City Engineering - Civil Division

About Us

The Civil Division handles a large portion of the duties assigned to the City of Canton Engineering Department.  With responsibilities that vary from the construction of public projects to storm water management to house numbering, the Civil Division provides many services to Canton residents.

In particular, the Civil Division handles the following specific tasks:

• Issuing Permits - There are a wide variety of permits required for those who are completing construction projects in the public right-of-way.  This is to ensure that only the best construction practices are followed to keep Canton residents safe.
  
  
• Capital Project Design and Construction - Any capital project - which is a project that is constructed by city government like a building, a bridge, or other large construction project - must be designed to exact specifications.  That project must then be built according to those specifications.  The Civil Engineering Division administers capital improvement projects for roads, bridges, and sewers.
  
  
• Construction Inspection - To keep the residents of Canton safe, all construction projects by private contractors that take place in the public right-of-way must be inspected by our office to ensure compliance with all accepted engineering standards and legal requirements.
  
  
• Storm Water Management - When it rains cats and dogs, all that storm water has to go somewhere - and it's the job of our department to figure out just where that will be (and how it will get there).  As part of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's NPDES Phase II Storm Water program, our department helps the City of Canton remain compliant with all storm water handling laws to ensure that a city full of impermeable concrete and asphalt does not damage the surrounding environment with its excess runoff.

Storm Water Management 

• Sidewalk and Streetscape Improvement - As you can probably tell from the title of this section, our department is responsible for oversight of the construction and improvement of the sidewalks and other decorative elements along city streets.  A recent project we just completed involved the installation of new sidewalks and street lamps in a stretch of Market Avenue N. from 25th Street to 30th Street.  Click here to see photos!

• City's Sidewalk and Curb Replacement Program - Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the program to help offset the costs to replace their sidewalks. The program can pay some of the costs associated with the construction that a contractor will charge for the work. Use the links below to get additional information.
  Informational Letter                                                                                                                             Contract (Including Contract Form)                                                                                                         Sidewalk and Curb Specifications                                                                                                            Commercial Sidewalk Application
  List of Licensed Sidewalk Contractors   

• Record Maintenance - Our department keeps records of all roads, public right-of-ways, and sewer systems on behalf of the city for use during construction and other related projects.
  
  
• Bridge Inspection - As the 2007 bridge collapse in Minneapolis proves, it is critical that bridges are inspected and maintained regularly to ensure traveling motorists and pedestrians are safe.  Our department conducts comprehensive inspections and evaluates the integrity of bridges on a regular basis to maintain high levels of safety.
  
  
• Surveying/Mapping/GIS - A critical function of our department is to survey and map the city's terrain.  By using GIS (Geographic Information Systems), we can maintain the most up to date snapshot of any part of the City for a wide variety of purposes.
  
  
• Subdivision Plan Review - Every new neighborhood that is built in the City of Canton must first be reviewed by our department to make sure that the new construction will meet our department requirements.
  
  
• Site Plan Review - Much like our subdivision plan review function, this department also reviews site plans. 


• House Numbering - All houses must be numbered in the City of Canton, and our office is responsible for assigning them to all properties within city limits.
  
  
• OUPS Marking - Our department locates and marks city-owned sanitary and storm sewers to identify where these pipes are buried. Always call the Ohio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS) at 1-800-362-2764 for underground utility markings before you dig!