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1. When is a Sewer Connection Permit required?

A ”Sewer Connection Permit”, (fee structure is based on type of building and flow-please see Attachment “A-1” for Fee Schedule), is required to connect a building to the City of Fitchburg Sanitary Sewer System versus having a Private Sewerage Disposal System. A Utility Site Plan is required to accompany the application. Please see Attachment “A-2” for requirements of a Utility Site Plan.

2. When is a Street Excavation Permit required?

A “Street Excavation Permit”, $350 flat rate fee, is required when excavating in the City of Fitchburg Street Layout. This permit could be for the installation of a gas, water, sewer, drain, electrical, or service repairs from the utility to the building.

3. When is a Driveway Permit required?

A “Driveway Permit”, no fee required, is required to install a driveway, sometimes referred to as a “Curb Cut”, from the roadway to the building property. A sketch/plan of proposed driveway is required on/with the Application.

4. When is a Street / Sidewalk Occupation Permit required?

A “Street/Sidewalk Occupation Permit”, no fee required, is required when the Street or Sidewalk will be closed to traffic. An example of this is when it is required to excavate across a street or a dumpster must be place in the Street Layout temporarily.

5. When is an Outdoor Dining License required?

An “Outdoor Dining License”, no fee required, is required when an establishment shall occupy City of Fitchburg Property for seasonal dining purposes.

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1. What is a Street Line Survey?

A ”Street Line Survey” is the physical staking/marking/survey layout of the street property line along your property’s frontage along the street. This is the “common line” that defines the extent of Private Ownership, (what the Property/Parcel owner’s deed describes), and the extent of City of Fitchburg Ownership, (what the City refers to as “Street Layout”). DPW Engineering does not stake out your private property corners.

2. What is a Tree Location?

A “Tree Location” is used for the determination of the ownership of a tree that is in question along the frontage of a property along a public street (not all streets are owned by the City of Fitchburg) or abutting a City owned parcel. A tree is determined to be owned by the City if the majority of the tree’s base is located within the “Street Layout” or on City Property.

3. What is a Dig Safe Mark Out?

A “Dig Safe Mark Out” is the physical painting/marking/staking/survey layout of any sewer and or drain pipes that the Department of Public Works Engineering Division has record of on file in the office. A sketch or plan of proposed excavation is required to assist with determining the “limits” of the necessary delineation of utilities in the field.

In accordance with Dig Safe’s color coding system all marking of sewer and drain shall be done in the color green unless otherwise specified. In the rare occurrence where no record information is on file, the dig safe mark out shall read “Location Unknown”.

Please note that the City of Fitchburg is not a part of Dig Safe System, Inc. and should be notified separately. Water lines are marked out by the City of Fitchburg’s Water Division’s Engineers and they can be reached by phone at 978-345-9616. Contact Dig Safe before you dig, it’s the law. DigSafe Website

4. What are Mapping Services?

“Mapping Services” is typically the reproduction of existing plans on file in this office or brought into this office. Creation of maps and plans is also done by this Division but complexity of creation greatly determines time frame for completion due to limited personnel.

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1. Who do I talk to about available commercial space?

Various commercial brokers can be helpful.

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1. What are the business hours at the Municipal Offices?

City Hall is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm, with the exception of the Building Dept which opens at 7am.

2. Where do I obtain a copy of the City Council agenda or meeting minutes?

City Council agendas are available online in the Agenda Center or can be requested in person at the City Clerk's Offices at 166 Boulder Dive, Suite 108. Agenda Center

3. What is the make-up of the City Council?

The Fitchburg City Council consists of 11 members. 5 Councilors-at-Large elected by the general voting population of the City and 6 Ward Councilors elected by the residents of their specific ward. For a list of all our current City Councilors and contact info please follow the link below. City Council

4. Where can I find a copy of the City Code

The City Code can be found at the following link: City Code online

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1. What are the Landfill hours?

The Landfill is open to residents on Monday 8:00 am-3:00 pm (yard waste only), Wednesday 7:30 am-3:00 pm, Friday 7:30 am-12:00 pm and Saturday 7:30-1:00 pm.

2. What do I do with my used Christmas tree?

The City picks up Christmas trees early January. Please see the Health Department's Rubbish & Recycling page for the current schedule.

3. My trash or recycling was not picked up. Who do I notify?

Please go to the Health Department page and look for the "Report Missed Trash Collection" under Rubbish & Recycling.

4. How can I get my trash or recycling cart repaired?

Broken wheels, lids or carts need to be notified to the Health Department at 978-829-1870

5. What if something does not fit in my cart?

Bulk items are not picked up during the regular collection so please don't put them at the curb. They can be collected by appointment for a fee. For a comprehensive list of solutions, please visit the Rubbish & Recycling page under the Health Department.

