Frequently Asked Questions

All openings at the City are posted on the Job Opportunities page of the City’s website. The City only accepts applications for those positions which are currently open and posted.

In almost all cases, you should complete the City’s online employment application and submit it, along with a resume and a cover letter expressing your interest in the position. If there are further forms to complete or steps you need to take, they will be described in the specific job opportunity posting.  For more detailed information, see the How To Apply page under Human Resources.

In the case of an imminent threat to life or property, emergency removal of dangerous trees may be undertaken prior to receiving a permit if the elevated threat is verified by a TRAQ arborist and documented on site. If this is the case, you must notify the Community Development Department within one working day and apply for a tree removal permit within one week. Please take photos prior to any emergency removal. For more information, contact the Community Development Department at 206-368-5440, stop by the Permit Center at City Hall. If the tree is not an imminent threat (i.e., could fall down at any time), fill out the Tree Removal and Replacement Application Form and turn it in to City Hall during permit counter hours and/or email the Urban Forest Planner for more information. 

If you wish to remove one or more significant trees from your property, or you wish to remove any tree in an environmentally critical area*, you will need a permit. Significant trees are defined as any tree that has diameter** of 6" or greater. Trees under 6" in diameter** can be removed without a permit as long as they are not in an environmentally critical area* or tree conservation easement and as long as they were not replacement trees for a previous permit. Read the full ordinance in the Lake Forest Park Municipal Code.

Exemption: Dead Trees - If the tree is completely dead, you can remove it without a permit, but first please have your arborist email photos of the dead tree and estimated reason of decline to the Urban Forest Planner Drue Epping to confirm the dead tree meets the definition of dead. If the tree is in an environmentally critical area, the stump must remain in the ground, and the City recommends leaving the bottom 12-18 feet of the tree for wildlife habitat. 

*Contact the Planning Department to find out if the tree is in an environmentally critical area. **Diameter measured at 4.5 ft above grade.

Washington case law has determined that these issues are a civil matter between the neighbors involved. Though a dead or dying tree may pose a risk to property, there are no mechanisms by which the City may intervene in this case. If the tree(s) can be assessed from your property without entering your neighbor’s property, you may hire an ISA Certified Arborist to complete an assessment of the tree(s) and provide a report. This report may be useful in talking with your neighbor about the tree. You can search for an ISA certified arborist on the website Treesaregood.org.

All trees must be chosen from the Lake Forest Park Tree List unless you receive written approval from the City Arborist to use a different species. The growing conditions, such as sun exposure, soil type, and growing space should be taken into consideration when selecting tree species.

To look for open permits in Lake Forest Park click on the green Permit Portal icon.  You can then choose to look for permits by clicking to search either Building or Planning (Land Use) title on the first page.  You will be able to choose the criteria by which to search.  Enter the street number or street name and see all permits located on that street.  If you would like to see all permit applications in Lake Forest Park, enter Lake Forest Park in the 'City' field.

A permit is required to remove any significant tree, defined as a tree 6" in diameter (DBH) or greater. In environmentally sensitive areas, a permit is required to remove any tree, regardless of size. View more information in the Permit Center.

Electrical systems are regulated, permitted, and inspected by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries

The restrictions vary depending on the zoning regulations. View Single Family Residential Zoning Information for an initial list of restrictions, but we recommend you consult the Community Development Department to determine any restrictions your property may have.

The front lot line is always defined as the lot line at which vehicular access takes place from a public street, private street, access easement, or tract. The rear lot line is the line opposite and most distant from the front lot line. The side lot lines are any other lines that are neither front nor rear lot lines. Special requirements exist for triangular or trapezoidal lots. Contact the Community Development Department for more information.

Contact the Community Development Department.

