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Frequently Asked Questions

Street Construction Issues:

How does the City determine which streets to improve and what type of construction will be done?

The condition of each street is evaluated bi-annually under a standardized ranking system. Information concerning the age and condition of City-owned utilities such as water mains and sewer systems is also compiled. Streets with the most deterioration and need for improvement are given priority. A five-year schedule called the Capital Improvement Program is developed based on this information along with the available funding. Public alleys are also similarly evaluated and incorporated into the CIP.

The three types of improvement projects are Street Reconstruction, Street Rehabilitation, and Street Resurfacing:

A Street Reconstruction project consists of underground utility (water main and/or sewer) work, replacement of curbs, hazardous sidewalks, driveway aprons, as well as a complete reconstruction of the roadway.

A Street Rehabilitation project includes replacement of driveway aprons, trip hazardous sidewalks, and curbs with drainage or deterioration problems, as well as resurfacing the roadway.

A Street Resurface project consists of resurfacing the roadway.

Please visit these pages for details on the City's Capital Improvement Program and other financial data.

My sidewalk is cracked but my street is not scheduled for an upcoming project. How can I get this repaired?

Individual locations needing attention, such as a severely cracked sidewalk or a missing piece of curb are repaired under the City's Sidewalk and Curb Program. The locations are generated primarily by resident requests and evaluated by the Engineering department for hazardous conditions. This program is completed once each year, and locations are chosen for construction in a "first come-first served" basis. Additional information about sidewalk, curb and driveway guidelines can be viewed by clicking here.

Contact the Engineering Department at 847-391-5390 or click here to use the online reporting form. 

Are my taxes going to go up with the improvement?

Capital Improvement Program projects are funded by Motor Fuel Taxes (State funding), Home Rule Sales Taxes, Storm Sewer User Fees, and Special Service Area Property Taxes.

The City also applies for and receives grant money (usually Federal funding) to complete specific types of projects such as creek maintenance and restoration, bike paths and new sidewalk construction.

In general, your taxes will not increase unless a Special Service Assessment is applied. Prior to any SSA the residents in the area will have an opportunity to vote on the potential improvement. The typical improvements are for features that do not already exist. For example, an SSA may be created to put new curb and gutter on a street that doesn’t have any.

Motor Fuel Tax information can be found by visiting this page.

Capital Improvement Program Projects:

My street is scheduled for construction. How will I know exactly what work is going to be done?

Before work begins, the project limits will be marked out with pink spray paint by the project Resident Engineer. These arrows indicate what areas of sidewalk, curb and driveway aprons will be removed and replaced in connection with the project.

Who performs the work and whom do I contact if I have a problem?

Each project is bid on by qualified contracting firms and awarded to the lowest bidder. The selected contractor will appoint a Project Superintendent who is responsible for all of the workers, equipment, and materials on the project. The City of Des Plaines Engineering Department will assign a Resident Engineer who is responsible for all coordination between the City and the contractor. The Engineer is involved with all aspects of the project including field layout, material inspection, progress payments, and scheduling. A City Inspector may also be assigned to assist the Engineer with field inspection and measurements.

If you have problems or questions during the course of construction, please contact the Resident Engineer. Contact information is distributed with all resident notification letters.

What are the colored flags, paint markings and wood stakes for?

The colored flags and paint markings represent locations of underground utilities. Each color corresponds to a different type of utility. The most common are blue (water lines), green (sewer lines), yellow (gas lines), orange (telephone or fiber-optic lines) and red (electrical lines). The City of Des Plaines uses pink to mark out project specific information, such as removal limits.

Wood staking is placed for reference points on the project. These indicate project stations, elevations or locations of various proposed features.

Please do not remove any flags or staking, as these are critical markers used for constructing the project.

For more information about locating underground utilities, see this web page.

Will my garbage collection service be interrupted?

No. During the project we ensure that refuse collectors have access to the street. If a special pick-up day and time is required, we will arrange this with the service and notify residents accordingly.

Where do I place leaves for collection?

During any construction project, leaves should be placed in the parkway according to the normal schedule instead of the street. If a special pick-up day is required, we will arrange this with Public Works and notify the affected residents.

Visit this page link for leaf collection program details.

When do I need to move my car from my driveway and where do I park?

The City will distribute letters informing residents of any driveway or special street closures. During all projects, parking on adjacent side streets is encouraged. It is recommended that residents limit trips during project working hours (typically weekdays from 7am to 6pm). During non-working hours, vehicles may be parked on the street.

If you have special concerns related to parking or access, please contact the project Resident Engineer.

My street is getting a new water main. What if I have problems such as low water pressure or air in the line after the work is complete?

If you begin experiencing low water pressure, sediment displaced during the connection may be trapped in the water meter or faucet aerator (the screen at the end of the faucet). Contact the Resident Engineer who will arrange for Public Works to clean the meter.

If there is air in the water line, you should run your water for a few minutes from a few different locations in your house. This will help flush the system and expel any air that is trapped. The Resident Engineer should be contacted if flushing does not correct the problem.

How much work will be done in the parkways, and will the City place new sod or seed?

Depending on the underground utility locations, work may take place in the parkways. For example, fire hydrants may need to be upgraded in which case the contractor will be working in the parkway.

The City typically restores parkways with new sod. Special conditions such as a heavily shaded area or small area (less than 10 square feet) of disturbance may be seeded instead of sodded.

The Contractor placed sod and now it is dead. What is the City's policy for replacing dead sod?

After the new sod is placed, the contractor will maintain (water) it for approximately two weeks. After a 30-day period, if the sod is in a healthy and growing condition, the City will accept the new turf. The homeowner is responsible for all watering and maintenance after this 30-day period and city acceptance.

No sod will be replaced after acceptance by the City per City Code 8-6-5.

What if I want extra work done? Does the Contractor do private work?

If the additional work is within the project scope and in the City right-of-way, it may be added to the project through a Resident Extra Agreement. After the resident signs the Agreement, the Engineer includes the work into the project and the resident is invoiced by the City using the established contract unit prices. Examples of this are minor widening of driveway aprons and replacing additional city sidewalk. Note that there are building permit requirements to follow, so not all extra work can be authorized.

Residents should contact the project Resident Engineer to discuss specific details.

Work on private property cannot be included in the project. The homeowner is responsible for making all arrangements for private work, including acquiring applicable permits and hiring a contractor. For example, if you want to replace your driveway (from sidewalk to garage), you will need to acquire a permit from Community and Economic Development at 847-391-5380 and make arrangements with a contractor. The City's contractor may be available to do private work, but the homeowner must contact the contractor directly.

Flooding Issues:

What if I experience flooding in my home and/or basement when it rains?

The City of Des Plaines can review and evaluate the situation upon receiving documentation of the occurrence along with pictures of the affected areas. Please mail documentation to the City of Des Plaines Engineering Department at 1420 Miner Street, Des Plaines, IL 60016 along with your name, address, and telephone number. All locations are reviewed and prioritized before chosen for improvement.

Where can I find information about flood protection and flood insurance rates?

Visit our website online by clicking here.

If you have any further questions you can email the Engineering Department at ENGINEERING@desplaines.org

Where can I find out if a property is in a floodplain?

Visit our website and view FEMA maps online. If you have any additional questions you can email Jacob Itskovich.

General Issues:

Where can I locate information regarding the Benchmark System?

Visit our website and view Benchmark locations online. If you have any additional questions you can email Jacob Itskovich.

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