6. How can I obtain trash or recycling carts?

Carts are delivered by the Health Department. Please call 978-829-1870 for delivery and fee schedules.

7. When can I put my trash and recycling carts at the curb?

Carts can only be at the curb from 12 hours before to 12 hours after collection. They must be stored away from the curb at any other time.

8. When is my trash or recycling pickup?

Trash collection is performed weekly and recycling bi-weekly. For your specific collection day, please visit the Trash and Recycling page under the Health Department.

9. How can I get an inspection of my home?

Simply call the office at 978-829-1870 , option 0, and request an inspection. You will be put in contact with the inspector that covers your area. Inspections will be conducted within 7 days of request. You can also go to the Housing page under Health Department to fill out a form request.

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1. How do I get a Library card?

Library cards are free to Massachusetts residents. See here for information.

2. Where can I park when using the Library?

Free parking is available at the Library lot adjacent to the Youth Library, at the corner of Boulder Drive and Newton Place. Parking is also available across Newton Place in the municipal lot. In addition, metered parking is available on adjacent streets.

3. Do you have computers I can use to access the internet and print?

Public access computers are available for use with a library card for one hour at no charge. Printing is $.10 per page in black & white, and $1 per page for color.

You can also print from anywhere using this link.

4. How much does it cost to fax documents?

Documents will be faxed to domestic locations for $1 for the first page, and $.50 for subsequent pages to the same number. We do not receive faxes.

5. Is there a charge to scan documents to a flash drive?

There is no charge for scanning. Documents can be emailed, or copied to a USB flash drive, which are available for purchase at the Library for $6.

6. How do I download library ebooks?

We will help you download ebooks from the Library! Information here on how to download ebooks & mags

7. How do I access my Library account to see what I have borrowed or what I owe?

Use your Library card number and pin (available from a Librarian) to access your account. Pay fines here also. Go to this page, using card number & pin.

8. How old does my child have to be to get a Library card?

Children must be 5 years of age to get a library card.

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1. How do I rent the Coggshall Park Stone House?

The Stone House is available for rental during park hours year round. To rent the stone house you need to submit a rental application and a $25 deposit.

More information

2. How do I report a sink hole / fallen tree / or overgrown grass in a park?

The Parks Division is please to offer residents online requests through SeeClickFix. You can report your concerns directly through the app and include a picture! Register with SeeClickFix to receive updates on your request. Concerns can also be submitted to the City via email at recreation@fitchburgma.gov or by call 978-829-1900.

3. Do I need a Park Permit?

All events in a City of Fitchburg Park, Playground, and/or Field require a park permit. Permits Applications are available on the Parks Division Webpage or in the Recreation Department Office at Landry Arena, 1000 John Fitch Hwy, Fitchburg. Applications are not permits. Please have a permit in hand before advertising your event.  Events expecting more that 50 guests should plan on filling out a City of Fitchburg Public Assembly form through the Fitchburg Fire Department.

4. I've rented the Stonehouse and nobody came to open the doors. Who can I call?

Please call the DPW 24-hour hotline at 978-829-1900. The phone is answered by dispatch on Mon-Fri from 7:00 - 3:00 PM. All other hours it's answered by a service center which will contact a DPW employee to come assist you. If you are calling in off hours please allow the phone to ring, it will be answered 100% of the time.

5. Can I have a private event in the Parks?

All City of Fitchburg Parks, Playgrounds and Fields are open to the public. No groups or persons holding a permit from the Recreation Department may block off the park or close it to the public without the express approval of the Board of Park Commissioners. To get on the next Board of Park Commissioners agenda please contact the Recreation Director.

6. When does the pool open?

The J. Robert Crowley Swimming Complex is a seasonal complex which typically opens the week Fitchburg Public Schools go on summer vacation. The pool typically closes a week prior to the return to school. For the pools projected schedule visit Pools and Splash Parks.

7. How much does it cost to rent the Henry P. Coggshall Stone House?

The Stonehouse has a 4 hour minimum reservation fee for $100. After 4 hours it's $25 an hour. A $25 deposit will be due upon reservation. The remainder must be paid in full one week before your event.

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1. How do I report a pothole on my street?

Requests to repair potholes can be submitted online via SeeClickFix or over the phone at 978-829-1900.

2. I hit a pothole and would like to file a claim, who do i contact?

Claims should be filed with the Mayor's Office. You can download the form online or contact the Mayor's Office at 978-829-1801.

3. How can I tell if there is a snow emergency parking ban in effect?

Snow Emergency Parking Ban's are announced in the Alert Center of the city website. During a Snow Emergency you will also find the alert in a bar across the top of the home page. For information about parking bans, municipal snow closures and city ordinances related to snow please visit www.fitchburgma.gov/snow. 

