Title 12 of the Municipal Code shall serve as the Traffic Ordinance for the City of Lake Forest. Adoption by the State Legislature of the California Vehicle Code provides for uniform traffic regulations throughout the State. Within these regulations the California Vehicle Code also delegates to local government specific authority to adopt supplemental regulations by ordinance or resolution. It is the intent of this title to establish specific City of Lake Forest legal and organizational authority for traffic management and regulatory enforcement of use within the public right-of-way.
(Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)
To guide the application of the laws contained in this Traffic Ordinance not in the California Vehicle Code, the City Council has adopted the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (California MUTCD), as it may be amended from time to time by the California Department of Transportation. The California MUTCD defines engineering policies, procedures, and interpretations of traffic engineering practice. Any amendments to the California MUTCD shall be approved by resolution of the City Council.
(Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)
The following words and phrases when used in this title shall, for the purpose of this title, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:
California Vehicle Code Definitions to be Used.
Whenever any words or phrases used herein are defined in the Vehicle Code of the State of California, and amendments thereto, such definitions shall apply if not elsewhere defined in this chapter.
Bus Stop Zone.
The space adjacent to the curb or edge of a roadway reserved for the exclusive use of buses during the loading or unloading of passengers.
Curb.
The lateral boundary of the roadway whether such curb be marked by curbing construction or not so marked; it does not include the line dividing the roadway of a street from parking strips in the center of a street, nor from tracks or rights-of-way of public utility companies.
Holidays.
Within the meaning of this division, holidays are the holidays defined in Chapter 2.55 of the Municipal Code.
Loading Zone.
The space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials.
Official Time Standard.
Whenever certain hours are named herein, they shall mean standard time or daylight saving time as may be in current use in the City.
Passenger Loading Zone.
The space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers.
Director.
The Director of the City's Public Works Department, or his or her authorized representative.
School Days.
Days on which regularly scheduled public school classes are in session.
Vehicle Code.
The Vehicle Code of the State of California.
Bicycle Lane.
A marked lane within the roadway designated by appropriate signs and markings for the one way use of bicycles.
Bicycle Path/Bicycle Trail.
A specifically designated area for bicycle use physically separated from the roadway.
Bicycle Route.
Any roadway designated as a bikeway pursuant to California Streets and Highways Code Section 2371 with official signs giving notice of such a bikeway.
Scooter.
Manually propelled, two wheeled scooters.
Skateboard.
A board of any material, which has wheels attached to it and which is propelled or moved by human, gravitational power, and to which there is not fixed any device or mechanism to turn or control the wheels.
Recreational Vehicle.
1. 
A motor home, travel trailer, truck camper, camping trailer or similar vehicle, with or without motive power, designed for human habitation for recreational or emergency occupancy; or
2. 
A portable unit, mounted on wheels, of such a size and weight as not to require special highway movement permits when drawn by a motor vehicle, including, but not limited to, boat trailer, all terrain vehicle (ATV) trailer, camper, jet ski trailer and toy trailer.
Business and Industrial Zone.
For purposes of Section 12.16.040(C), the following streets comprise the Business and Industrial Zone:
No.
Street
Limits
 
Land Use
From
To
1
Alter
Lake Forest Drive
Burbank
 
Light Industrial
2
Aspan Street
Lake Forest Drive
Muirlands Boulevard
 
Business Park
3
Auto Center Drive
Portola Parkway
Towne Centre Drive
 
Commercial
4
Baker Ranch Road
Towne Centre Drive
(To end of cul-de-sac)
 
Light Industrial
5
Barents Sea Circle
Atlantic Ocean Drive
(To end of cul-de-sac)
 
Light Industrial
6
Bridger Road
El Toro
(To end of cul-de-sac)
 
Commercial
7
Canada Road
900' West of Dimension Drive
600' East of Dimension Drive
*
Light Industrial
8
Centre Drive
Rockfield Boulevard
Aspan Street
 
Commercial
9
Cherry Avenue
Jeronimo Road
Front Street
*
Light Industrial
10
Cook Street
Wright
Towne Centre Drive
 
Light Industrial
11
Da Vinci
Pauling
Descartes
 
Light Industrial
12
Definition Road
Icon
Glenn Ranch Road
 
Light Industrial
13
Descartes
Pauling
Da Vinci
 
Light Industrial
14
Dimension Drive
Bake Parkway
Lake Forest Drive
*
Light Industrial
15
Ellipse (East side only)
Glenn Ranch Road
Icon
 
