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Public Works

Show All Answers

1. Who should I contact if I have a complaint associated with excess garbage?

For issues concerning excess garbage, please contact the public works department.

2. Who do I contact about a street light being out?

Residents can also call 701-515-5400 to report an issue or submit an online contact form.

3. When is my garbage and recycling collection day?

In West Fargo, the City of West Fargo collects residential garbage and Waste Management collects residential recycling. The city is divided into five different zones, each with its own collection day (see Sanitation Zones Map). Garbage is collected once a week and recycling is collected every other week.

On collection day, up to three trucks will visit your residence to collect garbage and recycling - a City of West Fargo garbage truck, a City of West Fargo large material truck and a Waste Management, Inc. recycling truck.

The time your materials are collected may vary week to week. Therefore, residents should place their materials at the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day and allow the trucks until 5 p.m. to pick up the materials.

If your collection day falls on a holiday, your revised garbage and recycling days may be different. Please see the holiday calendar for further information.

For questions about garbage collection, please contact the City of West Fargo public works department (701-515-5400).

For questions about recycling collection, please call Waste Management (1-888-960-0008).

For more information about residential garbage and recycling, visit the Sanitation and Recycling page.

Recycling page.

4. Who do I contact if I have a question about a current city construction project?

If you have any questions or concerns with a current city construction project please visit westfargostreets.com or contact the public works department.

Engineering Department.

5. How do I request City water or sewer services to be installed at my property?

City standards for service can be viewed under the Sewer and Water Services city ordinances (Chapter 9). 

To officially request services you can use the standard Request for Improvements form as a guideline. Residents can submit their request for improvement to the City Administrator.

For questions regarding the ordinances or submitting a request, please contact the City Administrator.

6. What should I do if I have a drainage problem in my backyard?

Legally, the City of West Fargo has no jurisdiction in rear-yard drainage issues. Only certain catch basins within City easements can be addressed. If there is a problem at a catch basin, contact the Public Works department. For other drainage issues, such as excess fill or other blockages, the first course of action is to contact your neighbors.

The City Engineer can help mediate in backyard drainage problems, such as providing recommendations to help rectify or improve the situation, but cannot make enforceable decisions.

7. When do I need a building permit?

Permits are required for additions, decks, porches, finishing basements, replacing doors & windows of different sizes, interior renovations or repair that include structural modifications, demolition work, accessory structures, swimming pools and re-siding. All HVAC systems require permits, including all gas appliances & equipment, wood stoves, etc. A building permit and/or a zoning permit may be required when a building use is changed.

Separate plumbing and electrical systems permits are required for the installation, alteration, relocation, replacement, or addition to any wiring, piping, or equipment or appliances associated with those systems.

Electrical permits are issued and inspections are performed by the North Dakota State Electrical Board (701) 499-1549. 

Plumbing permits are issued and inspections are performed by the North Dakota State Plumbing Board (701) 799-1555. 

Permits are not required to paint a house (interior or exterior), hang wallpaper, replace cabinets and do similar finish work. Permits are also not required to build an accessory building having a floor area of 120 square feet or less, install concrete sidewalks and patios entirely on your property. Finally, permits are not required to insulate an existing building where no structural changes are made.

If you have questions about whether you need a permit for the project you have in mind or to see if it meets zoning requirements, contact the Building department.

8. My neighbor is pushing his snow into the street, can he do this?

It is unlawful for any citizen of West Fargo to push or blow snow into the streets, boulevard or public property. If you see a resident doing this, please contact Code Enforcement.

9. Are there any commercial properties available in West Fargo?

Yes, we have several retail sites, office sites and industrial sites available to fit any commercial need. Contact the Economic Development department for more details.

Business page.

10. I need to dig in my yard, do I need to call someone?

Yes! If you plan to dig more than a foot into the ground you must call North Dakota One Call first. North Dakota One Call was put in place to save lives by locating underground utilities. The service is free to homeowners and it takes about five minutes to answer the questions. To prepare for the call, please gather:

• Address where digging is going to take place
• Nearest intersection street
• Depth that you will be digging
• Date that the excavation will take place 
• Driving directions to your location. 

The number is 1-800-795-0555 or simply 8-1-1. 

submit requests online.

11. What does it mean when the sirens are activated in West Fargo?

Sirens are tested at a variety of times to ensure they are functioning properly:

• Noon Monday through Friday in West Fargo
• 1 p.m. first Wednesday of every month in the West Fargo, Fargo and Moorhead communities
• Sirens are also tested once each quarter. The date of the quarterly test is announced in The Forum and West Fargo Pioneer. 

If the sirens are activated in West Fargo, at other times than these, please check your local news and radio stations for emergency messages. The sirens are not used only for tornadoes, but also used to alert the public of other types of severe weather emergencies and other types of dangerous conditions that may occur.

12. Can I have my utility bill emailed to me?

If you would like your monthly bill emailed, please send us an email and provide your preferred email address along with your service address.

Residents can also sign up for automatic payments following these instructions.

email to us.