Ordinance 1198 was passed by City Council on November 14th, 2019 so that construction is allowed between 7:00 am and 8:00 pm on weekdays, and 7:00 am and 5:00 pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

• Nature of the violation
• Street address of the violation (exact address required)
• Description of any vehicles (including License Number) or other items involved in the complaint

• Is three (3) years old or older
• Is extensively damaged. Such damage may include, but is not limited to any of the following: Broken Window or Windshield, Missing Wheels, Tires, Motor, or Transmission.
• Apparently inoperable
• Has an approximate fair market value equal only to the approximate value of the scrap in it.

Code Enforcement is responsible for Lake Forest Park City Code violations that occur on private property. Vehicles parked on the street are on the Public Right of Way and are handled by the Lake Forest Park Police Department, who can be reached at 206-364-8216.

Please call 911 if you have an emergency. If you have a non-emergency and need an officer to respond or would like to file a police report, you can reach our Dispatch Center at 425-577-5656.

You may request a copy of a police report by completing a Public Records Request form. You can access a fill-able PDF of the form at https://www.cityoflfp.gov/371/Public-Records-Requests or come into City Hall to get a hard copy. A completed Public Records Request form will be accepted by fax, e-mail, or by dropping the form off at the Police Records window upstairs or the reception desk on the first floor of City Hall.

If you are a resident of the City of Lake Forest Park, you can turn in your unwanted firearm(s) to the Police Department. However, many citizens do not realize that their firearms may be collectible and thus valuable, or are just worth money on their own if they were sold or consigned to be sold through a reputable firearms dealer. There are many dealers that can facilitate the buying outright or consigning your firearm(s); Cabela’s Gun Library - Marysville, DJ’s Loan & Sport – Bothell, and AMS Guns – Woodinville are local examples. Ammunition is not currently accepted by the PD and should also be brought to a firearms dealer or gun range.

If the decision is to turn in a firearm to the Police Department, please call the PD first at 206-364-8216 and make an appointment with the Support Officer. Any firearm brought to the PD must be unloaded, and if a semi-automatic, the slide should be locked back in the open position with no magazine inserted in the magazine well. Please be aware that firearms brought to the Police Department are likely to be destroyed after a period of time; be sure you inquire about specifics during your appointment.

Begin by carefully reading your infraction or camera ticket. You must respond to the infraction within thirty (30) days from the violation date. A failure to respond may result in the suspension of your driver’s license, further penalties, and collections. Respond by completing the information in the box in the upper right corner of the infraction and either mailing the infraction to the court or bringing it in person to the court clerk's office.

Please see the Municipal Court webpage for more information on paying or contesting an infraction or camera ticket.

Please complete and submit the Public Record Request Form. For further information, please contact the City Clerk at 206-368-5440.

Please contact the Community Development Department by telephone at 206-957-2832.

Begin by carefully reading your citation. You must respond to the infraction within thirty (30) days from the violation date. A failure to respond will result in the suspension of your driver’s license, further penalties, and collections. Respond by completing the information in the box in the upper right corner of the citation and either mailing the citation to the court or bringing it in person to the court clerk's office. Court dates will not be given out over the phone. Select one of the boxes in the upper right corner and verify your address. 

Select box 1, Pay, you are electing to pay the infraction in full. 

Select box 2, Payment Plan, you are admitting responsibility but seeking time payments due to a current inability to pay.  

A hearing notice will be mailed to you if you choose box 3 or box 4.  

Select box 3, Mitigation Hearing, if you accept responsibility but wish to explain the circumstances or seek a reduction in penalty or box 4, Contested Hearing, if you deny responsibility and want to challenge the allegation. The hearing notice will include information to request a hearing by mail, email (called a TEC hearing), or via Zoom.

A mitigation hearing is held when you admit you committed the violation but wish to explain the circumstances to the judge. To request a mitigation hearing, mark box 3 in the upper right corner of your citation. The judge may adjust your penalty based on your explanation. The court must forward all committed traffic citations to the Department of Licensing, and they will appear on your driving record. Mitigation hearings are held by mail, email (called a TEC hearing), or via Zoom. 

