by 20'. For safety reasons, houses must be enclosed. Only one bounce house is permitted in a park per day. A picnic shelter permit is required with a bounce house permit.

Cancellation must be made in writing to the Community Services Department at least ten business days prior to the event date in order to receive a refund. The non-refundable deposit will be retained upon notice to the city of cancellation. If the applicant cancels less than ten business days prior to scheduled usage, 50% of all fees and deposits shall be forfeited. If the cancellation is made five working days or less prior to the event, all fees and deposits shall be forfeited.

A full refund will be made in the event of cancellation due to inclement weather or a city program. There is no refund for reservation time not utilized by the applicant, except for reasons of inclement weather. Inclement weather refunds will only be issued if approved by the director of community services.

Yes, we accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.

Every ARC staff holds a high school diploma, many staff have college credits in early childhood education, recreation or a closely related field. Each staff has a minimum of 6 months experience working with school aged children. The staff participate in bi-monthly trainings that cover a variety of topics including, but not limited to: Youth Development, Encouraging positive behavior, safety procedures, games, transitions, age specific learning/development and social emotional learning. In addition, each of the staff hold a certification in First Aid/CPR/AED.

Victims of crimes or persons involved in traffic collisions may request the report at the front desk of the Police Department during normal business hours. The person requesting the report must fill out a request form and show proof of identity. The fee for the report is $20 and must be paid by cash only in exact change.

Insurance companies and law offices may obtain crime reports or traffic collision reports by mailing the request, along with a check for $20, to the Police Department's Records Division: 2745 Walnut Ave. Signal Hill, CA 90755

• $140 in cash only and in exact change (no fee if towed for 22651(g) or 22651(c) VC)
• A valid driver’s license, or a valid U.S. government-issued I.D. or passport and a licensed driver
• A valid vehicle registration or moving permit

Persons involved in traffic collisions may request the report at the front desk of the Police Department during normal business hours. The person requesting the report must fill out a request form and show proof of identity. The fee for the report is $20 and must be paid by cash only in exact change.

Insurance companies and law offices may obtain crime reports or traffic collision reports by mailing the request, along with a check for $20, to the Police Department's Records Division: 2745 Walnut Ave., Signal Hill, CA 90755

Your are able to bring extra tables and chairs to the parks only if you have a permit from the Parks, Recreation and Library Services Department.

Canopies are not permitted in any Signal Hill parks (Signal Hill M.C. 9.08.010P).

No, hammocks or slacklines may not be attached to structures or park trees (Signal Hill M.C. 9.08.010P).

Dogs are allowed in city parks. Owners must keep their dogs on leashes and pick up any pet waste.

Yes, a permit is required for any person conducting fitness instruction, group training or youth sports practice in any City park. Municipal Code 9.08.10K. Permits may be obtained from the City of Signal Hill Parks, Recreation and Library Services Department (562) 989-7330.

Yes. The City of Signal Hill allows for 3 garage sales (event) per year, per household. The cost is $22.00 per event. Please download and complete the

Please see the informational flyer, Did You Know HOAs Can Ban Smoking in Condos (PDF).

You can request a service or report a problem online any time. Please visit our iWorq request page.

If your request needs attention during regular business hours, you also have the option to call Public Works at 562-989-7250.

If this is an emergency that needs attention outside of our regular hours, please call one of the following emergency numbers:

• Public Works Emergency Number: 562-477-5258
• Water Emergency Number: 562-400-0673

Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) can cause significant damage to the sewer system. Sewer overflows and backups due to FOG buildup creates health hazards, threatens our water resources, and can be costly to repair. The City of Signal Hill aims to improve water quality and help eliminate sewer overflows and backups by eliminating the amount of FOG that enters the sanitary sewer system. Residents are encouraged to properly dispose of FOG.

• Do not pour waste oil and cooking residue directly down the sink or garbage disposal.
• Pour FOG in a leak-proof and covered container. Dispose of it in the trash or drop it off at a FOG collection center such as EDCO.
• Limit garbage disposal use and dispose of remaining food scraps in the compost bin or trash.
• Wipe off remaining grease and scrape food scraps from dishes and pots with a paper towel prior to washing.

For more information, see our Guide to FOG (PDF).

The California Vehicle Code requires an oversize load permit for any load exceeding legal weight or dimensions. That would be loads exceeding 14' high (Section 35250), 8'6" wide (Section 35100), 40' long (single), 65' (truck/trailer), 75' (multi trailers) (Section 35400 & 35401), or 20,000 lbs/axle (Section 35550).

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works issues the Transportation Permit for the City of Signal Hill. The permit may be obtained over the Internet at the link below.

https://dpw.lacounty.gov/spats/public/tpap.cfm

Signal Hill City Charter Section 800 designates that the general municipal elections for elective officers of the City, commencing on November 3, 2020, shall be held in even-numbered years, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Candidates elected to office shall assume such office when certification of election results occurs and serve until election and qualification of their successors.

