07 - Universal Cashiering On-Line Processing

Revised on 01-23-2024

In June of 2020, BOE released a Universal Cashiering System that allows applicants to pay for BOE permits and fees online by either check or credit card (credit card payments will include an additional processing fee).  This is a stand-alone system that does not currently connect to any BOE permitting application. For checks, BOE has a limit of $1,000,000 max per E-check.

On-Line Processing


Prior to starting the process below, an Applicant will have already received notification their permit and/or Building Permit Clearance will be processed once payment has been received.  BOE staff will need to review the online estimated permit fees in order to know which "quick codes" to apply to the customer's invoice.

  1. BOE staff to log in to the Universal Cashiering System at:  https://engpos.lacity.org/ucs
  2. Click "Add Item" within your cart (after logging in, you are automatically placed in your cart)
  3. Select the appropriate orange tab across the top of the page based on the permit being paid for to help locate the code.  You can also search for the appropriate fee through the "Search" field. 
  4. Click "Select" for each applicable charge (you can only select one at a time)
    1. In the "Add Item to Cart" grid, enter the following:
      1. Amount - Enter the amount of the actual cost of services.  All selections with a "Unit Price" of zero are "Actual Cost"
      2. Quantity - Enter the quantity of each item as shown in the "Qty" column on the permit, if applicable.  Some permits, like R-Permits, do not show quantities on the permit and thus BOE would generally enter "1" as the quantity.
      3. Work Order - Enter the work order number that was assigned to the online permit application. 
      4. Remark - Enter the permit number being referenced
      5. Click "Next"
  5. Repeat the steps above to enter each charge that should be added
  6. If you need to edit or delete any entries, this can be done within the your cart
  7. Click "Checkout" 
  8. On the "Confirm Checkout" grid, select "Yes" or "Cancel" as appropriate.  If you select "Confirm" and there is a mistake, the transaction must be voided, not edited.
  9. On the "Transaction Reference" BOE can enter any reference information into the box, including the applicable permit number(s)
  10. Click "Save"
  11. At the "Transaction ID" page, select one of the following:Screen Shot from Universal Cashiering
    1. Credit Card:  Physical credit card must be presented to BOE staff, no exceptions (Pam-legal identification must also be presented?).  Applicants may also enter their own credit card information once the applicant has received an email from BOE requesting payment.
      1. First Name:  First Name
      2. Last Name:  Last Name
      3. Email (Optional):  Email Address where you can be contacted
      4. Card Number:  15 or 16-digit credit card number, as shown on the card
      5. Expiration month:  Expiration month as shown on the card 
      6. Expiration year:  Expiration month as shown on the card 
      7. Card security code:  Three or four-digit security code 
      8. Payment amount:  Automatically populated, but can be modified
      9. Remark:  Enter any information related to the permit.
      10. Click "Collect"
    2. E-Check (ACH):  E-Checks can only be entered by the Applicant.  Payments collected by E-check cannot be voided after 10 minutes of performing the transaction. If 10 minutes is exceeded, the Applicant will be required to submit a Claim for Refund for the transaction.  Check:  If a physical check is presented for payment, BOE would process the check as an E-Check. Physical checks must be presented to BOE staff, no exceptions.
      1. First Name:  First Name
      2. Last Name:  Last Name
      3. Email (Optional):  Email Address where you can be contacted
      4. Address:  Address as shown on check
      5. Address (Line 2 - Optional):  Suite number
      6. City:  City, as shown on check
      7. State:  CA
      8. Zip:  Zip code
      9. Bank Routing Number: First group of the nine digit numbers as shown on the bottom of the check
      10. Bank Account Number:  Second group of 10 numbers shown on the bottom of the check
      11. Check Number (Optional):  Third group of numbers shown on the bottom of the check (usually five digits).
      12. Payment amount:  Automatically populated, but can be modified
      13. Remark (Optional):  Enter any information from related to the permit.
      14. Click "Collect"
    3. Check:  If a physical check is presented for payment, BOE staff would process the check as a Check. Physical checks must be presented to BOE staff, no exceptions. The check must also be scanned and processed through the office's cash register system. This option allows for the processing of checks over the limits of the E-Check (ACH) option.
      1. Name:  First and last name as shown on the check
      2. Address:  Address as shown on check
      3. Address (Line 2 - Optional):  Suite number
      4. City:  City, as shown on check
      5. State:  CA
      6. Zip:  Zip code
      7. Check Number (Optional):  Third group of numbers shown on the bottom of the check (usually five digits).
      8. Check amount:  Automatically populated, but can be modified
      9. Remark:  Enter any information from related to the permit.
      10. Click "Collect"
    4. Inter Departmental Order (IDO) or Bill:  This option is selected when another City Department needs to make a payment to BOE.  Note: IDO documentation needs to specify PW/BOE as the payee and indicate the appropriate amount of funds available in the account. The IDO shall be signed by authorized personnel with name printed, phone number, and dated.
      1. Remark:  Enter any information from the IDO sheet or related to the permit.
      2. Amount:  Automatically populated, but can be modified
      3. Document Number:  IDO Reference Number
      4. Zip:  Zip code
      5. State:  CA
      6. City:  Los Angeles
      7. Address (Line 2 - Optional):  Suite number
      8. Address:  Department address
      9. Name:  First name, Last Name, and Department
      10. Click "Collect"
      11. Attachments: Pertinent documents must be attached here to allow for Accounting to have access. If the pertinent document are not attached, the documents will need to later be sent to Accounting by inter-office mail.
    5. No Fee:  
      1. Permittee/Contractor Name:  First and last name as shown on the permit
      2. Permittee/Contractor Address:  Address as shown on permit
      3. Address (Line 2 - Optional):  Suite number
      4. City:  City, as shown on permit
      5. State:  CA
      6. Zip:  Zip code
      7. No fee amount:  Automatically populated.  If only  a portion of the fee is being waived, BOE would be required to make separate entries for waived fees versus collected fees.
      8. Remark:  Enter any information from related to the permit.
      9. Click "Collect"
    6. Invoice:  By selecting this option, the Applicant will receive an email with a link to pay for the permit online.
      1. Account Type:  Select if the account is a "Personal" or "Business" account
      2. First Name:  (used if "Personal" is selected)
      3. Last Name:  (used if "Personal" is selected)
      4. Company:  (used if "Business" is selected
      5. Email To (Required):  Applicant email address
      6. Payment amount:  Automatically populated
      7. Click "Send Invoice" (an email will automatically be sent to the Applicant once this is selected)
  12. Void Transaction:  Used if the Applicant wishes to void the transaction.  This must be completed by midnight, the same day as the transaction.
    1. Reason for Void:  Enter a reason for voiding the transaction
    2. Click "Save"
  13. Attachments:  This option allows BOE staff to add any number of attachments to any transaction before or after it is completed.
    1. Click "Choose Files" to select one or many files relevant to the transaction. 
      1. PDF format is preferred but other formats are accepted
      2. Files can't be larger than 25MB
    2. Click "Upload Files" to upload the selected files
  14. Print:  Use if there is a need to print the receipt or save an electronic copy.