Street & Drainage 3-1-1 FAQ
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How do I get street lights repaired?
How do I get the alley behind my home repaired?
How do I report a tree down in the street?
How do I get the weeds mowed on City's easment?
There is a pothole on my street that needs to be repaired?
I need my driveway repaired. How do I get the City to repair it?
The curbs in my neighborhood are cracked and broken.How can I get them repaired?
My sidewalk is cracked and broken. How do I get it repaired?
I have standing water in front of my house?How do I get something done about this problem?
My street floods. How do I get something done about this problem?
How do I get the storm sewers in my neighborhood cleaned?
How do I get the roadside ditches on my street cleaned/regraded?
How do I get the ditch in front of my house covered?
I need culverts set for a driveway. How do I get this done?
How do I get street lights repaired?
Street lights are maintained by CenterPoint. Call 3-1-1 and a service request will be issued to the Traffic & Operation Division; they will promptly refer to CenterPoint.
How do I get the alley behind my home repaired?
If the alley is private, then the abutting property owners will be responsible for repairs. If the alley is improved for public use, repairs will be made to potholes only. Call 3-1-1 and a service request will be issued and the location will be investigated by the Street & Drainage Division.
How do I report a tree down in the street?
The Street & Drainage Division will investigate and remove trees / limbs that are blocking the City of Houston's rights-of-way. Call 3-1-1 to make a report.
How do I get the weeds mowed on the City's easement?
(1)The Street & Drainage Division schedules mowing along major thoroughfares once a year. Property owner's are responsible for weeds on their property all the way to the street or curb line, including any roadside ditches, on all sides of the property. Alleys and unimproved rights-of-way are the responsibility of the abutting property owner.
(2) The Street & Drainage Division mows drainage easements along major ditches, which are most often found behind houses. Call 3-1-1 to make a report. If it is determined that Harris County Flood Control maintains the reported area, the request will be forwarded to them for action. Unimproved rights-of-way are the responsibility of the abutting property owner. Pipeline or power company easements should be referred to those entities.
There is a pothole on my street that needs to be repaired?
Potholes are repaired by the Street & Drainage Division. Call 3-1-1 and make a report. A service request will be issued and the pothole repaired. Their dispatch and hotshot section are staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to handle routine minor repairs. Supervisors are on call to investigate requests of a more serious nature.
I need my driveway repaired. How do I get the City to repair it?
City Ordinance (Chapter 40, Article III Section 40-84) states that driveway repair is the property owner's responsibility; unless damaged through City operations. Call 3-1-1 to make a report. A service request prompting an investigation of the matter will be issued.
The curbs in my neighborhood are cracked and broken. How can I get them repaired.
City Ordinance (Chapter 40, Article III Section 40-84) states that curb repair is the property owner's responsibility; unless damaged through City operations. Call 3-1-1 to make a report. A service request prompting an investigation of the matter will be issued.
My sidewalk is cracked and broken. How do I get it repaired?
City Ordinance (Chapter 40, Article III Section 40-84) states that sidewalk repair is the property owner's responsibility; unless damaged through City operations. Call 3-1-1 to make a report. A service request prompting an investigation of the matter will be issued.
I have standing water in front of my house? How do I get something done about this problem?
If water is standing in the gutter line, then maintenance/repair becomes the abutting property owner's responsibility per City Ordinances (Chapter 40, Article III Section 40-84).
If water is standing in the ditch and regrading or flushing the ditches and/or culverts will resolve the problem, a service request will be created and that work will be completed in 90 days.
My street floods. How do I get something done about this problem?
The Street & Drainage Division will investigate and inspect the storm sewer and ditch systems for breaks / blockages and make repairs as needed. If the drainage system is found to be operating as designed with no defects; however, the area still experience flooding during moderate to heavy rain events, the request will be referred for evaluation under the City's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). This request will be ranked against other requests / projects and prioritized accordingly. Call 3-1-1 to make a report.
How do I get the storm sewers in my neighborhood cleaned?
Requests for storm sewer cleaning and repairs are handled by the Street & Drainage Division. Call 3-1-1 to make a report and a service request will be issued for investigation. If necessary, the storm sewer inlets and lines will be scheduled to be cleaned.
How do I get the roadside ditches on my street cleaned/regraded?
The Street & Drainage Division maintains roadside ditches (i.e. regrading / desilting and culvert flushing). However, abutting property owners are responsible for ensuring the ditch in front of their properties are free and clear of debris that may prevent water flow. Call 3-1-1 to make a report and a service request will be issued for an investigation.
How do I get the ditch in front of my house covered?
This is not a service the City provides. The property owner must obtain a permit from the Permit Office @ 1002 Washington Avenue. The property owner must purchase the culverts and hire a contractor to complete the work. For additional information, contact 832.394.8820 for residential property and 832.394.8810 for commercial property.
I need culverts set for a driveway. How do I get this done?
Before any work is done, a permit must be purchased through the One Stop Permitting office at 1002 Washington Avenue, 832.394.8820. There are different requirements for Commercial, Residential, or multiple driveways. The customer is responsible for purchasing the culvert, having it delivered to the site, and having it set. There are minimum size requirements for culverts. The City does not set culverts.
