FAQs • Santa Rosa, CA • CivicEngage

Do I have to connect to sewer and water after annexation?: If you have a health hazard and a public sewer main exists within 200 feet of your property, you may be required to connect to the public sewer system. Otherwise, you can keep your existing septic system. Properties are not required to connect to the public water system.

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Service Impacts

3. Will I be served by a different fire department?: No, the Santa Rosa Fire Department currently provides service to the unincorporated areas that are the subject of the annexation, and that would not change.

4. Will I be served by a different police department?: Police service will transition from the Sonoma County Sheriff and California Highway Patrol to be provided by the Santa Rosa Police Department; this change will be effective November 1, 2017. For inquiries regarding police reports occurring before November 1, 2017, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 707.565.2650.

5. What is neighborhood oriented policing?: The goal of the neighborhood oriented policing program is to bring the police and the public it serves closer together to identify and address crime issues. This program combines traditional aspects of law enforcement with prevention measures, collaborative problem-solving, community engagement and community partnerships.

6. What other services will change?: Public works, recreation and parks, housing, building and planning services that are currently provided by the County would be replaced with services provided by the City of Santa Rosa.

7. Can I connect to water and sewer service?: Many properties in the annexation area are already connected to City water and sewer services. However, if you are not, as a City resident you can choose to connect when services become available. In addition to the cost of construction, all new connections are required to pay a 1-time demand fee (connection fee).

8. Do I have to connect to sewer and water after annexation?: If you have a health hazard and a public sewer main exists within 200 feet of your property, you may be required to connect to the public sewer system. Otherwise, you can keep your existing septic system. Properties are not required to connect to the public water system.

9. How is graffiti removal handled in the City?: The Santa Rosa Transportation and Public Works, Police, and Recreation and Parks Departments work collaboratively to address graffiti vandalism through abatement, education and enforcement. The Transportation and Public Works Department removes graffiti from public property. The Police Department is responsible for graffiti abatement from private property. The Recreation and Parks Department removes graffiti in City parks.

10. Will additional street lighting be added to the area?: Upon annexation, additional street lights can be requested by a neighborhood through the City's Transportation and Public Works Department in conjunction with the installation of new curb, gutters and sidewalks. It is unlikely that new street lighting would be installed without also installing curb, gutters and sidewalks. Unless street improvements are installed with new development, they would be prioritized among other City projects through the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and installed when funding is available.