Street and Stormwater Department
Contact Info
Street Signs
City Ordinance No. 53-89, adopted 21-Nov-89, outlines Owensboro's rules for sign placement. These rules limit sign proliferation and help to provide a neat and clean community. Signs that are improperly placed are removed by City employees and stored at the Street Department for a period of two weeks before being discarded. In addition to disposing improperly placed private signs, we are charged with maintaining over 10,000 street signs and all of the street and curb painting throughout the City.
If you know of a sign that has been damaged, is faded or is otherwise in need of repair, please contact us.
Snow Routes & Questions
During light and medium level storms we prioritize and clear 132 of the City's 225 miles of streets. Heavy storms and snow emergencies may cause us to clear all streets within the City.
How do we select the streets to clear? We start with the busiest streets within the City and then add to these the connecting streets to:
- Police and Fire Stations
- Medical Facilities
- Nursing Homes
- Ambulance Service
- Public Utilities
- Largest Employers
- Major Shopping Areas
- Streets with significant hills and sharp turns
Response Levels
Varying amounts of snow and ice require different responses. We always keep an eye on the weather as forecasts may frequently change. Listed below are our standard responses to snowfall:
| Light Snow | 0-3" | Salt | Priority 1&2 Streets |
| Medium Snow | 3-5" | Plow/Salt | Priority 1&2 Streets |
| Heavy Snow | 5" or more | Plow/Salt | Priority 1&2 Streets (Possibly all streets) |
Where to Store the Snow
What do you do with the snow from the driveways? Snow clearing contractors and private property owners should arrange to store snow in front yards outside the right-of-way and snow storage area), side yards or areas where the owner has given permission. Please use common courtesy to neighbors by not pushing or blowing snow onto their property. It is unlawful to pile snow in a manner that blocks or covers street signs, culvert inlets and outlets or other drainage structures.
Pushing Snow into Streets
Under no circumstances may snow be plowed or blown in a manner that interferes with snow removal operations, or with the public's normal use of roadways and streets. When removing snow from private property, regardless of the type of equipment used, no loose or packed snow shall be allowed to remain on the public roadway or street. Private Driveways and Entrances shall be the responsibility of the residential owner, occupant, community association, or business for snow removal. (To reduce the problem of snow being plowed back into driveways, snow should be shoveled into yards rather than into the street).
Know the Right-of-Way
The public right of way is used by our road crews for storage of snow plowed from roadways and streets. It is not available for snow storage for individuals. The right-of-way varies in each subdivision; typically the right-of-way is approximately 6 inches behind the public sidewalk. If you have a question regarding the right-of-way location, please call the City of Owensboro Engineering office @ 687-8641.
Street & Curb Painting
Thousands of cars travel our streets and occasionally bump our curbs each day. If you know of a street or curb that needs painting, please contact us.
Stormwater / Ditch Maintenance
Our four person stormwater crew is responsible for over 59 miles of ditches within the City. The crew maintains, cleans and repairs ditches in order to keep water flowing freely so that local flooding is less likely to occur.
You can help us limit local flooding by following these guidelines:
- No Debris in the Street. City Ordinance 29-99 prohibits raking or blowing leaves, grass or other debris into the street. This material may reach our storm drains and contribute to local flooding.
- Vegetation. Keep the grass on your ditch banks trimmed back to where it meets your neighbors property.
- Remove Trash and Debris. Take the time to pull trash and debris out of ditches and never use ditches for illegal dumping of trash or vegetation.
Cleaning
You can help us limit local flooding by following these guidelines:
- No Debris in the Street. City Ordinance 29-99 prohibits raking or blowing leaves, grass or other debris into the street. This material may reach our storm drains and contribute to local flooding.
- Vegetation. Keep the grass on your ditch banks trimmed back to where it meets your neighbors property.
- Remove Trash and Debris. Take the time to pull trash and debris out of ditches and never use ditches for illegal dumping of trash or vegetation.
You can help us to keep Owensboro clean by following these guidelines:
- Park off the Street: Whenever possible, park vehicles off of the street. This allows our machine to sweep curb to curb.
- Remove Obstructions: Obstructions such as basketball goals or trailers can block sweeping; please remove from the street.
- Trash Cans: Remove mobile carts from the streets as soon as possible; on the same day of service.
- No Debris: City Ordinance prohibits placing debris, such as leaves, grass or bushes in the street.
- No Children: Please keep children away from sweeper. Playing in the street is dangerous!
Report a Pothole
Please click here to report a pothole to the Owensboro City Action. If this street is not a City maintained street we will pass along the information to the appropriate entity.