Frequently Asked Questions

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• Where can I get information on Bidding Public Works Construction projects?

  A list of upcoming project advertisement dates can be found at the following CIP Project List

  All County Bid Opportunities and Requests for Statements of Qualifications are posted for advertisement at BuyNet: http://buynet.sdcounty.ca.gov/

• How can I get information on current and future Capital Improvement projects?

  The information is available at the Capital Projects web site http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/dpw/engineering/cipprojts.html or by calling Capital Improvement Program office at 858-694-2830.

• How do I select an engineer?

  As a public agency we cannot make specific recommendations to hire one engineer rather than another. Using an internet search engine to identify local engineers in the engineering field needed is perhaps the best source. Other sources including the yellow pages are also available.

  The yellow pages https://www.yellowpages.com/san-diego-ca  list many Civil and other consulting engineers that practice engineering in San Diego County.

• Where can I find the County’s design standards for engineering projects?

  http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/dpw/standards.html

• When will my road be resurfaced?

  Find out what streets are currently in “Construction”, “Programmed”, or “Planned”: http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/dpw/roads/Resurfacing_Program.html

• Who can I talk to about existing/future projects in my neighborhood?

  If you have questions or need additional information, please direct your requests here.

• When will my overhead utility lines be put underground?

  See Web Page: https://www.sandiego.gov/undergrounding/schedule/masterplanapp

• Is my road maintained by the County?

  Find out which roads in your community are maintained by County of San Diego Web Site: http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/dpw/roads/maintroad.html

• How do I file a claim against the County?

  For detail see Web Page: http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/CountyCounsel/claims.html

• How do I report a pothole or other road problem?

  Report Road Problems in the Unincorporated Areas of the County by Calling Our Hotline During Normal Business Hours, Monday – Friday 7 am to 5 pm and for more details and contact see our Web Page: http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/dpw/roads/svcreq.html

• How do I bid on County projects?

  See Web Page: http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/dpw/engineering/bid.html

• Where can I get information on private development projects?

  See Web Pages: http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/dpw/land/pdci.html

            http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/pds.html

• Where are you located?

  Office address and Phones see our Web Page: http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/dpw/aboutdpw/offices.html

• Where can I find the County’s SWPPP or WPCP forms and templates?

  The County has prepared SWPPP templates see our Web Page: http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/dpw/engineering/swppp/swppp.html

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• What type of rainfall data is available?

  Rainfall data is available as a Word document or spreadsheet. Data resolution ranges from raw data all the way through monthly totals. For copies of County rainfall data, you can contact the Flood Control Hydrology Office at (858) 495-5557.

• When are Storm Reports produced?

  Storm reports are generally produced whenever a storm causes significant damage or produces document table weather extremes such as a 50-year storm or moderate to major flooding.

• Who can I call for flood control information?

  Contact the Flood Control Counter at (858) 694-2112 M-F, 7 am - 4 pm.

• Is the ALERT data available on the Internet?

  Historical and current rainfall data is currently available at the Flood Control Flood Warning Website. The data is updated in near real-time and contains Flood Control ALERT stations as well as stations from other agencies, and links to outside agencies.

• Who can I call for flood plain information?

  The answer always depends on where the property is located. Most properties are not in a defined flood plain. In the cities, please contact the DPW office for that particular city. In the unincorporated area, please the Flood Control Counter at (858) 694-2112 M-F, 7 am - 4 pm.

• Who can I call for flood plain information?

  The answer always depends on where the property is located. Most properties are not in a defined flood plain. In the cities, please contact the DPW office for that particular city. In the unincorporated area, please the Flood Control Counter at (858) 694-2112 M-F, 7 am - 4 pm.

• How can I get the latest FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map information?

  https://msc.fema.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/FemaWelcomeView?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=-1

• How can I find out if my property and house are located in a FEMA flood zone?

  FEMA Flood Information

• My house has never flooded since I've moved here, why is my lender requesting me to buy flood insurance?

  https://msc.fema.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/FemaWelcomeView?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=-1

• What is an Elevation Certificate? Why does my lender require me to submit an elevation certificate? Who can help me prepare one?

  FEMA Elevation Certificate Factsheet

• Who can I call for storm drain maintenance issues?

  http://sdcounty.ca.gov/content/sdc/dpw/flood/flood_maintenance.html

• Can you use a detention basin as a dual-purpose flood control facility and a hydro-modification facility?

