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If you have a HOA, please contact them regarding this question. If you do not have a HOA, please contact the City for access and provide a plan of action.

Due to our limited staff and resources, all of our customers are billed together and have the same due dates as set by City Council. Bills are sent to customers in the beginning of odd-numbered months, and are due on the 10th of the following even-numbered month. If you're struggling with the due date, you may consider prepaying half of your bill when you receive it in order to reduce the amount owing on the due date.
 

Because of public bidding laws, having the City outsource the maintenance work would likely cost the homeowners more money than if they hired the contractor themselves. In addition, the City does not currently have the resources to pay for the maintenance of all private stormwater facilities up front, or manage the work. However, staff is here and available to provide technical support and assist HOA’s and private owners on the best approach to complete the maintenance.

No. The subdivision needs final acceptance and needs to be recorded with Clark County.

Yard debris is an optional service administered by Waste Connections. You can find information about this service at their website, or by calling 360-892-5370.

Yes. Please note the following exception: Decks that do not exceed 200 square feet in area; that are not more than 30 inches above grade at any point; that are not attached to a dwelling; and do not serve as an exit door as required by the International Residential Code, Section R311.4.

To obtain the permit you will need to submit two sets of construction drawings, two site plans, and proof of ownership. Check with our staff for residential deck handouts and further information.

Yes. A tree removal and general encroachment permit is required to remove and replace street trees along the roadway.

Yes, you must be on the current MRSC Rosters list to submit a bid for a Small Works project. You may register with MRSC Rosters to become eligible to bid on the next Small Works project.

Unfortunately, the City is not able to offer an equal pay option. Customers are welcome to make extra payments to reduce the amount owing on a due date. As long as the balance has been paid in full by the due date, there would be no penalties assessed.

You can access the Knowledge Base here

Check your bill and make sure you do not have abnormally high water use. The City strives to monitor for abnormal spikes in water use, and as a courtesy, may send you a letter to alert you of a possible leak; however, being familiar with typical water use at your home may help you spot a leak before City staff. Visit the City's page about Water Leaks & Meter Reads for more information.

Measure the diameter of each tree at 4.5 feet above the ground. This is called the diameter at breast height (DBH) and it is measured in inches.

If you have a concern about your neighbor’s property, talk to them about your concerns. If that is not an option, and their property is in violation of the code (linked below), you may take the following action: 

• In the City of Camas: Log on to Camas Connect 24/7 from the City of Camas web site to report a code violation. Note:
  • Tall Grass/Vacant Lot reports will be routed to the Fire Marshal’s Office and;
  • Tall Grass/With Structure reports will be routed to the code enforcement officer at the Camas Police Dept.
• In the City of Washougal: Please contact the Code Enforcement officer at: 360-835-8501 x609

Each addendum must be signed and submitted along with the bid proposal for the bid to be considered a responsible bid.

Please go to MRSC Rosters at mrscrosters.org to submit an application.

Sewer charges are calculated based on water consumption at your residence during winter months. The amount of water used during the winter is billed directly for both water and sewer. During the remaining months of the year, sewer consumption is based on your meter reads from the January and March bills, which is water use from November through February.

The first plan set is available at no charge. Additional plan sets may be requested for a $25.00 fee.

The City bills all residential customers every two months. Billing cycles run from the first of an odd-numbered month to the last day of the following even-numbered month, i.e. January 1st to February 28th.

An annual test must be performed by a tester certified by the State of Washington. The test report must then be submitted to the City of Camas. All test is the responsibility of the property owner. Reminder notices will be mailed in late spring of each year. Failure to comply with irrigation regulations may result in severing the connection to the backflow assembly or discontinuation of city water service.

Stormwater assessments are based on the presence of impervious surface at your property, not on a utility service. Unless all structures and impervious surface on a property are demolished, stormwater fees are assessed to the property owner of record.

Garbage and recycling service are compulsory for all inside-City residential customers per Camas Municipal Code 13.80.020 and 13.86.020. Customers who opt out of using the service will still be billed to cover the cost of City staff or recycling contractors checking each week for curbside refuse and recycling.

Household hazardous waste (including electronics) should never be put into the trash. These items can be taken to a local transfer station, or dropped off during a yearly household hazardous waste collection event. For information about recycling these items, try Clark County Recycling A-Z. For transfer centers and pricing, visit Clark County Self-Haul Options. For the schedule, view the current Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Schedule.

Tampering with a water meter for any purpose is strictly prohibited, and can result in penalties, prosecution, and charges on your bill. Water meters are City property, and turning water service on or off at the meter curb stop may only be done by City staff. If you do not have a homeowner-side gate valve for turning water on or off yourself and you need service reconnected or disconnected, please contact the City at 360-834-2462. If you are having an emergency after working hours and need water off immediately, please call the after-hours emergency water/sewer service at 360-737-0592. 

A permit is required from the fire department.  Submit an application along with two copies of a scale drawing of the property (indicating tank, piping and structure locations) to the Fire Marshal's Office.