A contested hearing is held when you believe you did not commit the violation. To request a contested hearing, mark box 4 in the upper right corner of your citation. The officer will not be present unless you file an officer subpoena which is available from the court clerk. Discovery requests should be made in writing to the prosecutor's office. You may testify, present evidence or witnesses at a contested hearing. In the event you have requested witnesses, you may be required to pay court costs. If you have a contested hearing and lose, the penalty may stay the same. Contested hearings are held by mail, email (called a TEC hearing), or virtually via Zoom. 

You can request a hearing to mitigate or contest the violation. Be sure to submit your request by the due date listed on the front of the Notice of Infraction and indicate your preference for a hearing by mail, email (called a TEC hearing) or virtually via Zoom.  

Was the light red when you entered the intersection? Was the school zone light flashing? Did you make a complete stop before making a right turn at a red light? 

Video evidence is available for your review. You can view the video and photographs for your ticket at ViolationInfo.com with the Notice and PIN number provided in the upper right corner of the notice of infraction.   

Were you driving the vehicle?  

Photo enforcement violations are issued to the registered owner of the vehicle. If the vehicle was in the custody or control of someone else when the violation occurred, you can submit a Declaration of Non-Responsibility (“DNR”) form. A photo ticket will be dismissed if the registered owner submits a sworn DNR form.  

A camera ticket is similar to a parking ticket: 

Camera tickets DO NOT:

• Go on your driving record.
• Go to your insurance company. 

Camera tickets CAN:

• Place a hold on car registration and tabs for failure to pay.

A traffic infraction will go on your Department of Licensing driving abstract if you pay the penalty, mitigate or if the judge finds you have committed the infraction.

Photo tickets do not go on your driving record. See #4 above.

This program allows you to keep an infraction off your driving record. A Deferred Finding is conditioned on an admission of responsibility, a 6-month probationary period with no traffic infractions, and payment of a $175 administrative fee within 30 days of entry. A person may receive only one moving and one nonmoving deferral in a seven-year period.

If the terms of the deferral are violated, the original charge will be found committed and a penalty will be imposed.

A Deferred Finding is not available to:

• drivers with a commercial driver’s license;
• drivers operating a commercial vehicle;
• drivers charged with Negligent Driving with Vulnerable User Victim; or 
• drivers who have received a Deferred Finding within a seven-year period.

A failure to pay or respond to the citation within 15 days will result in a finding of committed. If you requested a hearing and did not appear, a $52 late penalty is added to the original amount of the citation and payment is due immediately. An unresolved citation will show as a "hold" against your license through the Department of Licensing. In this case, payment must be by cash or its equivalent. Personal checks will delay processing and adjudication for approximately 10 days.

If you were cited for No Proof of Insurance but you were insured at the time of the stop or have since obtained insurance, you may file proof with the court. If you were insured at the time of the stop, the infraction will be dismissed upon payment of a $25 administrative fee. If you were uninsured but have subsequently obtained insurance, the court will find the infraction committed and will, at the court’s discretion, impose a reduced penalty.

Yes. A Traffic Electronic Court Hearing or “TEC Hearing” is an option if you want a Mitigation, Contested, and Deferred Finding hearing via email. The TEC hearing form is available on the court website. You must have a valid email address. The result of a TEC hearing is not appealable.

Both mitigation and contested hearings can be done by mail or fax. There is no right to appeal from a contested hearing by mail. If the charge is related to an insurance, registration, or license violation, you must provide proof of these documents before the court will consider the penalty. You may also request a deferred finding by mail.

If you do not win at a contested hearing, you have the right to appeal to the Superior Court of King County. The notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days of the judgment. There will be costs, payable in advance, including a $230 filing fee. The Superior Court will review the record that was made at the municipal court level, but there will not be a new trial. Appeal packets are available from the clerk. There is no appeal from a finding of committed following a contested hearing by mail. 

If you cannot pay your fines in full at the time of the hearing, you may request a payment plan, a reduction in financial penalty, or community service in lieu of fine. The Declaration of Inability to Pay Fine & Request of Payment Plan form is available on the court website. A payment plan is a contract with the court for installment payments. Failure to abide by the contract will result in additional penalties, possible suspension of your driver’s license and assignment to collection. There is a $10 setup fee.

