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1. How do I determine within what Flood Zone my property is located?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has prepared Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) that generally show flood zones throughout the Town. If you are required to provide a flood zone certification to your insurance company then it is your responsibility to hire a Professional Land Surveyor or other qualified professional to make that certification. Copies of the FIRMs are available in the Engineering Division for viewing; however, we do not provide certifications. To view FIRMs, click here.

2. Where do I call to report a road drainage problem?

For a new problem, contact Richie Anctil in the Engineering Division at 508-398-2231, ext 255 or for maintenance or cleaning of an existing drainage system contact the Highway Division at 508-775-2516.

3. How do I get an existing sign replaced/repaired or request a new sign?

For street sign maintenance or replacement, contact the Highway Division at 508-775-2516. For new signs, submit a completed Sign Request form and sketch to the Engineering Division. The Street Sign Committee meets monthly to review all new street sign requests. The Committee is made up of members from the Police, Highway, and Engineering Divisions. To view a Sign Request Form, click here.

4. How do I request work on a Private road?

If a road is Privately owned and funds are available, the Town may make certain temporary repairs to the road if at least 60 percent of the owners have signed a petition and the road has been opened to the public for at least 6 years. Call the DPW Office at 508-398-2231 x290 to find out if we have a valid Private Road Work petition on file. To view a Petition for Private Road Work, click here.

5. Who do I contact to report a road problem on Routes 6, 6A or 28?

Routes 6, 6A, and 28 are State owned and maintained roads; therefore, you call Massachusetts Highway Department’s Taunton Offices at 1-800-635-3590 to report a problem on those roads. To report a problem with a sidewalk only on Routes 6A and 28, call the Yarmouth Highway Division at 508-775-2516.

6. How do I obtain a Road Opening Permit on a Town road?

Excavations within Town road layouts require permits that are issued through the Engineering Division. Any area within the town layout (right of way) that is dug requires a permit from the Town. As always, DIG-SAFE and the Water Division should also be contacted to assure a safe work site. To view a Road Opening Permit form, click here.

7. Why does the Town seal many residential streets with stone chips rather that with black asphalt?

Chips sealing a road has been found to be the most cost-effective method to maintain local neighborhood road surfaces. The average cost to fix drainage, patch, crackfill, and chip seal a road is $40,000 per mile of road. Whereas, the cost of an asphalt overlay with a smooth black finish is 4 to 5 times greater than that for chip sealing. Please contact the Engineering Division at 508-398-2231 x250 for additional information on this process.

8. What is the “Phase II Stormwater Program” that has been mentioned at public meetings?

In 2003, the EPA promulgated the so-called “Phase II Stormwater Regulations” under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). The Engineering Division prepared and filed a Notice of Intent (NOI) in order to meet these new EPA regulations. Yarmouth’s Phase II Stormwater Management Program outlines how the town proposes to address the following six (6) Minimum Control Measures through the use of Best Management Practices (BMPs) over the next five (5) years: 1. Public Education and Outreach on Stormwater Impacts; 2. Public Participation and Involvement; 3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination; 4. Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control; 5. Post Construction Stormwater Management in New Development/Redevelopment, and 6. Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations.
Should you wish to become actively involved in the Yarmouth’s Phase II Stormwater Management Program, please contact the Engineering Division at 508-398-2231 x250 for additional information. See Engineering Quicklinks for other helpful websites (EPA Stormwater Program, Mass DEP Stormwater Info, Cape Cod Groundwater Guardian Team).

9. What are those black lines in the road?

As part of the Town’s Roadway (Pavement) Management Program, the Town fills cracks in the roads with a bituminous asphaltic material in order to extend the life of our roads. Filling cracks seals the pavement surface so that stormwater can not enter the road structure which if allowed would cause premature pavement failure during the annual freeze-thaw cycles.