Frequently Asked Questions

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The property owner is responsible for the repair and maintenance of sidewalks, by state law. Any property owner who fails to maintain their sidewalk in a safe condition is considered negligent in their duties as a property owner, and is liable for injuries that may occur due to its lack of maintenance.

It is further required that property owners or renters of property within the City of Watertown, SD shovel the snow from their sidewalk to allow for pedestrian passage. If ice and snow build up, the property owner must make every effort to clear that snow and use salt, sand, or other materials to prevent it from becoming slippery.

The City budgets for curb and gutter replacement annually. The current City policy is to repair areas that are also going through our normal patching and chip sealing program. Other areas will be looked at, but unless a serious safety hazard exists, areas will be completed during the patch and sealing program. Call the Engineering Division at (605) 882-6202 for information.

It is recommended that the property owners try to work out a mutually beneficial solution with nearby property owners on drainage issues.

Normally, a drainage swale can be created on the property between the homes to direct the drainage to the street or backyard and away from structures. If a solution cannot be worked out to the satisfaction of the property owners, and one property owner feels they are being damaged by the other property owner, it is a civil matter, which may require appropriate legal counsel to resolve the matter.

The Watertown Municipal Utilities is responsible for the maintenance of street lights in the City of Watertown, SD. You may call (605) 882-6233 to report a bulb that is out or other related issues. 

You will need a surveyor to find your property lines. The City does not provide this service for private landowners. To find a surveyor the City recommends to Google Watertown, SD surveyors or search in Yellow Pages. Local engineering firms can provide surveying services for private landowners. 

In the case your neighborhood has decided you would like to have a paved alley, then it would be the responsibility of the property owner or HOA to covers paving costs. The City does not pay for the improvements, however, it will provide many of the services needed to reduce the costs to adjacent landowners.

If you would like to view the types of Engineering permits available, then please visit Open Gov for a comprehensive list. Generally, you will need to complete an online permit application any time you perform work in the Public Right of Way, do grading work, concrete repair, or even when for a sidewalk cafe. 

The City Parks and Recreation Department. You may contact their office at (605) 882-6260 to report a tree that may need to be removed or trimmed. 

Click here to find bid postings or scroll the bottom of the website to find a green square labeled bids to be brought to the same page. 

The City of Watertown, SD only requires contractors doing residential work within City limits to get an annual Residential Contractors License. Please call Community Development to verify if the contractor you are looking at has updated their license at (605) 882-6201. 

Yes—unless they are treated with insecticide for the lifetime of the tree by a licensed arborist. Untreated ash trees are typically lost within about ten years of detection. In Watertown, some boulevard trees will be treated to preserve shade while new trees grow, but the long-term goal is to reduce ash so that it makes up less than 10% of the overall canopy in 20 years.

If we cut every ash tree at once, neighborhoods would lose decades of shade, beauty, and environmental benefits overnight. Removing trees is also the most expensive part of EAB management. By treating healthy, well-structured trees, we can keep a larger percentage of our community's canopy in place while young replacement trees grow.

Treating trees protects them for many years, but it requires ongoing costs and staff time. Not every ash is healthy enough, safe enough, or well-placed to justify the investment. By focusing treatments on select ash trees, we make sure those dollars provide the greatest benefit to the community.

1. By treating some trees and removing others, we keep about half of the ash canopy standing and healthy while new trees grow. This preserves shade and character in our neighborhoods, saves money by spreading out costs, and gives City crews a manageable workload.

If you have ash trees on your private property:

• Identify them — ash trees have compound leaves with 5–11 leaflets and opposite branching.
• Decide whether to remove or treat on private property. Contact a licensed arborist.
• Take action early — waiting will increase costs and limit options.

 For boulevard trees, no action is required from homeowners. Forestry staff will handle removals and treatments.

Flight status information, including connections, is provided by the airline. Passengers should check directly with their airline or visit the airline’s website using their flight number or route for the most current arrival and departure information.

Passengers are advised to arrive at least 60 minutes prior to departure to allow time for check-in, security screening, and boarding.

Watertown Regional Airport offers free parking for both short-term and long-term stays in on-site parking areas.

Yes. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal for passenger use.

Yes. Watertown Regional Airport is fully accessible and offers accommodations for passengers with disabilities. Available services include:

• Wheelchair assistance upon request through your airline or at check-in
• Alternate screening procedures when appropriate, which may allow modified screening processes
• Medical devices or implants may be screened using alternative methods; passengers should notify TSA officers at the checkpoint
• Accessible restrooms located throughout the terminal

Passengers are encouraged to contact their airline in advance to arrange assistance.

All passengers must comply with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations. Key guidelines include:

‣ Carry-on and checked baggage rules: Certain items are restricted or prohibited
‣ 3-1-1 liquids rule: Liquids, gels, and aerosols must be in containers of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less and placed in a clear, quart-sized bag
‣ Prohibited items: Items such as weapons, tools, and certain hazardous materials are not permitted through security

For the most current information, passengers should visit the TSA website.

TSA may accept the following forms of identification:

‣ Passport
‣ Military ID
‣ State-issued identification card
‣ DHS Trusted Traveler cards (such as TSA PreCheck or Global Entry)

Additional identity verification may be required. For more information, click here.

Baggage size and weight limits are determined by individual airlines. 

Delta Requirements

United Requirements

CodeRED is used to share important information that may require attention or action. Emergency alerts are sent using contact information available through the 911 center, and creating a CodeRED account adds more ways for alerts to reach you in an emergency.

An account also allows users to add contact information, provide an address for targeted alerts, and choose which timely notifications to receive—such as snow removal notices, service disruptions, and severe weather alerts for Codington County.

Routine alerts are delivered based on selected categories, while emergency alerts are delivered using available contact information, regardless of subscription status. Creating a CodeRED account helps alerts reach you using the contact information you provide.

Information provided in a CodeRED account is used only to send alerts. It is not used for marketing or shared outside the alert system.

No, CodeRED is a free public safety program provided by the City of Watertown. Registering for CodeRED phone calls, text messages, and email is free. Simply create an account and select your preferred means of communication.

Yes. CodeRED is a separate system used for emergency and time-sensitive alerts. NotifyMe account DOES NOT automatically enroll you in CodeRED.  

Creating a CodeRED account helps ensure emergency alerts reach you in your preferred way and allows notifications to be geographically targeted to your address if an incident directly affects your area.

Alert delivery can be affected by contact information available, phone or carrier settings, and spam-filtering features. Saving the CodeRED alert number in your contacts and keeping your account information up to date will help.

Creating a CodeRED account does not change the emergency alerts database --  however, by creating an account residents and businesses can add contact information for future alerts. 

CodeRED voice alerts may come from 206-536-3695. Save the number to recognize City emergency alerts.

Anyone who lives, works, or owns property in Codington County is encouraged to register for a free CodeRED account. Emergency alerts are sent using available contact information, and adding more details—such as a mobile phone number or email address—gives more ways to attempt to reach you during an emergency.

CodeRED and Notify Me serve different roles. CodeRED is used for emergency and other time-sensitive alerts, while Notify Me allows residents to subscribe to City of Watertown news and special program details (like City-Wide Clean-Up announcements) based on their interests.

Because they are separate systems, residents must create and manage separate accounts for each. Signing up for one does not automatically enroll you in the other.