The City offers paperless billing. Click on the Utility Payments button at WWW.CITYOFLFP.GOV. You will be directed to the options where you can view your bill and sign up for paperless billing.

The City offers the option to pay with a credit card. However, there is a fee of $3.95 to use credit card and a maximum of $400 per transaction. There is no fee for paying using an electronic check from your bank (EFT). Click on the Utility Payments button at WWW.CITYOFLFP.GOV. You will be directed to the options where you can view and pay your bill and sign up for paperless billing.

Click on the Utility Payments button at WWW.CITYOFLFP.GOV. You will be directed to the options where you can view and pay your bill and sign up for paperless billing.

In Lake Forest Park the residential sewer rate is a flat rate. It is not based on water usage or consumption. It is based on being connected to the system.

Seattle Public Utilities maintains the street lights in Lake Forest Park. If you notice a light is out or malfunctioning, you can report it electronically using the Streetlight Report Issues Form located at https://www.seattle.gov/city-light/in-the-community/safety-and-reliability/streetlight-maintenance, via phone at (206) 684-7056, or via email at street.light@seattle.gov.

Passport application services are offered by appointment only - schedule an appointment here.  Please check our web page or call 206-957-2834 for details regarding fees and documents to bring with you.

Passports are sent directly to your mailing address within 6-8 weeks. This processing time window is solely when your application is with the department of state. It does not include the time it takes for your new passport to reach you once it is mailed by the Department of State. Please check www.travel.state.gov for the most up-to-date processing times.

Passport applications can be expedited for an additional fee. Expedited passports are received in 2-3 weeks.  If you are leaving in less than 14 days, you will need to call the Seattle Passport Agency Office at 1-877-487-2778 to schedule an appointment.

Yes!  You can track the status of your application online by visiting Travel.State.Gov, however it may take up to 2 weeks from the day you submit your application until your status is "In Process." During these 2 weeks, your application is delivered to a mail facility, your payment is processed, and your application is entered into the State Department system.  Even if your passport status update says, "Not Available," your application and supporting documents are safely on their way to the State Department.

• You already have a passport that is not damaged; and
• It was issued within the past 15 years; and
• You were at least age 16 when it was issued; and
• You still have the same name as in passport (or you can legally document your name change)

No, the Passport Agent does not need to see your social security card.  However, you must know your social security number as it is required on all applications.  Applicants who do not provide their social security number will experience delays in the processing, or possibly the denial, of their application.  If a child applicant has never been issued a social security number, a statement to that effect must be submitted along with the application.

Yes, applicants should fill in all of the boxes on the application form.  If an applicant is unsure of their parent's dates or places of birth, check your birth certificate to see if the information is listed there.

You will need to bring the expired passport and a certified copy of the birth certificate, the minor, and both parents (if under the age of 16). The minor's social security number also needs to be on the application.

Yes, social security numbers are required on all applications.  Applicants who do not provide their social security number will experience delays in the processing, or possibly the denial, of their application.  If a child applicant has never been issued a social security number, a statement to that effect must be submitted along with the application.

Call the U.S. Department of State toll-free at 1-877-487-2778 (TTY 1-888-874-7793), or report it online. If you want to apply for a new passport, you’ll also have to fill out the paper Form DS-64 to turn in with your application.  If you are traveling abroad, immediately report the loss to local police authorities and the nearest embassy or consulate.

If your most recent U.S. passport was issued less than one year ago, use form DS-5504 (Name Change Form). Include certified evidence of name change or other change in descriptive data and one new passport photo and mail it to address on form to get a new passport free of charge.

If your valid U.S. passport was issued more than one year ago, use form DS-82 (Renewal Form). Include certified evidence of name change or other change in descriptive data, one new photo and a check, and mail it to address on form.

You must submit one of the following. Your evidence must be an original or certified, physical copy. A certified copy is any document that has the seal or stamp of the official issuing authority.

