ENGINEER

Q. DO I NEED A PERMIT TO CONNECT A NEW OR WIDEN AN EXISTING DRIVEWAY TO A PUBLIC ROAD?

A. YES, A PERMIT IS REQUIRED AND FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE COUNTY ENGINEERS OFFICE, 103 WESTVIEW AVENUE, MARIETTA OR YOU MAY DOWNLOAD THE FORM BY CLICKING ON THE LINK ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE.

Q. HOW DO I GET A ROAD OPENED, RELOCATED, WIDENED, OR VACATED?

A. PETITIONS ARE REQUIRED, WHICH MUST HAVE A LEGAL DESCRIPTION. THE PETITION IS FILED WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. A VIEWING OF THE PROPOSED ROAD CHANGE IS HELD FOLLOWED BY A FORMAL PUBLIC HEARING. ESTABLISHING A NEW ROAD REQUIRES CERTAIN CRITERIA BE MET SUCH AS HOW MANY RESIDENCES ARE LOCATED ALONG THE ROAD. IT IS NOT THE TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, OR COUNTY ENGINEERS FUNCTION TO BUILD OR OPEN ROADS. THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IS PRIMARILY TO MAINTAIN ROADS. YOU WILL LIKELY BE ASKED TO FUND ALL OR PART OF THE REQUESTED CONSTRUCTION. CONTACT THE COUNTY ENGINEERS OFFICE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Q. WHAT CONSTITUTES A SUBDIVISION?

A. BASICALLY ANY SPLIT OF A TRACT OF LAND IS A SUBDIVISION. WHETHER OR NOT THE SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS APPLY TO A SPLIT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY PARCELS ARE INVOLVED, WHETHER NEW PUBLIC OR PRIVATE ROADS ARE NEEDED, LOT SIZE AND SO ON. CALL THE TAX MAP OFFICE FOR MORE INFORMATION. REVIEW THE COUNTY'S PROPERTY TRANSFER PROCEDURES FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY (Click Here) , and THE COUNTY SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS Click Here, FOR DETAILED INFORMATION."

Q. WHY IS MY ROAD LAST TO GET SNOW PLOWED?

A. WASHINGTON COUNTY HAS 15 PLANNED SNOW ROUTES DESIGNED TO BE AS EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE AS POSSIBLE. CERTAIN HIGH TRAFFIC ROADS DO GET PRIORITY BUT THAT IS HOW IT SHOULD WORK. ROUTES ARE PLANNED TO ENABLE EACH DRIVER TO COVER AS MANY MILES AND RETURN TO THE CINDER AND SALT STORAGE FACILITY WITHOUT BACK TRACKING ROADS ALREADY PLOWED.

Q. WHY HASN'T MY ROAD BEEN PAVED?

A. FUNDS ARE LIMITED LIKE ANY HOUSEHOLD OR BUSINESS BUDGET. ROADS ARE EVALUATED ANNUALLY AND PRIORITIZED BASED ON CONDITION, TRAFFIC VOLUME, AND TYPE OF TRAFFIC. THE PAVING PLAN IS THEN ESTABLISHED TO MEET BUDGET. SNOW AND ICE CONTROL, AND MAINTENANCE MUST GET FIRST PRIORITY BEFORE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS ARE MADE. BRIDGES ARE ALSO PRIORITIZED IN A SIMILAR MANNER.

Q. HOW CLOSE CAN I BUILD A FENCE TO THE ROAD?

A. FENCES SHOULD NOT BE BUILT ON THE RIGHT OF WAY, BUT IF THEY ARE, PERMISSION SHOULD BE OBTAINED FROM EITHER THE TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES OR THE COUNTY ENGINEER. MANY FENCES ALREADY EXIST ON THE RIGHT OF WAY AND UNLESS THEY POSE A SERIOUS HAZARD THEY WILL BE HANDLED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS FOR REMOVAL. A POLICY FOR FENCES ON THE RIGHT OF WAY IS BEING FORMULATED AND WILL BE PUBLISHED WHEN IT IS ADOPTED.

Q. HOW DO I GET A HOUSE NUMBER?

A. CALL THE WASHINGTON COUNTY 9-1-1 COORDINATORS OFFICE AT 740-373-6623 EXTENSION 284

Q. DO I NEED APPROVAL FOR A SEPTIC TANK BEFORE I CAN SUBDIVIDE A PROPERTY OR PURCHASE A NEWLY CREATED LOT(s)?

A. YES. BEFORE A NEW LOT OR LOTS, OR A SUBDIVISION CAN BE RECORDED THE OWNER MUST OBTAIN APPROVAL FROM THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. PLEASE VISIT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S PAGE ON THIS WEB SITE