Mission Statement

The Engineering Division provides full engineering support services to all departments city-wide and engineering advice to the Commissioner of Public Works, the Executive Office, and the City Council.

Resources

• Guides and Instructions
  • Engineering Plan Review Guide
  • Permitting Software User Guide
• Plan and Permit Submittals
  • Site Plan Submittal
  • ANR Plan Submittal
    • ANR Rules & Regulations
  • Apply for a Construction Permit
  • Ordinance No. B-42 (New Construction & Substantial Renovations)
• Stormwater Management
  • (SMCC) Stormwater Management Certificate of Compliance
  • Stormwater Management Rules & Regulations
  • Stormwater Management Ordinance 111-22
  • Overflow Connections Policy
  • Load Reduction Fact Sheet
• Construction Documents
  • Construction Map & Construction Schedule
  • General Construction Detail Book
  • Pedestrian Considerations: Updated Checklist for Temporary Traffic Control Zones
  • Trench Excavation & Safety (520 CMR 14)
•  Research and Requests
  • Engineering Research Request

Research

The public can submit public records requests for Engineering Division documents, such as water/sewer tie cards, street layouts, sewer & drain profiles, and subdivision plans, among other records. To request documents, please submit a request through our public records request portal here. Please do not email individual staff members to request documents. The portal is the appropriate place to request documents.

Site Plan Review

Engineering reviews site plans for private development, including new homes, additions, retaining walls, new drainage, relocating utility connections, expansions of impervious area (such as patios, pools, and driveways), any grade alterations, modifying curb cuts, etc.

All site plans for by-right development are reviewed in the order received by our Permits Engineer. Site plan reviews generally take thirty (30) business days. You may submit a site plan for review and approval here.

To check where your plan is in the review que, please click here. Engineering updates this que approximately once a week. Please note this que is only for by-right development and does not include site plans for development under special permit. Thank you.

Betterments

A curb betterment application shall be submitted by a resident when granite curbing is desired to be installed along the frontage of the resident’s home along the roadway. Once the curb betterment application is submitted to the Engineering Division, a cost estimate will be generated. This cost estimate includes the cost for the labor and materials required for installing granite curbing. Residents will be assessed 50% of the cost of the granite curbing installation.  

All requests for new sidewalk installation and maintenance of existing curbing or sidewalks shall be submitted as a customer service request and assigned to the Streets Division. 

Design Services

• Design of water main replacement and cleaning & lining projects
• Design of roadway improvement projects
• Design of private way improvements
• Oversee designs of major roadway improvement projects (TIP, Mass Works)
• Design and construction inspection services to Parks and Recreation, including of parking lots, playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts, swimming pools, athletic fields, and other public spaces
• Design and construction inspection support to Planning and Development (CDBG and CPA) projects, including parks, fences, drainage improvements, roadway traffic calming, curb cuts, ADA ramps
• Design and construction inspection support to School Department, including school parking lots
• Design and construction inspection support to Newton Historic Commission (burial ground vaults)
• Design of sewer and drainage infrastructure improvements
• Design of bridge rehabilitation
• Prepare all construction documents for bidding

Construction Inspection Services

• Inspect all construction activities for above ground design projects
• Inspect all sidewalk and curb betterments construction
• Inspect all residential and commercial construction which involves the public way (water and sewer services, drainage improvements, driveway aprons)
• Inspect all utility trenches in roadway

Permits Review

• Review of all permits submitted to Planning Department and Inspectional Services Department
• Engineering support to Board of Survey, Land Use, Planning and Development Board, Zoning Board of Appeals
• City Engineer is designated as Clerk of the Board of Survey
• Engineering review of Special Permits, Administrative Site Plans, Comprehensive Permits, Conservation Commission Notices of Intent, subdivisions

Record Keeping

• Maintains all engineering plans and records for the City, including roads, water, sewer, drain, wetlands, brooks and streams, assessing plans, zoning plans, subdivision layouts

Gas Leaks

If you smell gas, call National Grid’s Gas Leak Emergency Line at 1-800-233-5325 immediately. Call if there is a scent of gas in the air, no matter how strong the smell of gas may be, whether just a whiff outside or a more distinct, overpowering smell inside or out. If the smell is inside, go outside to make the call.

Dig Safe

Prior to any excavation, please contact Dig Safe by dialing 811 and schedule a WATER/SEWER mark-out by dialing 617-796-1640.

Staff Contacts