Public Works
We ensure that Boston’s streets, sidewalks, and bridges are safe, clean, and attractive.
Our department provides core basic services essential to neighborhood quality of life. We direct the general construction, maintenance, and cleaning of approximately 802 miles of roadways throughout the City. We operate two major drawbridges, maintain 68,055 City-owned street lights, and supervise contracts for the removal and disposal of approximately 260,000 tons of solid waste. We also operate Boston’s recycling program with an annual diversion of approximately 44,000 tons.
Learn more about how Public Works helps the City.
Contact
Room 714
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Street issues
Find out more about how we
protect and fix the public ways
in Boston.
Restrict access to a section of a street or sidewalk in Boston.
Learn about what happens when we clean streets in Boston.
The Street Lighting Division fixes and maintains streetlights.
Find out about the rules behind creating a temporary asphalt patch.
Every year, we resurface more than 30 miles of roadway in the City.
Learn about who's responsible for public and private ways in the City.
View a list of approved asphalt vendors, as of August 1, 2019.
View a list of approved concrete vendors, as of August 1, 2019.
View a list of approved gravel vendors, as of August 1, 2019.
For when a construction job may impact a sidewalk.
Commercial waste companies are required to have a permit.
Public Works Engineering Projects
We have information on bridge, design, and construction projects.
Waste reduction
The Code Enforcement Police enforce state and City sanitary codes. They patrol the City on foot, bike, and car.
We pick up leaf and yard waste from April to December on scheduled days.
Received a "Green Ticket" from the City? Here’s how to pay the fine.
You have the option of appealing a "Green Ticket" from the City.
Find out what you can and cannot recycle in the City.
From May through August, Public Works hosts swap shops.
We hold drop-off days for household hazardous waste four times a year.
You can compost in your backyard, or even in your apartment.
We host electronic recycling drop-off events during the year.
Public records
Public recordsWe manage official plans, engineering volumes, and related materials about the Public Way in the City.
Requesting a copy of records? Check our Public Records Center:
Download an excel spreadsheet of layout plans for City of Boston streets. (Last updated: March 3, 2021)
Many of our historic engineering plans have been digitized and are now available online.
We will be upgrading our system on December 9. Here is a brief guide on navigating the new system.
We have information on City of Boston atlases and survey books from the past.
Search through a list of Boston's streets, avenues, courts and other public locations.
Public Improvement Commission
The commission owns and controls Boston’s public space. We play an important role in the City’s development and permitting.
Reports and publications
ReportsThe Construction Inspection Unit (CIU) produces a daily report, Monday through Friday, of all active utility and private contractor construction work taking place in the Public Way throughout Boston. In addition, they list all City resurfacing and reconstruction projects.
Emergency work notified to the unit after normal work hours (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.) is not available in the report until the following work day.
You can see what construction is taking place in your neighborhood, the reason for the work, the contact information for the company, and the estimated completion date of the project.
- Rules and specifications for excavation activity
- 2019 utility kickoff presentation
- Approved concrete vendors (as of November 1, 2018)
- Approved gravel vendors (as of November 1, 2018)
- Climate Resilient Design Guidelines (October 2018)
- Guaranteed street approval form
- Public Works Design Standards
- Recycling and trash guidelines for Downtown and Roxbury
- Waste audit of multiple collection districts (2013)
- Winter 2020-2021 Moratorium Guidelines for Utility Excavation