Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do I need a permit to dig in the public right-of-way?
A. Yes. An excavation permit is required from the Engineering office at 221 E. Second Street. Usually there is a $28.55 charge for the permit (no charge for sidewalk excavation), however a larger security deposit may be required if you are digging in the street.
Q. Can someone from the City come to my house and help me find my property corners?
A. The City surveyors do not provide that service. There are a number of surveyors in the Moscow area who do this for a living. The City crews occasionally find what appear to be property corners in the course of collecting field data for projects and will generally notify the property owner. Our Engineering staff can provide you with measurements and topographic maps to assist you in looking for property corners yourself.
Q. Can City staff tell me where my sewer line exists between my house and the City sewer?
A. No. We have no records indicating how private lines were installed. We can, sometimes tell you where the private line connects to the City sewer.
Q. What kind of maps do you have and what do they cost? Can I get a digital drawing?
A. We maintain record maps of all types of information from underground utilities to property addresses and the cost varies depending on the size and process used to generate the copy. See the Engineering map web page for a price list of the most requested maps and the maps available for download.
Q. What is the width of the public right-of-way on a particular street?
A. We maintain a set of City plat maps and will look up the right-of-way location as you wait either on the phone or at our office.
Q. Are fences allowed on the public right-of-way?
A. Provided the proposed fence satisfies applicable City Codes, and requirements pertaining to height, setback and intersection sight distances are met most fences are permitted on the right-of-way. Encroachment agreements and construction permits are required through the Community Development Department and the Engineering Division. Contact Kevin Lilly, City Engineer.
Q. Are retaining walls and other permanent structures allowed on public right-of-way?
A. Construction of building structures are not allowed on public the right-of-way, however depending on the particular situation a retaining wall may be permitted. Request for retaining wall encroachments are performed by the engineering staff to determine approval or denial. Contact Kevin Lilly, City Engineer.
Q. Are two or more homes allowed connection to the same private sanitary sewer service pipe?
A. Present day codes require each home / structure have it's own sanitary sewer service. In earlier times, there were no regulations prohibiting multiple connections to one service. This is why one may hear of such conditions existing. Moscow does not allow additional homes / structures to be connected to existing private sewer lines.
Q. Can I widen my private driveway approach (curb cut) onto the Public street?
A. City code allows residential driveway approaches (curb cuts) a width up to twenty feet (20') wide. If you live on a corner lot, you are allowed to have a twenty-foot wide, or less, curb cut on each fronting street. Commercial lots are allowed one thirty-foot wide, two-way, or two twenty-foot, one-way, approaches. A permit is required from the City Engineering Division to make any alterations to curb cut widths.
Q. How come the City doesn't pave my gravel street?
A. The City of Moscow established a policy years ago not to pave local and residential gravel streets. The City will, however, support property owners adjacent to gravel streets who wish to pave streets at owner expense. This support is offered through the Local Improvement District process. (See Local Improvement District). Contact Kevin Lilly, City Engineer.
Q. Can I get a map of my property?
A. The Engineering Division has a variety of maps and photos that can be used to closely identify your property, lot line dimensions and topographic features. We do not have any accurate mapping that shows exactly where property lines are in relation to topography such as buildings, sidewalks and streets. For general site-plan preparations these maps can be very helpful and are available at a reasonable cost in the Engineering Drafting Room at 221 E. Second Street.
