Public Works

The Public Works Department provides essential core services that include construction and maintenance of City streets, sidewalks, and stormwater infrastructure, as well as solid waste management, to Asheville citizens and visitors in a prompt, professional, efficient, and safe manner. The dedicated employees of the Public Works Department strive to provide these services equitably to all neighborhoods in a manner that reflects our emphasis on quality customer service, environmental stewardship, fiscal responsibility, and transparency. The department is led and directed by the Administration division and internally supported by the Fleet Management and Asset Management (GIS) divisions.

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Report an Issue

Report an issue through the Asheville App  The Asheville App  or call (828) 251-1122.

Division-Specific Issues

Sanitation issues include missed collection for trash or brush, roll cart issues, illegal dumping or littering, and overgrown lots.

Stormwater issues include drainage issues and flooding.

Streets issues include potholes, graffiti, sidewalk hazards, trees in the right-of-way, and snow removal.

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City of Asheville Standard Specifications and Details Manual (SSDM)

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Sanitation Division

• Trash/Recycling Schedule
• Brush Collection
• Bulky Item/Appliance Collection
• Set-Out Services for Residents with Disabilities
• Sanitation Ordinance Enforcement

Visit the Sanitation Division page for more information.

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Stormwater Division

 

• Installs and maintains storm drain infrastructure
• Maintains ditches and trenches to help control the flow of rainwater down public streets
• Sweeps streets
• Works with the Development Services Department to issue permits for grading, erosion control, and flood control, as well as stormwater ordinance enforcement

Visit the Stormwater Division page for more information.

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Streets Division

• Installation, maintenance, repair, and revitalization of:
  • Streets
  • Bridges
  • Sidewalks
  • Walls
  • Guardrails
• Street & sidewalk closures
• Tree trimming
• Mowing in the right-of-way
• Street sweeping in the Central Business District after normal working hours
• Graffiti removal
• Snow removal
• Encroachment Agreements
• Utility cut permits
• SnowMapper
• MapAsheville

Visit the Streets Division page for more information.

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National Flood Insurance Program 

To ensure that all Community floodplain properties can receive affordable flood insurance, the Community must comply with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements. One of these requirements is that the Community must adopt and enforce floodplain ordinances pursuant to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) standards. Should the Community fail or neglect to enforce adopted flood ordinances, the community’s enrollment in the NFIP would be revoked resulting in the inability for property owners to get flood insurance or these same polices being dramatically more expensive to property owners.

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Flood Assistance Support Team

The Flood Assistance Support Team (FAST) is here to provide focused and personalized support for property/business owners, developers, and designers needing timely and clear information about what can be built or developed in the floodplain.

This is a dedicated, interdepartmental team charged with prioritizing floodplain assistance and serving as the definitive group to help parties whose activities are subject to floodplain requirements. 

Parties needing special assistance to better evaluate their development options will be provided fee-free FAST Sessions. Dedicated time slots for FAST Sessions are offered twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday.  Once registered, the full team will be alerted and in attendance at the meeting. The findings and action steps from these meetings will be documented.

The FAST team will perform outreach to property owners who may have experienced substantial damage from Helene. They will start by reviewing properties that have already submitted permits on hold.

The permits on hold have generally

1. Sustained substantial damage; or
2. They are close to the substantial damage threshold.

These permits were placed on hold to provide staff the opportunity to work directly with the contractor and property owners on any up-to-date building value information such as pre-storm appraisals as well as their options for rebuilding.

You can contact the team by email at fast@ashevillenc.gov. More resources are available here.