Public Information Services

General Information

The City of Salem Public Works Department provides a wide variety of public information services to meet the needs of our permit customers and citizens who are interested in development projects. Our desire is that property owners, concerned citizens, and the development community all receive the information they need regarding development projects within Salem.

The Salem Public Works Department administers municipal water, sanitary sewer, storm drainage, and transportation facilities within Salem’s city limits. In addition, Salem Public Works also serves several water and/or sewer districts outside Salem’s city limits, including Keizer, Turner, and East Salem.

Most infrastructure information is available through the City’s GIS system. The on-line municipal water, sewer, storm, and street maps provide topographic locations of City Infrastructure, such as pipe mains, hydrants, valves, manholes, pump stations, and catch basins.

Most public information is provided by staff within the Development Services section of the Public Works Department. Development Services staff do not collect fees for their public information services. All Public Works public information costs are included within the permit fees. However, pre-application conferences are provided by other City departments, who sometimes require a modest fee.

Sources of Information

Web Information

Limited utility map information is available on-line for the use of engineers and other development professionals. The on-line system requires registration and an administrative fee for security purposes. Click here to view the utility map page.

Permit Application Center

Most public information for development projects is provided from the City’s Permit Application Center, located in room 320 of City Hall. Public Works Development Services staff in the Permit Application Center are available during working hours to provide any information you may need either in person or by phone at 503-588-6211.

Assistance from City Staff

As you would expect, the level of detailed information that Development Services staff provides will vary depending on the stage of your project’s development and how much design work has been done. Described below are your different options for development information and our recommendations about which choice would be best for your project.

Information at Each Development Phase

Phase 1 - Speculation

Often, the first stage of a development project begins with general information about the adequacy of public infrastructure adjacent to the subject property. This general information is available at our public information counter in the Permit Application Center. Development Services staff will be happy to answer any questions you might have, however, many complex sites and projects are difficult to assess completely over the counter.

Before making financial decisions based on over-the-counter information, City staff recommends that developers and property owners hire a design professional (generally an architect or engineer) and proceed through the pre-application processes described below for a formal written response that addresses all aspects of your project.

If the developer’s time and financial constraints do not allow for a formal pre-application, then Development Services staff can provide a more thorough response by email within less than a week. Forms are available at the Permit Application Center if a developer would like to take advantage of this free service.

Phase 2 - Pre-Design

Once a developer has selected a project site and wants to investigate the feasibility of the project, the developer is advised to hire a development professional, generally an architect or engineer, and request a pre-application conference at the Planning Desk in the Permit Application Center. A modest fee is required to schedule the conference, which is held within approximately three weeks from the date of application.

At the pre-application conference, Public Works staff is joined by Planning, Building and Safety, Fire, Parks, and other City staff to address all aspects of a development. After the conference, the applicant will receive a written summary of City staff’s recommendations and requirements.

A Public Works Project Manager will be assigned to a development project at the time of the pre-application conference. In order to assure consistency and reliability throughout the project, the Project Manager will retain decision-making responsibility for most Public Works aspects of the development project until construction is complete.

Phase 3 - Design

Once the design professionals have begun preparation of drawings, the Public Works Project Manager is available at any time to answer questions or help resolve difficult design issues. In order to facilitate the design process, the Project Manager can join local meetings of the developer’s design team either at City Hall or on location within Salem at no cost.

Once building plans are 70 percent complete, the design professionals are encouraged to schedule a pre-submittal conference from the Plans Intake Desk within the Permit Application Center. Like the pre-application conference, all City departments are represented at the conference, and City staff will provide a much higher level of detail regarding the proposed development.

Once the construction plans are complete, application for permits is made at the Permit Application Center. For more information about plan submittal and the permitting process, please contact Public Works Development Services staff in person at the Permit Application Center or by phone at 503-588-6211.

Thank you for choosing to be a part of the Salem community.