Keep roadways/pathways safe and clear

• Overgrown vegetation is a safety hazard and can threaten public safety when the vegetation blocks the view of traffic signs, signals, vehicles or pedestrians.
• Trimming vegetation and caring for your trees are effective ways residents can enhance neighborhood safety.

What is my responsibility as a homeowner/property owner for keeping the sight distance clear?

As a property owner and/or property tenant you need to be conscious about managing vegetation on your property to ensure it does not block visibility of sidewalks or roadways. (Shoreline Municipal Code 12.05) If a sight distance problem is evident on your property, we will contact you regarding this issue. If the problem is not resolved we may correct the problem or initiate enforcement action.   

Effective ways to enhance neighborhood safety and to ensure safe passage for everyone; use the following guidelines:

• Sidewalks: For a clear pathway, keep tree limbs and vegetation trimmed back from the edge of the sidewalk and at least 8 feet above sidewalks.
• Streets/Alleys: Keep tree limbs and vegetation trimmed back from the edge of the street or alley and at least 14 feet above streets and alleys.

Chapter 15.1 – of City’s Engineering Department Manuel (EDM) includes the City’s requirements for keeping sight distance clear. (see below)

Report a Problem

To report a problem with vegetation blocking a driveway, sign or sidewalk call our Customer Response Team (CRT) at (206) 801-2700.

Annual Crack-Seal Program
Crack-seal is a hot-pour, petroleum-based pavement crack and joint sealant. Residents on affected streets will receive a mailing with a detailed schedule of streets to be crack-sealed prior to the beginning of work. Using crack-seal in conjunction with slurry-seal provides the most cost-effective method of premature failures and aging. Crack-sealing is done annually, usually from June through September.

Concrete Street Repairs
The need to repair or replace a concrete street panel is identified through field observation (cracked or sunken panels) or as scheduled by the City's Pavement Management System. In this activity, the street panel is dug up and the base or sub-base (soil) replaced, depending on the cause of the failure. Then a new concrete surface is laid. This type of work can be performed year-round.

Pavement Patching
Areas to be patched are determined from a visual survey by street crews and from resident reports. Needed patching identified throughout the year are done during the dry-weather months, usually from July through September.

Pot Hole Repair
The City receives notice of a pot hole primarily through reports from residents. These are a high-priority and a temporary repair is done within 48 hours of notice. The site is then put on a list for a more permanent repair. To report a pothole, please provide us with as much information as possible by filling out an online service request.

Arterial/collector streets are swept once each month. Residential streets are swept two to three times a year. This is a big commitment to beautifying our City and to helping improve the water quality of our urban streams. Pollutants in the street (fluids from vehicles, debris, pet waste) are carried by rain water runoff into the storm water system. Storm water which flows to a catch basin does not go to a treatment plant, but drains directly to a natural water source. Sweeping helps remove pollutants that are on the streets before they enter the storm water system.

How You Can Help
Cooperation from the community is key to the success of the Street Sweeping Program. Here are ways you can help:

• Observe the Municipal Code which prohibits placing any debris in the street, such as grass clippings, tree limbs, bark mulch, rocks and garbage.
• Remove grass or weeds that grow in the gutter to reduce debris and improve water runoff during rain storms.
• Report abandoned vehicles to Shoreline's Customer Response Team at (206) 801-2700.

For more information: Street Cleaning Plan