13. How can I pay my utility bill?

The City of West Fargo provides residents the following utilities and services, which are billed monthly:

• Appliance pickup
• Convenience fees
• Dumpster roll-offs
• Forestry
• Garbage
• Sewer
• Sump pump variances
• Vector control
• Water

Utility and city services bills can be paid via mail, drop-off locations, online or as an automatic payment with a pre-authorized checking or savings account. The City of West Fargo accepts cash, check, money order, automatic bank account payments, credit card or debit card for payment. Please note, a 3% convenience fee will be added for any credit card and debit card payments. For more information, visit the Utility Billing website.

Payment Options page.

14. How do I stop utility services for my property because I'm moving?

To stop services please complete the Utility Service Move Out Application and select "move out." You will need to provide your forwarding address, closing date or moving date, and the new property owner's name if selling a property. 

If you do not complete this step, the bill will remain in your name and be your responsibility to pay.

More information about canceling services can be found at the Utility Billing website.

Service page.

15. Will the city locate property lines?

The city will not perform legal surveys. Front pins are usually 2-feet behind the sidewalk but can vary. You can try to locate the property pins (rebar located below the ground) with a metal detector. A legal boundary survey can be performed by a Registered Land Surveyor in the State of North Dakota.

16. Who should I contact if a snow plow damaged my property during the snow plow season?

The City of West Fargo will repair the boulevards that were damaged by city snow removal equipment.  If you have had damage done by a snow plow on your boulevard area please contact Public Works at 701-515-5400 to be placed on the repair list.  

West Fargo Public Works will not be responsible for the repair or replacement of any sprinkle systems located in any areas adjacent to our transportation network.

17. What materials are recyclable?

For information on materials to recycle, please visit the Waste Management, Inc. Recycle Often. Recycle Right. website.

18. Are there materials that I can't put in my garbage bin?

Yes. The City of West Fargo does not collect household hazardous waste materials. This includes:

• Paint
• Varnishes
• Pesticides
• Herbicides
• Household chemicals
• Oil
• Antifreeze
• Gas
• Car Polish

This also includes electronics like:

• Television
• Computer monitors, towers, keyboards, mouse
• VCRs, DVDs players
• Fax machines
• For safe disposal, these products have to be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 606 43 1/2 St. N. in Fargo, ND. 

If you have questions about materials you would like to dispose,please call (701) 281-8915.

19. What is the source of the odor in West Fargo in the spring?

The City of West Fargo utilizes a 460-acre network of waste stabilization ponds near 12^th Avenue N. to treat wastewater (water that has been used in the home, in a business, or as part of an industrial process) that comes from the sewer system. During the transition from winter to spring, the ponds can emit a strong, unpleasant odor as the normal, organic treatment process restarts.

• During the winter, ice forms along the top of the lagoons, eliminating the oxygen supply and stopping the normal aerobic treatment to breakdown waste.
• Because of this, a sludge of undigested biological matter forms on the bottom of the lagoon.
• When temperatures warm up, the sludge moves to the top of the lagoon where the ice has melted and a strong, unpleasant odor is released into the air.
• However, the warming temperatures also stimulate the growth of algae, which eats up the source of the smell and helps to restore the normal process.
• This may occur multiple times if the temperatures rise and fall during the spring warm up, but the final cycle usually last two weeks.
• The Department of Health monitors the smell from the ponds and the odor has never reached a level that causes alarm.

For information about the city’s plans to send wastewater to the City of Fargo for treatment and decommission the lagoons, visit http://westfargond.gov/757/Connection-to-City-of-Fargo-Wastewater-S. 

City of West Fargo Waste Stabilization Ponds Fact Sheet

20. Does the City of West Fargo collect yard waste or compost materials from the curb?

The City of West Fargo does not collect compost materials (grass, leaves, garden waste, etc.) from the curb. These materials can be brought to any of the compost sites listed below and emptied into the containers.

• Department of Sanitation (117 Eighth St. W.)
• Eagle Run Water Tower (40th Avenue S. and Sheyenne Street)
• 17th Street E. between Second Avenue E. and Starr Avenue

21. How can I dispose of debris after a storm?

After a storm, many residents are faced with cleanup of trees, branches, fences and other debris. Resident of the City of West Fargo should follow the below guidelines when picking up after severe weather.

• Branches are collected curbside by the City of West Fargo’s grapple truck. 
  • Branches should be placed in one large pile, away from any obstructions to allow the truck to efficiently collect them.
  • Details about this program can be found at in this document. 
  • While the truck normally collects on garbage days, after a storm it will collect throughout the city for the week.
• Roots and stumps cannot be collected by the grapple truck. Bring these items to the City of West Fargo’s Transfer Station.
  • Transfer Station website
• Organic debris, such as grass, leaves and yard waste, should be disposed at the West Fargo Transfer Station or one of the four compost and yard waste drop-off locations located in West Fargo.
  • Do not put branches, limbs or trees in the compost bins. They are only for grass, leaves and garden waste.
  • Compost and yard waste drop-off locations can be found at on the Sanitation and Recycling page. 
• Large pieces of debris, such as fencing, can be placed next to garbage on collection days or brought to the West Fargo Transfer Station.
  • If left on the curb, fencing should be no larger than 4 feet by 6 feet. Panels larger than this will not be picked up curbside and will have to be taken to the Transfer Station.