4. How can I tell if a tree belongs to my property?

If the main trunk of a tree is entirely on your property, it is your tree whether you planted it, a previous owner planted it, or nature put it there. If the main trunk is split along the property line the tree belongs to both properties and cannot be removed with both owners consent. If you are not certain about the boundary between your property and the City's property you can contact the Engineering Division for clarification.

5. How do I request the City trim a tree along the side of the road?

The City cannot prune trees that are not planted on public property. Additionally, the City does not trim tree branches due to encroachment on electrical wires; to report a needed pruning due to a branch's proximity to wires, contact Unitil at 888-301-7700. If the tree is on public property you can report the tree online through SeeClickFix or contact the DPW at 978-829-1900.

6. My trash/recycling wasn't picked up today?

The City's trash and recycling program through Waste Management is overseen by the Fitchburg Health Department. To report a missed pickup you can submit an online report or contact the Health Department at 978-829-1870. Visit the Health Department webpage for for more information about trash and recycling schedules, proper recycling, bulk item pickups and more.

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1. What is an abatement?

An abatement is a lessening or reduction in the billable amount for the sewer use billing period, for specific policy approved causes, where sewer billing cannot be fairly derived from the customer’s water meter reading.

2. What is a "billing unit" on my bill?

The “billing unit” is one hundred cubic feet (“CCF” as a short-hand unit of measure term), or approximately 750 gallons. Two billing units would be equal to 2 CCF, or 200 cubic feet, or approximately 1,500 gallons.

3. Why is my bill higher than before?

The Water and Wastewater Commission for the City of Fitchburg are authorized to set the sewer rates for the Fitchburg Wastewater Division. Rate revenues must cover the day-to-day expenses incurred to operate the water and sewer systems, as well as support ongoing Wastewater Division maintenance and improvements that comply with federal and state agencies aimed at protecting health and the environment.

Rate changes typically occur for the June 1st billing period. Click here for the current sewer rates.

If you notice an apparent billing increase out side of the regularly scheduled rate increases, it is because your property’s water meter is reading more flow passing through the meter than before. If you are not increasing your water use (lawn or garden watering, water use for home maintenance, automobile washing, etc.), this would suggest that there are plumbing leaks on the property side of the water meter, and these leaks are “read” as water usage by the customer. Increased water use consumption by customers, due to plumbing leaks, lawn, house, property or automotive maintenance, are not abatable conditions, and customers will be billed for sewer use on these meter readings. (Refer to the DPW Wastewater Division’s Sewer Billing Abatement Policy for details.)

4. Will the sewer rates be increased again?

The rates increases, that took place in July 2011, were primarily in response to large scale and large cost capital projects that the City was required to undertake in conjunction with the City’s Consent Decree with the U.S. EPA, the MassDEP, and the U.S. Department of Justice. Capital projects were required for both the sewer collection system and at the City’s wastewater treatment plant. In addition to required projects, organizational, personnel staffing and equipment procurement was also required, and plans and studies were also required of the City in the Consent Decree. 

The rates increases from 2011 was only accounting for the preliminary group of projects, personnel staffing, equipment and studies, and was planned to account for approximately the initial $30,000,000 investment. This preliminary rate increase (2011) was not planned to fund and finance all funding requirements for projects, studies, plans, equipment. 

Additional work and projects, beyond initial $30,000,000 investment, are required and are incorporated into the Consent Decree, and will need to be financed. Within the next couple years, the City will evaluate the additional funding requirements, and will conduct a sewer user rate study to properly fund those funding needs, including the DPW Wastewater Division’s annual operational and capital renewal funding needs.

5. My property is only on City sewer, but is not on City water. How does the Wastewater Division set my bill?

The industry average for residential water/sewer use is 120 CCF per year. The annual usage the City uses for statistical average is 100 CCF per year. Dividing this figure by 12 monthly billing periods, gives an average monthly usage of 8.333 CCF/month. The Wasterwater Division bills at the current monthly sewer rate, which results in the monthly billing rate which is assigned to sewer-only accounts.

Sewer-only customers have the option of installing a radio-read water meter on their water supply well (at the customer’s expense). If a sewer only customer installs a meter, the sewer billing for the account would be based on the meter reading, and would follow the sewer billing process. This would be advantageous to a sewer-only customer who believes that they use less than 8.333 CCF per month. Sewer-only customers seeking to pursue a meter installation, should contact the Fitchburg Water Department (Tel. No.: 978-345-9616) for information on the meter, and costing.

6. What is the billing process, and is there a minimum charge?

Yes. There is a minimum charge. Sewer customers are billed a flat rate of $18.85 per month for sewer usage from 0 to 3 CCF. Sewer customers that use in excess of 3 CCF are billed for the full amount used that month at the billing rate of $7.30/CCF.

