City of Astoria FAQs

A. If you plan to dig, you're required to contact the Oregon Utility Notification Center (OUNC) toll free at (800) 332-2344 or visit their website at https://digsafelyoregon.com. This is an invaluable, free service to prevent accidents related to buried utility lines and facilities. The OUNC notifies member utilities operating in the proposed excavation area to locate and mark their underground facilities.

A. Typically, if only a small volume of flow occurs or the source is from an upper level of the structure the problem is probably a private plumbing issue; you should contact a licensed plumbing professional for assistance. If there is a significant volume or continuous flow of sewage, contact the Operations Division at (503) 325-3524 (during regular business hours) or Dispatch at (503) 325-4411 (evenings, holidays or weekends). Upon notification of sewage backup, the City of Astoria will take the following actions:

• Immediately respond to the scene and investigate the situation.
• Provide information to the affected customer on the responsibility for removal of blockage and/or repair of the pipe.

A. A private sewer lateral is the section of underground pipe that connects the sewage system in a house or building (the wastewater plumbing) to the City-owned and -maintained sanitary sewer collection system (sewer system) in streets, alleys or easements. As the name implies, the private sewer lateral is a pipe that is owned and maintained by the private property owner. The private sewer lateral is the responsibility of the homeowner to maintain and repair, just as the roof on a house is the homeowner's responsibility to maintain and repair. If you have questions about work on private sewer laterals, please contact the Building Division at (503) 325-1004 or buildingdivision@astoria.gov.

• Damage to public sanitary sewer lines by private parties or their contractors.
• Damage to a public sanitary sewer line by public entities or their contractors.
• Power or mechanical failures at public sewage pump or lift stations.
• Blockages of a public sanitary sewer line due to debris (rocks, sticks, lumber, toys, roots, etc.).
• Settlement or movement of the earth below a public sanitary sewer line that causes the line to collapse or separate.
• Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) caused by significant rainfall events resulting in flows greater than the capacity of the public sanitary sewer line.
• Damage to the privately owned segment of the wastewater conveyance system by any of the above causes.

A. Contact with untreated sewage always carries a potential health risk. Family members and pets should be evacuated from any contaminated buildings as soon as possible

A. Some streets within Astoria are maintained by the City of Astoria, some are maintained by the Oregon Dept. of Transportation (ODOT), and others are privately maintained. You may contact the Public Works Engineering Division if you are unsure.

• Engineering Division: (503) 338-5173 or engpermits@astoria.gov
• ODOT Astoria: (503) 325-7222

A. Public Works will look for certain conditions on the road surface before deciding what to do and when to do it. Loss of aggregate, certain types of cracking and other signs of stress are good indicators of what’s going on beneath the pavement, as well as the surface condition.

We use computer software (Pavement Management System) that considers each road’s condition, prior maintenance history, and traffic loads to help us evaluate the most cost-effective treatment.

Additional considerations are available funding and other projects in the area that might impact the road. We typically have a larger paving project every two years but do smaller repairs each year as needed. Staff prepares a list of streets to pave and City Council approves the list prior to construction.

Street overlays are necessary to rehabilitate the street surface and are generally used on arterial and collector streets to extend the design life an additional 12 - 15 years. Street projects are prioritized by the Engineering Division and coordinated with local utility companies.

A. Crews often schedule their work so that they miss the morning rush hour commute and the evening commute home, and attempt to do their work between those times. However, some utilities such as water, telephone or gas services must be repaired as soon as possible to provide immediate services to the public. Therefore, those unplanned repairs take place immediately.

A. We spend a large portion of our budget on preventive maintenance. This makes good economic sense because a dollar spent on road maintenance today can save $5 on future maintenance costs. Your street may already be beyond the "quick fix" stage and will require more extensive (and expensive) repairs. In this case, it will most likely be included in a future project.