The City’s responsibility ends at the water meter. The customer is responsible from the meter to the house including plumbing inside of the house. Some leaks may be easy to fix, while others may require a plumber. Locate your master water supply valve and label it. The master supply-valve can be turned off easily in case of a major leak or broken pipe (DO NOT turn off the City-side curbstop on the meter). The customer is also responsible for keeping the meter box free from landscaping, fences, or any obstruction that could prevent meter reading or emergency access.

The Camas-Washougal Fire Department accepts interest requests for volunteer firefighters.

Volunteer Firefighter Interest Form.

Yes, as per Department of Health regulations.

Yes. Trees to be planted must meet the following size specifications.

• Evergreen: 4 foot tall minimum
• Deciduous: 
  • 2.0 inch calliper, branched
  • 2.0 inch DBH
  • Deciduous trees in planter strips to be a minimum 2" caliper and on approved street tree list.

No, only cash, bid bond, certified check or cashiers check is acceptable for a bid deposit. Failure to submit a bid deposit in the amount of 5% of the bid will be deemed a nonresponsive bid by staff. After the lowest three bidders have been determined, all other bid bonds will be released. After a contract has been executed, all remaining bid security will be released.

We do not suggest purchasing plan sets from a plan center, they may not be up-to-date on project addenda. You must be on the Self-Registered Bidders List managed by BXWA to automatically receive project addendums. All addendums must be signed and submitted with the proposal to be considered a responsible bid.

No, by City Ordinance (CMC 12.04.020) it is the homeowner’s responsibility to clear the sidewalk adjacent to their property.

Yes, but you must provide a written request by an authorized person of the firm and the City must receive the revised packet prior to the original deadline.

For the safety of all involved, the sanitation crew will only pickup in areas with streets that are safe to travel. A garbage truck even when empty weighs 27,000 lbs, and the visibility is more limited than in a regular vehicle. If a truck were to hit an unseen patch of ice or snow, it could be very hard to control or stop the massive vehicle. Rest assured that our crew will return for you trash as quickly as is safe. For updated inclement weather information, visit the Public Works page.

The City of Camas charges $40 to get your dog out of impound along with a $20 boarding fee. The next time your dog is impounded the charge is $55 plus the boarding fee.

The Building Division is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. City staff will not be able to accept applications, issue permits or receipts after 4:00 p.m.

Call the Operations Center during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri. at 360-817-1567. After hours, weekends or holidays call our monitoring service at 360-737-0592.  Please call immediately after silencing the alarm to prevent sewage back up at the residence.

The City of Camas uses a calibrated stamp clock as the official time. It is the responsibility of the bidder to verify the official time and submit prior to the deadline. All bids submitted after the deadline will be deemed by staff to be non-responsive.

The City has an existing water leak credit process that also credits sewer charges to a customer for leaks occurring between November and February. Credit for the water portion of your bill is still subject to the requirements listed in Camas Municipal Code 13.44.030. Leaks occurring between March and October do not affect sewer charges.

If a customer has no prior winter water use from which to calculate an average, the customer defaults to the average, which is 13 units in a 2-month billing cycle. This is to avoid a customer paying for no sewer use during the summer because they used no water during the winter. Although we would like to have an accurate winter average for every customer, there has to be a method for billing customers who occupy during the summer but not the winter when the average is obtained.

The City recognizes that summertime watering of lawns and gardens does not create a greater demand upon the sewer system, and has adjusted accordingly. Customers only pay for direct use during the winter months. For the remainder of the year, sewer billing is based on the average water use for the non-watering months. This billing structure is designed so that customers do not pay sewer charges for water that does not enter the sewer system.

All underground residential lawn sprinkler systems are required to have a backflow prevention assembly installed on the sprinkler system. Backflow prevention devices on certain residential irrigation systems are mandatory in the City of Camas. Backflow devices protect potable (drinkable) water by preventing water on your property from moving back into the main water supply.  

Backflow prevention is a public safety issue that is not always understood or addressed in residential irrigation designs and installations. It is important to understand that backflow prevention devices are designed to protect the City of Camas’ potable water supply from pollutants and contaminants. As a responsible homeowner, you should become aware of the City of Camas’ code requirements for backflow prevention protection. Backflow devices play a key role in keeping our water safe. Knowing why they do, and why they are necessary will help you continue to keep your backflow device in compliance.

The City of Camas maintains the tank pump control panel and line leaving the tank going to the street.The homeowner maintains the line between the house and the tank. 

Prior to a storm when the road surface temperature falls below 38 degrees, the City may apply a liquid de-icer (Magnesium Chloride) to the main arterials.This product helps reduce the formation of ice and will speed the melting process after the storm.The City may also apply a solid de-icer on the main arterial hills.  Due to the expense and corrosive nature of salt, this treatment option is used sparingly. As a last resort, the City may also apply sand. All de-icing products can be corrosive to vehicles. We recommend that you wash your vehicle after major storms.The City of Camas works to minimize the amount of product applied while still maintaining effectiveness.  

