Private contractors or citizens who wish to perform work in the public right-of-way must first obtain an Encroachment Permit, which is issued by the City Engineer in the Public Works Department, who can be contacted at City Hall, 650 Merchant Street, phone (707) 449-5170.

Utility companies who wish to perform work in the public right-of-way must obtain an Encroachment Permit from the Public Works Engineering Division at (707) 449-5170.  For emergency work, please reference Policy E-2024-001 Utility Company Emergency Work. 

Completed applications can be emailed to: DevEng_Permits@cityofvacaville.com 

Review time varies dependent upon the complexity of the work, however, applicants should expect a review period of approximately four weeks. If public improvement plans are involved, typical review periods are six weeks for a first submittal and three weeks for subsequent submittals.

How to Schedule an Inspection for Encroachment Permit Work: 

After obtaining an Encroachment Permit, and before any work can begin, you must email the Public Works Construction Supervisor to schedule a Preconstruction Conference. After the Preconstruction Conference work on your project can begin. 

You must notify the Construction Inspector of your intent to work each day by emailing before 7:00AM to request your inspection. Please include the following information for inspection requests:

• Project Name
• Project Location
• Encroachment Permit #
• Contact Name
• Contact Phone Number
• Type of Inspection Requested
• Time of Inspection 

A Construction Inspector will be assigned to make the inspection as close to your requested time as possible.

A Hydrant Meter is required to use water from the City's fire hydrants.

The customer:

• Gets a permit number from the Public Works Department.
• Places a $250.00 deposit at the Finance Counter.
• Brings their receipt back to the Public Works counter.
• Completes a Hydrant Permit Application.
• Takes the original deposit receipt, a copy of the permit application, and the meter with them.

Charges:

The customer will be charged $15.15 per day for the rental of the meter, and a separate additional charge for the water used. Water will be billed at the current rate of $1.75 per unit (1 unit =748 Gallons).

Completion of usage of the meter:

The customer returns the meter to the Public Works counter and is given a receipt with the final meter reading. A billing worksheet is processed and sent to the Finance Division. 

Deposits:

Customers may keep deposits "on hold" or request that the deposit be released. A billing worksheet is processed and sent to the Finance Division to process the daily rental charge(s), water usage charge, and if requested, a refund for the $250.00 deposit. 

Extended Use:

For those who need meters for an extended amount of time, a monthly bill will be issued for the daily rental charges and water usage.  Companies can either email a picture of the hydrant meter depicting the meter serial number and meter reading or they may bring the meter in at the end of the  month to have Public Works staff read the meter.

End of the year:

Meters should be returned so that all deposits can be released.  If an individual or company wishes to keep using a meter during this time, the old deposit will be released and a new deposit will need to be made, along with a new Hydrant Permit Application.

Exception:

Capital Improvement Projects are provided Hydrant Meters free of charge, although a permit must still  be issued, in order to track the hydrant meter and water usage.

Please contact Public Works Engineering at (707) 449-5170 or email for any questions about Hydrant Meters or to email your hydrant meter reading.