Engineering Department – Street Trees, Drainage, and Right-of-Way Information

Street Trees

Decisions concerning the health and safety of street trees fall under the jurisdiction of the Tree Warden, as outlined in  Part III, Chapter 17, Article IV of the Code of Ordinances . The Engineering Office serves as the liaison with the Tree Warden. For questions or concerns regarding street trees, contact Brynn McNamee at 401-268-1566.

Drainage Problems or Environmental Concerns

The Engineering Office inspects and investigates drainage issues or other environmental concerns. Contact the Town Engineer for assistance or to report a problem.

Town Right-of-Way

The Engineering Office maintains plat maps and records the widths of public rights-of-way. Within the unpaved right-of-way, utilities such as electric lines, cable, street signs, and street trees are typically located. Right-of-way widths vary by road, but generally extend approximately 10 feet beyond the paved roadway.

Excavating in the Town Right-of-Way Requires a Permit

Section 17-47 of the Revised Ordinances for the Town of North Kingstown states: No person shall excavate or dig into any portion of any of the public highways of the town without having first obtained the special permit mentioned in section 17-48.

Under Section 17-48, the Director of Public Works may issue a special permit (Excavation Permit) authorizing excavation in the public highways. A bond of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) must be posted prior to issuance. Written applications are filed with the Engineering Division, which provides preliminary approval, sets the bond and inspection costs, and forwards the application to the Director for final approval. Applicants are notified once approved, and the permit is issued after inspection costs are paid and the bond is on file.

Note: For North Kingstown sewer locations, this utility is not part of the DigSafe program. Contact the Engineering Department at 401-268-1500, ext. 640 or ext. 642 to have public sewer locations marked.