7. There are sewer odors in my home. Should I call the City?

Residential & commercial plumbing systems have water traps built into the systems to prevent sewer gases from migrating into the buildings. Occasionally, on plumbing fixtures that aren’t often used, the water in the water trap can dry out and evaporate. Customers should run a gallon or two of water into the drains of fixtures to ensure that water traps have water. If the customers plumbing fixtures do not have water traps, or the water traps don’t seem to be working, the customer should contact a licensed plumber to inspect and repair the problem.

8. Who owns the sewer piping to my home?

The City owns the sewer mains and sewer manholes in the streets, or in cross-country running sewer easements. The sewer customer owns, and is responsible for operating, maintaining, repairing and replacing the sewer service pipe that connects the customer’s home or building to the City-owned sewer, up to and including the connection to the City-owned sewer.

9. Who do I call if there is a sewer service backup in my home or business, of if there is an observed sewer overflow in the street?

The City has implemented a one-call point-of-contact for the public or sewer customers to alert the City of an apparent sewer problem. The public or sewer customers are instructed to contact the Fitchburg DPW Dispatch, at (T) 978-829-1900.

Weekdays (non-holidays) the Fitchburg DPW Dispatch Desk is staffed from 7:00 AM thru 3:00 PM.

After hours on weekdays (non-holidays), on weekends, and on holidays, calls to the (T) 978-829-1900 number will be answered by an answering service, and the call message will be forwarded to the appropriate on-call City staff member. For sewer related calls, messages will be forwarded to the on-call DPW Wastewater Division on-call Collection System personnel.

• To best help, when contacting the Fitchburg DPW Dispatch (or off-hours answering service) to report observed sewer-issues or overflows, callers should provide the Fitchburg DPW Dispatch desk (or off-hours answering service) with:

1. Your name and contact telephone number;
2.  Address (if sewer service backup), or location of the overflow (nearest address, or intersection); and
3. Approximate time the sewer service backup or overflow was first observed.

City DPW Wastewater Division Collection System personnel responding to the site will investigate the City-owned sewers to determine if the source of the problem is in the City-owned sewers, or if the source of the problem appears to be in the sewer customer owned sewer service piping. Responding personnel will contact the caller to relay the findings, and any actions taken. If the source of the problem appears to be in the sewer customer owned sewer service piping, the caller (or customer) will be informed that the issue is in the private, customer owned piping, and that the caller (or customer) will need to contact a plumber to address the issue in the private, customer owned piping.

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1. How frequently should I get a water bill?

Beginning in January, 2012 residential water bills are now billed monthly. Payment for water bills are accepted through the Treasurer's Office. The Treasurer's office is now accepting online payments.

2. What are the current water rates?

The current water rate is $4.20 per 100 cubic feet/748 gallons. The rate for the minimum is based on the meter size is as follows:

• 5/8", 3/4:, 1"  meter- $7.09
• 1.5" meter- $22.31
• 2" meter- $33.45
• 3" meter- $63.70
• 4" meter- $97.67
• 6" meter- $192.67
• 8" meter- $306.24

3. My water bill includes sewer billing, who do i speak with about an abatement?

The bills include both water and sewer charges. Some accounts only have water and will only be billed for water usage. The sewer charges on your water/sewer bill are based on your water usage. No bills are estimated. Every meter in the city is read either by the radio read technology or by a meter reader. 

The sewer charges are read through your water usage and the billing is included in your water bill. To apply for a sewer abatement you must contact the Wastewater Division. A written request for an abatement is required and must include a detailed description of the incident or occurrence requiring abatement.

4. Why is my water Discolored (brown)?

Discolored water conditions may be caused be the use of fire hydrants, breakage in pipes, opening and closing of gate valves, deficiencies in pressure, volume, supply of water, or any other situation that may result in a discoloration of the water.

If the discolored water is caused by a leak, a leak at any point past the property line at the public right of way is the responsibility of the homeowner. The Water Division will come out to the property to shut off the water for necessary repairs. Applicable fees (PDF) will apply to the service call. 

5. What should I know about filling a swimming pool?

When you fill your swimming pool you must pay for the water used to fill the pool. You should then contact the Wastewater Department to inquire about abatement for the sewer charges associated with filling your pool. 

Visit our page on filling a swimming pool to see a formula to calculate what your it may cost to fill your pool with water.

6. I'm selling my property, what should I know about transferring the water/sewer service?

When you sell your property a final water meter reading MUST be taken by the City of Fitchburg Water Office. We will need at least a 48 hour notice to accommodate all closing requests and to prepare the final figures. Visit Property Transfers to see any required forms and to see the formula used to calculate your final bill.