Light Industrial
16
Front Street
Cherry Avenue
(To end of cul-de-sac)
 
Light Industrial
17
Fuerte Drive
Valencia Circle
Windrow Drive
 
Business Park
18
Great Lakes Circle
Spectrum Pointe Drive
(To end of cul-de-sac)
 
Business Park
19
Hermana Circle
Rancho Parkway
(To end of cul-de-sac)
 
Business Park
20
Icon
Ellipse
Definition Road
 
Light Industrial
21
James Bay Circle
Atlantic Ocean Drive
(To end of cul-de-sac)
 
Light Industrial
22
Lake Forest Drive
Rue de Valore
Portola Parkway
*
Light Industrial
23
Lambert Street
Aspan Street
Lake Forest Drive
 
Business Park
24
Linear Lane
Dimension Drive
(To end of cul-de-sac)
 
Light Industrial
25
McWhorter Way
Aspan Street
(To end of cul-de-sac)
 
Business Park
26
North Sea Circle
Atlantic Ocean Drive
(To end of cul-de-sac)
 
Light Industrial
27
Old Trabuco Road
South of Lake Forest Drive
(To end of cul-de-sac)
 
Public Facility
28
Orange Ave
Jeronimo Road
Front Street
*
Light Industrial
29
Orchard
Rancho Parkway
Bake Parkway
 
Business Park
30
Pascal Way
Dimension Drive
(To end of cul-de-sac)
 
Light Industrial
31
Pauling
500' South of Lake Forest Drive
Portola Parkway
*
Light Industrial
32
Prism Place
Dimension Drive
(To end of cul-de-sac)
 
Light Industrial
33
Rancho Parkway
South of Bake Parkway
(To end of roadway)
*
Business Park
34
Rancho Parkway South
North of Bake Parkway
(To end of roadway)
*
Business Park
35
Remme Ridge
Aspan Street
(To end of cul-de-sac)
 
Business Park
36
Ridge Route Drive
West of Rockfield Boulevard
(To end of roadway)
*
Medium Density Residential
37
Shannon Circle
Aspan Street
(To end of cul-de-sac)
 
Business Park
38
Swartz Drive
El Toro
(To end of cul-de-sac)
 
Commercial
39
Valencia Circle
Fuerte Drive
(To end of cul-de-sac)
 
Business Park
40
Vista Terrace
Lake Forest Drive
(To end of cul-de-sac)
 
Light Industrial
41
Whisler Drive
El Toro Frontage Road
Orange Avenue
 
Commercial
42
Windrow Drive
Vista Terrace
(To end of cul-de-sac)
 
Business Park
43
Wright
Cook Street
(To end of cul-de-sac)
 
Light Industrial
*
Denotes partial street(s)
Electric Bicycle.
An electric bicycle equipped with both fully operable pedals and an electric motor, as further defined by Vehicle Code Section 312.5, as it may be amended from time to time.
Electrically Motorized Board.
Any wheeled device that has a floorboard designed to be stood upon when riding, is designed to transport only one person, and has an electric propulsion system, as further defined by Vehicle Code Section 313.5, as it may be amended from time to time.
Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device.
A self-balancing, nontandem two-wheeled device that can turn in place, designed to transport only one person, with an electric propulsion system, as further defined by Vehicle Code Section 313, as it may be amended from time to time.
Motorized Scooter.
Any two-wheeled device that has handlebars, has either a floorboard that is designed to be stood upon when riding or a seat and footrests in place of the floorboard, and is powered by an electric motor, as further defined by Vehicle Code Section 407.5, as it may be amended from time to time.
(Ord. 171 § 1, 2007; Ord. 201 §§ 2, 3, 4-7-2009; Ord. 358 § 17, 2022)
It shall be the general duty of the Director of Public Works/City Engineer or designee to determine the installation, design, operation, and maintenance of traffic-control devices, design and/or review traffic flow systems and appurtenances, conduct engineering analyses of traffic accidents; devise remedial measures; conduct engineering and traffic investigations of traffic conditions. The Director of Public Works/City Engineer shall also cooperate with the California Highway Patrol, the Orange County Sheriff's Department, the Orange County Fire Authority, and other agencies as appropriate in the development of ways and means to improve traffic conditions and maximize traffic safety.
(Ord. 171 § 1, 2007; Ord. 302 § 40, 2018)