LA County Public Works runs cool pavement pilots in unincorporated communities like Pacoima-adjacent areas to lower surface temperatures during heat waves. The reflective coatings reduce roadway temperatures by up to 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit on summer afternoons.
LA County Department of Public Works partnered with GAF and academic researchers to apply solar-reflective pavement coatings on residential streets in heat-vulnerable unincorporated communities, including stretches in the Pacoima-area panhandle and similar pockets bordering San Fernando Valley. Coatings raise surface albedo from typical 0.05 for fresh asphalt to 0.30 or higher, lowering peak surface temperatures by 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilots align with the OurCounty Sustainability Plan and the Climate Vulnerability Assessment, which prioritize Heat Equity Zones. Public Works monitors durability and air-temperature effects before scaling, and residents have no permit obligation since coatings are applied by county crews under the standard street-maintenance program.
Cool pavement is a county capital project, not a regulatory mandate, so private property owners face no fines or permits. Driving on freshly coated streets during the cure period without following posted detours can draw a standard traffic citation.
See how Santa Monica's cool pavement rules stack up against other locations.
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