Frequently Asked Questions

The Engineering Division has a prioritized list that is used to determine what year your street is scheduled for paving, pending all necessary funding. This list was produced by a private consultant and then approved by the Board of Selectmen. A copy of this list can be viewed in the Engineering Division. General concerns regarding pothole repairs on your street should be directed to the Department of Public Works Highway Division at 781-942-9092 Monday through Friday, between the hours of 7 am and 3 pm.

A plot plan is prepared by a professional land surveyor, and typically depicts lot dimensions, survey information, and buildings found on your property. The Engineering Division has some plot plans from within the Town of Reading. Plot plans that cannot be found at our office can usually be found at the Middlesex County Registry of Deeds in Cambridge. Search their website.

A copy of your water and sewer service cards, showing the locations of each, can be obtained in the Engineering Division, located in the lower level of Town Hall.

Typically, a good indicator, as to when your house was built, is by determining when the water was first introduced onto your property. The Engineering Division can provide you with this information. The first water mains in Reading were installed circa 1890.

Yes, but only by a Licensed Drain Layer who is fully insured and bonded with the Town. Also, the homeowner must fill out a “Drain Release Form” along with a diagram showing where the drain line will be connected, and return them both to the Engineering Division before work can be started. A list of Licensed Drain Layers for the Town of Reading can be obtained by either going to the “Permits and Applications” section of this website or by stopping by the Engineering Division in the lower level of Town Hall.

Contact Dig Safe at 888-DIGSAFE (888-344-7233) or by visiting their website to request a mark out. After contacting Dig Safe, please contact the Engineering Division to locate any water, sewer, and drainage on your property. Typically, for non-emergency situations, we require at least 72 hours notice prior to any excavation. The Engineering Division can be reached by calling 781-942-9082, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 am and 5 pm.

The Town of Reading Engineering Division has predetermined all of the house numbers for every street in town. Each 35 feet of street frontage has been given a number, which will be the number belonging to the building included in or embracing that frontage. If you are interested in obtaining a new address or changing your current address please contact the Town of Reading Engineering Division.

No. The Engineering Division does not typically recommend any surveyors. However, a list of surveyors that have previously done work within the Town can be obtained in the Engineering Division office. In addition to this list, surveyors can also be found in the Yellow Pages section of your telephone book.

As stated in the Town of Reading Driveway Rules and Regulations, all proposed driveways or modifications to existing driveways must be submitted for approval to the Department of Public Works Engineering Division. A sketch of the modification must be submitted indicating all trees, hydrants, poles, etc., as well as the gutter grade, property line grade, and proposed grades in sufficient detail to insure compliance with all Driveway Rules and Regulations. If the Engineering Division determines that all of the regulations are met, the proposed driveway alterations may be approved. Any granite curbing removed in the process of making these driveway modifications shall become the property of the Town of Reading. The Town of Reading Driveway Rules and Regulations can be obtained by either going to the “Driveway Construction and Street Opening” section of this website or by stopping by the Engineering Division in the lower level of Town Hall where a copy may be obtained.

Storm water is rain water that runs off impervious surfaces such as streets, driveways, parking lots, rooftops, or other tightly packed surfaces. Impervious surfaces reduce the ability of storm water to be absorbed or infiltrate into the ground.

The Town of Reading is required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a storm water management plan that reduces the discharge of pollutants to our storm water drain system and water ways. The Town is required to be in full compliance with the terms of our National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II permit by 2008 to meet federal and state mandates. The Town established a SWEF to provide a dedicated and adequate source of funding for our storm water management program.

Storm water often contains surface pollutants including petroleum products, soaps, detergents, and lawn fertilizer which eventually empty into the Aberjona, Ipswich, and Saugus rivers. Effective storm water management also helps reduce flooding and the erosion of river banks.

Single and Two-Family properties will be billed at a flat rate. All other properties will be assessed an annual storm water fee based on the total amount of impervious surface area on the lot, which will be billed quarterly. Condominium properties will be billed based on the total amount of impervious surface, at a maximum of the single and two-family rate, for each condominium unit. The amount will appear as a separate charge on your quarterly water and sewer bill. The fee will be calculated as follows for the following different types of property:

Impervious surface areas were measured using the Town's mapping system (GIS). Buildings, driveways, and parking areas were delineated from aerial photos. The surface area of these features was calculated and will be assessed at a rate of $40 by 3,210 square feet (annually) for multi-family, commercial, and industrial properties.

Storm water fee revenue will be used to hire two laborers that will perform stream and detention basin maintenance activities. The SWEF will allow the Department of Public Works to address a backlog of stream and drainage maintenance issues that have not been completed due to staffing and funding limitations. Storm water fees will also fund capital expenditures for drainage system mapping (GIS layer), illicit discharge detection, and general drainage system infrastructure improvements.

Yes, although a property may be located on a private way or on a town accepted street that does not have catch basins or storm drains, the owner will be assessed a storm water fee since the property still produces runoff into the Town’s storm water system.

The Board of Selectmen approved a rate structure as recommended by the Water, Sewer, and Storm Water Management Advisory Committee that does not provide any exemptions for municipal properties, schools, or properties owned by religious or registered non-profit organizations. Undeveloped property (without impervious surfaces) is the only category of property that will not be assessed a storm water fee.

Yes, to encourage property owners to minimize the amount of runoff from properties and to reduce the amount of pollutants entering Town waterways, the Town has instituted the following storm water abatement program:

Single & Two-Family Residential

Single and two-family residential properties that install and maintain infiltration systems or other means to reduce runoff will be eligible for an abatement of up to 50% of their total assessment.

Commercial / Industrial / Multi-Family

Commercial / Industrial / Multi-Family properties that install and maintain state-of-the-art storm water treatment and infiltration systems will be eligible for an abatement up to 50% of their total assessment.

• Drywells
• Infiltration Chambers
• Detention Ponds

• Drinking Water Filtration Systems
• Rain Barrels
• Sump Pumps

Property owners or condominium associations (on behalf of condominium owners) seeking additional information or would like to file for an abatement should contact the Department of Public Works, Engineering Division at 781-942-9082. The Abatement Application Form (PDF) may be obtained through the Town of Reading website or may be picked up at the Engineering Office at Reading Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street.

The storm water abatement percentage will only change if the impervious surface area changes.