About Public Works

As the largest department in Snohomish County government, Public Works has approximately 650 positions. Most of our work is performed in unincorporated areas, but some projects are done cooperatively with individual cities and agencies. The department is divided into seven divisions.

The Public Works Department is responsible for the development and maintenance of the transportation system, the control and management of surface water quantity and quality, and the disposal of solid waste generated within all of Snohomish County. 

The services provided in these areas are diverse, and the demand for services is directly dependent on the growth we have seen in the past and on future projected growth. This growth directly impacts the amount of traffic on the county's 1,675 miles of roads and 200 bridges, the amount and type of solid waste produced, the amount of storm water flows created by the development of and construction of new impervious surface, and the generation of additional water pollutants. The services provided are shaped by various federal, state and county laws and regulations.

Management of the county fleet of vehicles and equipment and miscellaneous funds such as transportation mitigation, commute trip reduction, and pits and quarries is also provided by the Public Works Dept.