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1. How do I pay my city water bill?

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2. How do I get a new trash can lid?

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3. How do I apply for a job with the City?

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4. My trash didn't get picked up, what should I do now?

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5. How do I get a garage sale permit?

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6. How can I see the agenda for an upcoming City Council or Board meeting?

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1. What is a "Paper Street"?

In municipal jargon, the term "paper street" usually means a road or an alley which exists only on paper, hence the name, "Paper Street." Because such "street" appears only on paper, i.e., an old plan of homes, possibly an old deed, or maybe an old borough map with dotted lines, "paper streets" aren't really streets at all.

In reality, a "paper street" may be part of a neighbor's yard, the woods at the end of a paved street of maybe even where you practice your golf game. Gas, water, sewer and electrical utility lines may or may not be in a "paper street". And "paper streets" may or may not be on a borough map.

2. Where do Paper Streets come from?

A "paper street" usually occurs when a road or street shown on a developer's plan of homes, isn't officially accepted by the municipality. Possibly, the developer never laid out or paved the road to borough specifications or perhaps, the road was never paved at all and was only a proposed road for the plan of homes, which may or may not have been built.

Another way a "paper street" may occur is when a proposed road isn't used by the public for 21 years. The 21-year period of using or accepting the roadway is a statute of limitations. After 21 years, a municipality is prohibited from accepting a "paper street" and the property automatically reverts back to the abutting property owners. Because "paper streets" automatically revert back after 21 years, many people don't even know that they may own up to one-half of the "paper street" beside or behind their homes.

Even if the borough doesn't formally adopt a "paper street," the "street" may still become an official borough road if the borough paves and maintains it. In this instance, an implied acceptance occurs, and the road is no longer a "paper street."

Most "paper streets" have been in existence for many years and may be fifty, eighty or even one hundred years old. However, because most municipalities have enacted subdivision ordinances, "paper streets" usually don't occur anymore.

3. Who own the Paper Street?

Unless there is a formal acceptance or use by the borough, the abutting property owners own the "paper street." In fact, "paper streets" are only a borough concern when public utilities are located on such land. Even then, the borough bears no responsibility for the upkeep or the maintenance of the "paper street" because, by the very definition of "Paper Street," the borough never adopted or used the "paper street" as a roadway. Thus, trees and other conditions on the "paper street" are usually the responsibility of the abutting property owners.

4. What can I do on a Paper Street?

Because an abutting property owner in fact usually owns the "paper street," he or she may use the "paper street" subject to easements for public utilities and subject to the rights others have for access. Thus, a property owner could not erect lawfully a fence across a paper street and deny others access; nor could the property owner build a structure on the "paper street" over municipal water and sewer lines.

5. How can a homeowner acquire formal title to a Paper Street?

If an abutting property owner desires to obtain formal title to the center portion of a "paper street," he may do so but the process is both time consuming and somewhat expensive. First, the homeowner must ascertain whether any utility lines are located within the "paper street." If so, the borough will not agree to formally vacate the "paper street" so that it may have access to repair and maintain such utilities. The reason why a municipality will not vacate a "paper street" which contains utilities is because the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has held that a municipality cannot legally vacate a street and at the same time reserve itself an easement to access utilities within the boundaries of the vacated street.

If the abutting property owner ascertains that no utilities are located within the "paper street," a qualified engineer must then be retained to ascertain and plot the center line of the "paper street" as well as all easements. Based upon such engineering plan, a formal petition is then presented to the Borough, signed by all abutting property owners, north, south, east and west, consenting to the "vacation" of the "paper street." If approved by the Borough, then a Quit-Claim Deed must be prepared by an attorney for presentment to the Borough to relinquish any right and title it may have in such tract. If the Borough approves the Deed, it may be filed subject to other easements of record.

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1. How can I rent a pavilion?

In order to rent a pavilion at West Mifflin Community Park, you must stop at the Administration Building at 1020 Lebanon Road. Ring the buzzer for the borough and come to the front window and see an employee. They will give you take the information you need, pay and you will be on your way. 

2. What forms of payment for you accept?

The Borough of West Mifflin only accepts cash, check or money orders. WE DO NOT ACCEPT CREDIT/DEBIT PAYMENTS,

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1. I did not receive my real estate tax bill. What should I do?

You should first contact our office to inform us and we can send you the bill in the mail. We will then confirm the address that the bill should have been sent to. If our records are wrong, we will ask that you contact the Allegheny County Tax Office to update your information as our records are provided by them.

2. How can I, or a company I am working with, verify that my previous year’s taxes were paid?

You, or the company you are working with, can request a Tax Certification from our office. This will include the previous 3 years for both your property’s Borough and School Real Estate Taxes. A $30 check made out to Jonathan R. Hess will be required for receipt of the Tax Certification.

3. I need to pay my Real Estate Taxes from a previous year. Can I pay those to your office?

By law, our office is only able to collect current year Real Estate Taxes. To pay any delinquent taxes, please contact Legal Tax at 412-464-9997

4. I paid my real estate taxes, but my check has not been cashed.

Our office deposits checks weekly. Due to fluctuating volumes, this is not always possible. We do our best to process each payment within a week of their arrival.

5. If I own multiple properties, can I pay them all on one check?

We ask that you pay each property separately. That way, if there should be an issue, we can process the remaining payments without delay.

6. Can I pay my Borough and School Taxes with one check?

We are not able to accept one check for a Borough and School payment. We do require a separate check for each payment.

7. Can I make multiple installment payments at once?

We are unable to accept multiple installment payments on one check. Each installment payment must be a separate check. All 1st installment payments must be paid between July and August; the 2nd installment payment can be paid beginning September 1; and the 3rd Installment payment can be paid beginning November 1.

8. Am I able to pay the discount after the deadline?

We are not able to accept any discount payments after the deadline. We also cannot accept any face payments after the deadline. Please see above for Discount, Face, and Penalty periods.

9. The check I provided to the Tax Office was returned. What should I do?

Our office will always include a letter with the returned check indicating why we cannot accept it in its current state. If you have any questions, please contact our office. It is your responsibility to return the check with the requested corrections for your payment to be processed.

10. I would like to send my payment in now, but I do not want the Tax Office to cash it until a future date. Can I still send it to the Tax Office?

Please do not future date your checks as we cannot hold them. Only send a check if it can be deposited.