Pothole Policy FAQ's

Pursuant to the Mass General Laws (see cite below), the Town of Northborough has 24 hours to fix potholes, trenches, road hazards etc. once it is reported to the Highway Department. Prior to the report, the Town is not liable to reimburse costs for damage to vehicles, people, or property damaged by an unreported road defect. The Highway Department makes every effort to find these road defects before they cause damage, but potholes can "bloom" overnight, especially during the early winter and early spring.

Please call the office during business hours at 508-393-5040 ext. 6 to report any road defect.

The General Laws of Massachusetts

PART I. ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT

TITLE XIV. PUBLIC WAYS AND WORKS

CHAPTER 84. REPAIR OF WAYS AND BRIDGES

DAMAGES FOR DEFECTS IN WAYS

Chapter 84: Section 15. Personal injuries or property damage from defective ways

Section 15. If a person sustains bodily injury or damage in his property by reason of a defect or a want of repair or a want of a sufficient railing in or upon a way, and such injury or damage might have been prevented, or such defect or want of repair or want of railing might have been remedied by reasonable care and diligence on the part of the county, city, town or person by law obliged to repair the same, he may, if such county, city, town or person had or, by the exercise of proper care and diligence, might have had reasonable notice of the defect or want of repair or want of a sufficient railing, recover damages therefor from such county, city, town or person.