Pursuant to Resolution No. 2022-06-6684, adopted by the Signal Hill City Council on June 14, 2022, in the event of a tie-vote for any office which is being voted on at such General Municipal Election, the provisions of Section 15651 of the California Elections Code, relating to determining the tie by lot, shall apply.

The City Clerk shall summon the candidates receiving the tie vote to appear before him/her, at the time designated by the City Clerk, in the Council Chambers. The City Clerk shall place the name of each candidate in a sealed unmarked envelope and the tie vote shall be broken by lot.

Your nearest vote center is printed on your sample ballot booklet. You may now vote at any vote center in Los Angeles County. You can visit lavote.gov to see a list of vote centers and/or vote by mail drop boxes. You may also call the City Clerk's Office at (562) 989-7305 for assistance.

Vote centers open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. on election day. Anybody standing in line at the close of polls is entitled to vote.

California Elections Code Section 319.5(a) "Electioneering" means the visible display or audible dissemination of information that advocates for or against any candidate or measure on the ballot within the 100 foot limit specified in subdivision (b). Prohibited electioneering information or activity includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:

(1) A display of a candidate’s name, likeness, or logo.
(2) A display of a ballot measure’s number, title, subject, or logo.
(3) Buttons, hats, pencils, pens, shirts, signs, or stickers containing electioneering information.
(4) Dissemination of audible electioneering information.
(5) Obstructing access to, loitering near, or disseminating visible or audible electioneering information at vote by mail ballot drop boxes.

319.5(b) The activities described in subdivision (a) are prohibited within 100 feet of either of the following:

(1) The entrance to a building that contains a polling place as defined by Section 338.5, an elections official’s office, or a satellite location specified in Section 3018.
(2) An outdoor site, including a curbside voting area, at which a voter may cast or drop off a ballot.

In addition, Elections Code Section 18370(a) states a person shall not, on election day, or at any time that a voter may be casting a ballot, within the 100 foot limit specified in subdivision (b), do any of the following:

(1) Circulate an initiative, referendum, recall, or nomination petition or any other petition.
(2) Solicit a vote or speak to a voter on the subject of marking the voter’s ballot.
(3) Place a sign relating to voters’ qualifications or speak to a voter on the subject of the voter’s qualifications except as provided in Section 14240.
(4) Do any electioneering as defined by Section 319.5.

18370(c) A person shall not, on election day, or at any time that a voter may be casting a ballot, do any of the following within the immediate vicinity of a voter in line to cast a ballot or drop off a ballot:

(1) Solicit a vote.
(2) Speak to a voter about marking the voter’s ballot.
(3) Disseminate visible or audible electioneering information.

18370(d) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

A person entitled to register to vote shall be a United States citizen, a resident of California, not imprisoned for the conviction of a felony, and at least 18 years of age at the time of the next election (California Elections Code Section 2101).

You may register online at http://www.registertovote.ca.gov. You may also register by completing a voter registration form available in most government offices, including city halls, libraries, DMVs, and post offices. 

Log on to lavote.gov. You will need to supply your name, date of birth, house number, and Zip Code.

If you were previously registered within the City of Signal Hill and moved within the City’s boundaries, you can vote at any vote center within Los Angeles County. You will be required to vote by provisional ballot and this will be provided to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk as your change of address.

Yes. When a voter declares under oath, administered by any member of the precinct board at the time the voter appears at the vote center to vote, that the voter is unable to mark a ballot, the voter shall receive the assistance of not more than two persons selected by the voter, other than the voter’s employer, an agent of the voter’s employer, or an officer or agent of the union of which the voter is a member.

The ballot marking devices at every vote center in Los Angeles County were designed to be accessible to the physically handicapped. If a voter cannot get inside the polling place, the voter may vote the ballot in a place that is as near s possible to the vote center and that is accessible to the physically handicapped. A precinct board worker will bring a ballot and marking device to that person and assist the voter in casting a ballot. Please see California Elections Code Section 14282 for further information. The California Elections Code is available at https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/.

A Planning Commissioner receives $125 per meeting; a Parks & Recreation Commissioner receives $75 per meeting; a Civil Service Commissioner receives $75 per meeting; and a Sustainable City Committee Member receives no compensation. The Signal Hill Municipal Code Sections 2.32.090(D), 2.36.070(D), and 2.80.052(D) states that a commissioner who misses any regular commission meeting due to an unexcused absence, shall not be entitled to receive that portion of their regular monthly salary for such meeting, except that if any additional regular or special meeting is held that month and the commissioner attends such meeting, then the commissioner shall be entitled to their regular monthly salary, without deduction.