Community Gets Its Own ZIP Code

After years of having a Los Angeles County ZIP Code, some 5,500 businesses and residential addresses in Oak Park got a code of their own Jan. 1, recognizing more than 15,000 people as part of Ventura County.

“The community wanted to change the ZIP Code,” said Trisha Kelley,a spokeswoman for the 200-post office Van Nuys District, which includesthe Conejo and San Fernando valleys.

Homes and businesses can continue to use the old ZIP Code, 91301, through Dec. 31 before they must switch to the new code of 91377, postal officials said.

Peter Loge, chief of staff for Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), whose district includes Oak Park, said the old ZIP Code had posed several problems.

“Oak Park is in Ventura County,” Loge said. “But it shares its ZIP Code with Agoura Hills, which is in Los Angeles County. The problem with that is Los Angeles County is a higher tax rate; and insurance, like car and fire, is often higher. And there’s, finally, 911.”

Karen Portlock, 911 coordinator for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, said that before the ZIP Code change, Oak Park phone numbers were flagged for special attention so their addresses would be recognized as being in Ventura County, not Los Angeles County.

“Having their own ZIP Code, we’ll be able to handle them in the normal processing, as the other areas are,” Portlock said.

But, she added, there have not been any serious mishaps because of ZIP Code confusion.

“We have been very diligent about that Oak Park area,” Portlock said. “I think the frequency of misroutes for Oak Park are no greater than for any other area in the county.”