• Fully-valid, undamaged U.S. passport (may be expired)
• U.S. birth certificatethat meets the following requirements:
  • Issued by the city, county, or state of birth
  • Lists your full name, date of birth, and place of birth
  • Lists your parent(s)’ full names
  • Has the date the birth was filed with registrar’s office (must be within one year of birth)
  • Has the registrar’s signature
  • Has the seal of the issuing authority
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
• Certificate of Naturalization
• Certificate of Citizenship

You must present one of the following identification documents (IDs) to the acceptance agent. The ID must readily identify you.

• Valid or expired, undamaged U.S. passport book or passport card
• In-state, fully valid driver’s license or enhanced driver’s license with photo
• Certificate of Naturalization
• Certificate of Citizenship
• Government employee ID (city, county, state, or federal)
• U.S. military or military dependent ID
• Current (valid) foreign passport
• Matricula Consular (Mexican Consular ID) - commonly used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
• U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) - commonly used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
• Trusted Traveler IDs (including valid Global Entry, FAST, SENTRI, and NEXUS cards)
• Enhanced Tribal Cards and Native American tribal photo IDs
• Other documents: In-state, fully valid learner’s permit with photo, In-state, fully valid non-driver ID with photo, and temporary driver’s license with photo. Note: you may be asked to present an additional ID when presenting one of these 3 documents.

Please note:

• If you present an out-of-state ID, you must present an additional ID.
• Some states now issue digital ID documents (also known as mobile driver’s licenses or mobile IDs). We cannot accept these digital IDs when you apply for your U.S. passport. You must continue to submit your physical, photo ID and a photocopy of the ID.

You must submit documentation that lists the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the child applying for a passport. The following may be used to show parental relationship:

• U.S. birth certificate (also evidence of U.S. citizenship)
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth (also evidence of U.S. citizenship)
• Foreign birth certificate (must include English translation, if not already in English)
• Adoption decree
• Divorce/Custody decree (Parenting Plan)

Please note: Some documents, like a U.S. birth certificate, show both U.S. citizenship and parental relationship. These documents must be originals or certified copies (not photocopies).

All children under age 16 must apply for a passport in person with two parents or guardians using Form DS-11.

Both parents/guardians must authorize the issuance of the child’s passport. The best way to do this is for both parents/guardians to go with the child in person to apply for the passport.

What if both parents/guardians cannot appear in person?

Please Note: Written authorization from the parent that cannot appear in person must be less than three months old.

You need a Lake Forest Park business license if you are engaged in business activities within the Lake Forest Park (LFP) city limits. Call the Finance Department at 206-368-5440 x132, if you have questions about what activities are considered engaged in business.

2023:

$40.00 for businesses with a physical location in LFP. $80.00 for businesses located outside LFP and secondhand dealers, regardless of location. Payments must be made by check, cash, or cashier's check, to the City, or online via FileLocal.

Business license applications can be submitted online via FileLocal, or by mail or in person at City Hall during business hours (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday).

Requests to close an account must be made in writing by mail or email (tax@cityoflfp.gov).

Quarterly or annually. The City determines the filing frequency based on a number of factors. Taxpayers are welcome to request a change in filing frequency by contacting the City's Finance Department at 206-368-5440 x 134.

In most cases, a business' reporting classification is the same for LFP as it is for state reporting. If you have questions about how to report a specific business activity, please use this link for standard information from the Washington State Department of Revenue: https://dor.wa.gov/open-business/apply-business-license/plan-taxes/business-and-occupation-bo-tax-classification-definitions

Address changes must be made in writing and sent in by U.S. mail, by email (tax@cityoflfp.gov), or on a tax return.

Service income apportionment is a method of determining the amount of tax due to LFP when business activities occur in more than one location. Below are links to apportionment resources: https://dor.wa.gov/education/industry-guides/photography-tax-guide/apportionable-bo-tax-classifications and http://dor.wa.gov/Content/FindTaxesAndRates/BAndOTax/ApportionableActivities.aspx