Public Works & Utilities "I Want To's..."

Apply for a fill permit

Fill permits are required in Duluth if more than ten yards of material will be used. Permit applications are only available in paper form from the Building Safety office, 2nd floor of City Hall.

Apply for Utility Service

You can find information and apply here.

Buy a rain barrel!

Rain barrels are a popular way to capture rain water for use around the home and yard. The City does not sell rain barrels but due to their popular demand we help sponsor a rain barrel and composter sale each spring.

Do my part to protect Duluth’s streams, the St. Louis River, and Lake Superior

Protecting Duluth’s stormwater is easy. Think of your curb and gutter as lakeshore property- remember that anything on the street will wash down the storm drain which runs straight into our local streams and then Lake Superior. Don’t blow your leaves and grass clippings into the street. Sweep up road salt and sand in the spring. Pick up pet droppings. Wash your car at a car wash or on the lawn where the soapy water can soak into the ground, not the driveway where the water will flow into the storm sewer. Don’t litter- much of that trash ends up in our lakes and streams.

Learn about Duluth’s streams

There are 44 named streams within Duluth’s City limits and sixteen of these are designated Trout streams. In partnership with the University of Minnesota, Duluth NRRI, we monitor four of these streams. Real time data from these stream monitors is available for viewing at www.duluthstreams.org or www.lakesuperiorstreams.org

Learn about rain gardens

Rain gardens are a popular way to control and reduce stormwater runoff. However, in our clay soils and extremely cold climate they require more planning and maintenance than in other parts of the country. For more information on constructing rain gardens in northern Minnesota please check the following website. www.duluthstreams.org

Learn about stormwater

Stormwater is rainwater and snowmelt that collects on the surface of the ground. As this water runs downhill it can cause erosion. It can also pick up sediment and pollutants and carry them to the nearest waterway. Since stormwater is not treated, the pollutants
stay in the receiving water and degrade the water quality.

Learn about stormwater safety

Stormwater safety is very important. Catch basins plugged with leaves or other debris can create pools of standing water that may hide deep water or hazardous undercurrents. During and after heavy rain events, or during snowmelt creeks may rise quickly. Always stay away from the rapidly flowing water.

Learn how my stormwater fees are used

Everyone in Duluth pays a monthly stormwater fee. This money goes to maintaining the City’s storm sewer system of about 431 miles of pipe, 100 miles of ditches, 12,000 catch basins, and 3000 culverts. City crews are constantly cleaning, televising, and making repairs on the system.

Learn why the beaches are closed

Duluth’s beaches are occasionally closed for public safety when coliform bacteria are detected in the water around the beach. Recently, several studies out of the University of Minnesota Duluth have proved that the majority of the bacteria is from the thousands of geese, ducks, and sea gulls that live in the harbor, not from human waste. For more information on Duluth's beaches please visit http://www.mnbeaches.org/beaches/lksuperior/index.html or www.mnbeaches.org

Pay My Utility Bill

Reduce my stormwater fee

Residential stormwater fees are based on impervious surface. Impervious surface is any area that does not allow water to penetrate and soak into the ground such as a driveway or rooftop. At this time, programs are available to reduce stormwater fees for certain multi-family properties as well as non-residential accounts. Please contact the Utility Operations office for more information about the stormwater credit program at 218-730-4130.

Please call 218-730-4130 for more information about stormwater rates.

Report a Pothole

Report a stormwater problem

To report any illegal dumping please call 218-730-4130 during business hours or 218-730-4100 evenings and weekends. If outside the City of Duluth please call 218-529-3281.

View Duluth’s annual stormwater report

The City of Duluth tracks all of its stormwater related activities throughout the year and publishes them in the Annual Report. Copies of the annual reports and he City's SWPPP are always available to the public, please contact Utility Operations at 218-730-4130 to request a copy.

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