City News

City Hall and the Police Department will remain open to the public for essential services during the immediate COVID-19 (coronavirus) response, with social distancing measures in place. City officials are encouraging the public to handle transactions by phone or email whenever possible.

The City’s open front counter services, including the Permit Center, Cashier’s Office and Police Department, will maintain six feet of social distancing as recommended by the Orange County health department. City libraries and community centers were closed Monday, following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s updated recommendations for communities throughout the state.

For planning, building or fire permit applications, customers will be asked to leave applications at the front counter and wait in the nearby lounge while they are being processed. 

Over-the-counter plan reviews will not be provided until further notice. Plan checks and revisions can be submitted for review (email is encouraged), but the City will not be providing any face-to-face plan check service, at least through the end of March.

The Cashier’s Office will continue to accept payments in person, though online payments are encouraged.

And, while the Newport Beach Police Department is also maintaining front-counter service, the public is encouraged to communicate by phone and email whenever possible, including the Police Department’s online reporting system at nbpd.org.

Most internal City meetings have been cancelled or postponed, or are taking place by phone or video conferencing. City Council meetings will continue as scheduled.

These measures are among a series of steps adopted by the City of Newport Beach in recent days to protect public health and align with recommendations from the state Department of Public Health, federal Centers for Disease Control and Orange County Health Agency.