What the manual says about U-Permits
BOE states that Excavation U-Permits are issued to public utilities regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California. Its broader purpose statement also includes telecommunication companies regulated by that Commission installing public utilities in the public right-of-way.
This is not a general permit category for any excavation that happens to involve a utility line. The applicant and scope still have to be considered against current City requirements.
What the manual says about E-Permits
BOE says Excavation E-Permits are generally used for private construction, such as footings, basements, building excavations, tunnels, and pipelines crossing streets. It also includes utility companies making infrequent installations in that description. The manual states that E-Permits typically require a cash or surety bond.
“Generally” and “typically” matter. They describe the manual’s common contexts, not a shortcut for classifying every possible scope or declaring a universal bonding rule. BOE’s overview provides additional examples of work within the E-Permit context, including installation, inspection, repair, abandonment, or removal of specified underground structures.
Use the distinction as orientation, not a decision engine
Start with the work description, its location, and the applicant’s authority. If the job combines public-utility installation with private construction or other excavation, avoid forcing the whole project into one label based on a single feature. The BOE manual points readers to its permit classification matrix for additional guidance on which permit to seek based on scope.
For a specific project, confirm classification with current BOE guidance and the appropriate City authority.
Information should be verified against current City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering requirements. This guide is informational and is not a permit determination.