The City has three snowplows with solid deicer and sand capabilities along with two liquid deicing units to maintain approximately 45 miles of priority routes and 75 miles of residential streets. The City has prioritized the main transportation corridor routes and the routes needed for emergency service response.  All other streets will be serviced during regularly scheduled hours after the priority routes have been plowed. Plow crews will respond to emergencies in neighborhoods if dispatched by police or fire. The City will tow abandoned vehicles that, in the opinion of the City, pose a danger to the mobility of the emergency routes. The following roads are closed by the City during inclement weather; NW Forest Home Rd. from NW 10th Ave. to NW Astor St., Division St. from NE 6th to NE 11th, NE Dallas St. from NE 6th to NE 14th, NW Dahlia Dr. from NW 31st Ave. to NW 34th Cr., NW Lacamas Lane from NW Norwood St. to NW Lake Rd.

Be prepared – City crews will not be able to plow all the roads to maintain full transportation mobility. Citizens are responsible to be prepared for extended delays during weather events, especially if you live on steep neighborhood streets. The best policy is to stay put! There is always the likelihood that you may be without water and/or power during a storm, so always have a supply of food and water on hand. If you have to travel during these times, be prepared for winter driving (have a vehicle with 4 wheel drive, studs or chains, and carry a car safety kit). Please do not park on priority routes as it makes the removal of snow and ice more difficult. Most importantly, know your driving limitations.

Frequently medical calls require the assistance of more than just the two personnel that arrive on the ambulance. Since all of our staff are medically trained, we frequently utilize the extra personnel from an engine to assist our paramedics. This is in line with federal standards, and allows us to provide the best possible care for the patient.

The following are helpful numbers.  Please contact us if the number you are looking for is not here

Ambulance Billing          360.834.2462

Building Department      360.817.1568

City Administrator          360.834.6864

Customer Service          360.834.6864

Code Enforcement         360.834.4151, opt. 1

Dog Licensing                 360.834.2462

Finance / Utilities            360.834.2462

Fire Marshal                    360.834.6191

Human Resources          360.817.7014

Mayor’s Office                 360.834.6864

Municipal Court              360.397.2125

Parks & Recreation        360.834.5307

Planning Department     360.817.1568

Police (non-emergency) 360.834.4151, opt. 1

Streets / Public Works    360.817.1563

The CWFD no longer offers regularly scheduled CPR/1st Aid classes.  If you have a group of 6 people or more, contact our Certified CPR/1st Aid Instructor Charlie Dawson to make class arrangements.  Classes for individuals are regularly held at the Northwest Regional Training Center or through Washougal Community Education.

Camas-Washougal Animal Shelter is located at 2695 S. Index Street in Washougal.    

Washougal Standard Animal Facility Locations

There is a list of contractors known to perform maintenance work on stormwater facilities available on the Stormwater Partners of Southwest Washington’s website to assist with HOAs and private owners in search of a vendor. This is not a complete list of contractors, nor is it an endorsement of any particular contractor.

There are many reasons a plow operator may have the blade up. Responding to an emergency call, equipment malfunction, operator judgment that plowing will be ineffective or make things worse, operator safety, using chains to break up the ice coating to allow for future plowing are just a few of the reasons.

Each building in the city impacts the ability for water to be absorbed by the ground, instead directing this water as runoff into storm drains, ditches, culverts, etc. All properties in the city with an existing structure or non-permeable surface such as paving fall into this category. Stormwater fees also help cover the cost of street cleaning and upkeep as well as the maintenance of the storm drainage system itself.

Water pressure can be affected by many things, including your proximity to a pump station, the elevation of your home, and the setting of a pressure reducer valve (PRV). The City is required to provide water between 20-150 psi, and pressure over 80psi requires the use of a PRV. If you have low water pressure/flow and it's a recent occurrence, it may be that your PRV needs to be adjusted or replaced. If you're not sure how to adjust/replace your PRV, a licensed plumber would be able to help.

During a storm, the City’s limited number of plows and employees are fully utilized to maintain priority routes in a passable condition for emergency vehicle mobility City wide.  All other streets will be serviced as crews become available during regularly scheduled shifts in order to reduce overtime costs.  Since each storm is unique, the effects on the streets are prioritized by City staff for each event, and neighborhood streets are plowed considering the ability of the plows to be effective, the safety of the plow driver, and the routes for school buses and sanitation pick-up.

Regardless of consumption, each sewer customer creates a need for maintenance of the system simply by being connected. The flat fee for sewer is intended to cover the cost of maintenance and improvements of the sewer system, which is present even in the absence of use at your residence.

We do not issue separate certificates of occupancy for single-family residential construction. When the inspector signs the box in the bottom right-hand corner on the back of the inspection card/permit, you have the right to occupy the building. This is your Certificate of Occupancy.

No.  By default, the search results will show matches for any word within the phrase.  In this example, you would receive results for all web pages and documents that contained either the word alarm or the word permit or both.

In order to search on an exact phrase, enclose your search phrase in quotations.  The search results for "alarm permit" will show matches for that exact phrase.