  Yes, as long as you add the required hydro-modification detention volume (based on HMP criteria), in addition to the flood control volume (100-year post-development minus pre-development volume).

• How to find an approved FEMA Letter of Map Change (LOMA/LOMR) Document by Case Number?

  Step 1: Go to FEMA’s homepage located at, www.fema.gov. Step 2: Type “Map Service Center” in the search window and go to the “FEMA Map Service Center” web page. Click on the Product Catalog tab at the top - left of the page. Step 3: On the Product Catalog page, select Letters of Map Change (LOMC), then select Letters of Map Change (LOMC) Search by Case Id. Step 4: Type the FEMA Case Number(s)* in the boxes on the new page, and click on the Search tab. There are a total of eight (8) Case searches allowed at one time. The LOMC Search Results will show any approved LOMA/LOMR under the number(s) specified, with a downloadable .pdf file that can be opened, printed, and/or saved to your computer. *FEMA Case Number for the Letter of Map Change can be found on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), or on the DFIRM (Digital FIRM) Google Earth National Flood Hazard Layer, which are available from the FEMA Map Service Center at http://msc.fema.gov under the “Flood Maps” and “DFIRM Databases” tabs. The DFIRM Google Earth National Flood Hazard Layer can be found here: https://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/wps/portal/NFHLWMSkmzdownload under the “FEMA_NFHL_v2.4.kmz” tab.

• How to find an approved FEMA Letter of Map Change (LOMA/LOMR) Document by Firm Panel ID?

  Step 1: Go to FEMA’s homepage located at, www.fema.gov. Step 2: Type “LOMC map panel search” in the search window and go to the “FEMA Map Service Center – How to Find a LOMC” web page. Click on Find a LOMC by Map Panel ID option. Step 3: Type the 11-character FEMA FIRM Panel ID(s) in the boxes on the left side of the page under “Map Panel Search”, and click on the Search tab. There are a total of eight (8) Panel ID searches allowed at one time. Click on the “+” symbol under the “Show LOMC” column. The LOMC Search Results will show any approved LOMA/LOMR under the number(s) specified, with a downloadable .pdf file that can be opened, printed, and/or saved to your computer.

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• What is the typical timeframe for the District's review of Improvement Plans and Grading Plans?

  Plans are initially taken-in and processed by the County’s Department of Planning and Development Services. Once received by the District, review and comments are usually returned within 7 days.

• What are the Private Development Counter hours of operation?

  Our offices are located at 5510 Overland Ave., Suite 210, Room 210 in the Kearny Mesa area of San Diego. We are open Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• How can I obtain survey records online, where is the Survey Records/Cartography Counter located, and what are the hours of operations?

  The Survey Records Counter is located at 5510 Overland Ave. Room 270, in the Kearny Mesa area of San Diego and the hours for the public are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. excluding County Holidays. Maps, plans and other miscellaneous documents are available online via the Survey Records System (SRS) located at https://srs.sandiegocounty.gov/

   

• What are the costs involved and how are they paid?

  Construction costs vary since each project is unique. Generally, district formation costs are repaid on the first year’s tax bill and are shared equally by all property owners. For specifics call; (858) 694-2198.

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• How can I find out if there is an inactive County landfill near my house?

  The information is available by calling Closed Landfill Management at (619) 346-3723 or by emailing Craig Burnett at craig.burnett@sdcounty.ca.gov

• What are those white pipes at the landfill sites?

  They are a part of the landfill gas control system. A natural gas called methane is produced by the decomposing trash. That gas is vacuumed out of the landfill, carried through the piping, and burned at the flare station, which is located within the walled compound.

• How can I find information on water quality?

  Closed Landfill Management submits regular reports to the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB). The reports are posted online through the RWQCB’s GeoTracker site: http://geotracker.waterboards.ca.gov.

• Who do I contact regarding health-related questions associated with landfills or burn sites?

  The information is available by calling Closed Landfill Management at (619) 346-3723 or by emailing Craig Burnett at craig.burnett@sdcounty.ca.gov.

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• What are those charges on my property tax bill listed under Fixed Charge Assessments?

  They are special assessments that are direct charges against property which are included in the total amount of your tax bill but are not based on the Assessor’s valuation of your property. These charges fund services that are not normally paid for by general taxes. A charge to maintain a road that benefits your property through a Permanent Road Division (PRD) Zone is an example of this type of assessment. For each assessment, you may get additional information on the service provided by calling the phone number next to the fixed charge on your tax bill.