A. Yes. Depending on what you want to do, you will probably need to obtain a Right-of-Way or Utility Service permit. Examples of work that typically requires a permit are: adding a driveway, repairing a driveway or sidewalk (no fee for a repair permit, but a permit is required), repairing a water line or any other utility connections, and repairing a retaining wall in the right-of-way. 

If you plan to close a portion of the sidewalk, parking lane, or street, you may also require a Temporary Street Use permit. Contact the Engineering Division at (503) 338-5173 or engpermits@astoria.gov with any questions.

A. The vast majority of sidewalks are owned and maintained by the adjacent property owners. Property owners are responsible for the maintenance and repairs of sidewalks and curbs adjacent to their property (City Code 2.000). A Right-of-Way permit is required for work in the right-of-way.

There are very few sidewalks that are owned by the City. City-owned sidewalk repairs are completed by street maintenance employees to prevent tripping hazards. To report an issue with a City-owned sidewalk, please contact the Operations Division at (503) 325-3524.

A. The sidewalk ramp installations are done in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Contact the Engineering Division at (503) 338-5173 or engpermits@astoria.gov with any questions.

A. The maintenance of traffic signals on State highways is the responsibility of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). The Astoria ODOT office may be reached by phone at (503) 325-7222.

A. The location of a traffic sign determines who is responsible for installing and maintaining the sign.

If a sign is located on a City street, contact Public Works Operations at (503) 325-3524 for repairs and replacements of street signs. If there is an emergency (for example, a stop sign has been removed), please call Dispatch at (503) 325-4411.

If a sign is located on a State highway, contact the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Astoria office at (503) 325-7222.

A. As all of us become more aware of potential water pollution problems, we recognize that we can all do our part to eliminate water contamination. The storm drain system is designed for rainwater that falls from the clouds, not contaminated material. Remember, the stormwater flows into our creeks and rivers and eventually into the ocean. Water-based paint adds to the amount of suspended solids in the water, which is harmful to aquatic plants and animals.

• ADC Section 3.320(C)(12) (accessed 4/11/22): "Under no conditions shall soil on sidewalks, streets, or equipment be washed or hosed into storm sewers, drainage ways, streams or other water bodies."
• City Code Section 5.550 (accessed 4/11/22): "No person may cause or permit a nuisance affecting public health on property owned or controlled by him. The following are such nuisances and may be abated as provided in this code":
  
  • D: "Pollution of a body of water, well, spring, stream or drainage ditch by sewage, industrial wastes or other substances placed in or near the water in a manner that will cause harmful material to pollute the water."
  • G: "Drainage of liquid wastes from private premises."
  • I: "Mastics, oil, grease or petroleum products allowed to be introduced into the sewer system by a user connected to the sewer system."

A. Please call us immediately. Our staff will investigate the violation. The maintenance section will need to investigate the downstream effects and clean up if the responsible party is not willing to deal with the problem immediately. Please call the Public Works Operations Division at (503) 325-3524 and we will have a crew respond as soon as possible.

• City Code Section 5.550 (accessed 4/11/22): "No person may cause or permit a nuisance affecting public health on property owned or controlled by him. The following are such nuisances and may be abated as provided in this code":
  • D: "Pollution of a body of water, well, spring, stream or drainage ditch by sewage, industrial wastes or other substances placed in or near the water in a manner that will cause harmful material to pollute the water."
  • G: "Drainage of liquid wastes from private premises."
  • I: "Mastics, oil, grease or petroleum products allowed to be introduced into the sewer system by a user connected to the sewer system."
• ADC Section 3.320(C)(12) (accessed 4/11/22): "Under no conditions shall soil on sidewalks, streets, or equipment be washed or hosed into storm sewers, drainage ways, streams or other water bodies."

• Keep leaves and grass clippings out of streets, gutters, storm drains, ditches, ponds and creeks.
• Remove leaf accumulation from catch inlets to avoid local flooding.
  
• Do not dispose of yard waste/debris into water quality facilities, detention ponds, swales (low lying or depressed wet stretches of land), streets, or anything conveying water.
• Report flooding to the Public Works Operations Division at (503) 325-3524.