• What exactly is a PRD Zone?

  A Permanent Road Division (PRD) Zone is a special assessment district established at the request of property owners with a common road related need in a specific area. California law allows counties to establish these districts to provide for maintenance of roads that are not in the County maintained system and not funded by general gas tax. PRD Zone property owners must pay all costs associated with these districts, including formation, maintenance and administrative costs.

• How can I get more information regarding special assessment districts?

  For more information regarding DPW services funded by special assessments, please visit our website at: http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/dpw/specialdistricts.html. You may also call us at 858-694-2691.

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• How can I get a street light repaired?

  If the streetlight is in the unincorporated area of San Diego County, call the streetlight hotline at: (858) 694-3850. If the light is in an incorporated city, call the appropriate city.

• Where do I get information about bus routes and Para-transit?

  Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit District (NCTD) operate transit services in the unincorporated County. Please call 511 or visit the website http://transit.511sd.com/ for transit information.

• Can I get people to drive slower on my street?

  Contact the County’s Residential Traffic Program at (858) 694-3850.

• How do I get the speed limit reviewed or other regulatory devices, such as stop signs, installed?

  Contact the County’s Traffic Engineering Section at (858) 694-3850.

• How do I adopt a road?

  Contact the County's Adopt-A-Road program at (858) 694-3850.

• How do I report missing or damaged signs?

  County forces maintain traffic signs, like speed limit signs, stop signs, warning signs, etc., and street name signs on County maintained roads. To report a missing or damaged sign, call (858) 694-3850 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• How do I request maintenance, such as sweeping or pothole repair, on my road?

  If your road is in the County Maintained System, DPW can provide maintenance. Call the toll-free Pothole Hotline 1-877-684-8000. Staff will determine if your road is in the maintained system and refer you appropriately.

• What is a "Z" Road?

  Historically, "Z" Roads were shown on the 1951 CalTrans state-wide highway planning survey maps.  "Z" Roads were unimproved private roads or trails over which the public may have prescriptive rights but over which no legal right-of-way (public road status) has been established. Whether or not prescriptive rights are available on this roadway is a question only the courts can decide. "Z" roads are not a part of the County Maintained Road System and DPW has no responsibility for them. 

• Why are there private roads listed in the San Diego County Roads Network?

  Private roads may be listed in the County Maintained Roads database to specify the location of various traffic markings or only listed for reference. Many private roads do not meet the minimum standards to be accepted into the County system of publicly maintained roads and shall remain privately owned and maintained until dedications of right-of-way are granted and accepted by the County.

• How do I make a request for a Community Sign or Banner in the Road Right-of-Way?

  Community oriented signs and banners in the right-of-way can welcome travelers, help motorists find services, locate local points of interest, provide directional guidance, and enhance community character. In an applicant driven process, interested parties will work with community groups on the initial concept then apply for a Site Plan Permit and associated Encroachment/Construction permits. Sign types include Community Identification Signs, Community Information Signs, Directional Way Finding Signs, Neighborhood and Business Watch Signs and Community Event Banners Community Signs & Banners Website:

  http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/dpw/transportation/Signs_Banners.html

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• Why should I be concerned with storm-water and storm drains?
  You should be concerned about storm-water and storm drains because they can be sources of water pollution. Clean water is important for healthy communities.
• What is the difference between storm drains and sewers?
  The sewer system collects wastewater from inside homes and businesses and carries it to a treatment plant where it is cleaned before it is released into the ocean or recycled. The storm drain system collects storm-water runoff and pollutants it picks up from outside our homes and businesses and carries it, untreated, to the nearest water body and eventually to the ocean.
• What is the purpose of the storm drain system?
  The purpose of the storm drain system is to divert storm-water runoff away from urban areas in order to prevent the flooding that caused great hardship and even loss of life in earlier decades.
• Where does the wastewater that goes into gutters and storm drains get treated before it goes into the ocean?
  Nowhere. Waste-water in the storm drains flows directly to the ocean without any treatment. This is why it so important to keep pollutants out of the storm drain system.
• What can I do to help prevent storm-water and ocean pollution?
  The key to preventing stormwater pollution is to make the connection that only rain belongs in the storm drain. There are other actions you can take as well. Visit http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/dpw/watersheds.html or call the Storm-water Hotline at (888)846-0800 for more information.