FAQs

No. While the Mayor and the City Council members use the City Council Chambers at City Hall for meetings, they do not have any designated offices. 

You can contact any council member by email at: contact@ephrata.org or by calling and leaving a message with the City Administrator's office at 509-754-4601 ext. 157. 

The City of Ephrata works off of a Hybrid City Administrator System of the Mayor-Council Form of Government.

Per Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington (MRSC):
Many mayor-council cities have hired professional city administrators, chief administrative officers, or similarly titled positions to serve under the mayor. The city administrator is usually a full-time position responsible for many administrative and policy-related duties such as budget preparation, personnel administration, and department supervision.

In essence, this is a hybrid model between the mayor-council and council-manager systems, retaining a separately elected mayor who is responsible for administration, but providing for professional management of the city's day-to-day operations. In theory, this also frees the mayor from the need to attend to administrative details and allows the mayor to focus greater attention on policy development, political leadership, and potentially their own private employment apart from city government.

More information about the various forms of governments common in Washington State can be found through Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington (MRSC). 

Yes. All dogs over the age of six (6) months must be licensed with the Ephrata Police Department. To learn more, visit Dog Licenses.

Call MACC 911 at 509-762-1160 for the following code violations:

Fireworks
Stray Dogs
Barking Dogs
Noise Issues
Vehicles Parked or Abandoned on City Streets
Illegal Burning

For all other Code Violations, please fill out the Code Complaint Form and turn it in to Stacy Hooper at City Hall.

Yes!  However, there are a few rules about using signs to promote your sale. 

The city does not allow box signs or posters on telephone poles. Please see the FAQs below. 

Please contact 509-754-4601 for questions.

Garage/yard sales are allowed without permits or fees on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays & public holidays.

The Ephrata Municipal Code’s definition for “Litter” includes posters, flyers, box signs, and any other material that is used to advertise an event such as estate sales, yard sales, parties and/or any other event held on residential property.  (EMC 6.12)

DO's

• Post yard sale ads on Facebook Buy Sell Trade pages and on Craigslist - Moses Lake
• Place an ad in the Columbia Basin Herald, Grant County Journal or other newspapers.
• Post a sign on your property: verify it is not on the sidewalk or the public right of way.
• Post your sale posters on the City of Ephrata billboards 

DON'TS

• Don’t place signs on street corners, sidewalks, trees, telephone/electrical poles, or any other place that is not at the location of the yard sale
• Don’t use balloons, arrows, posters or box signs
• Don’t use cars as signs by placing them other than at the location of the sale.

Please be mindful of the impact the garage/yard sale has on your neighborhood.

Signs placed off-site of the sale could cost the property owner $46.00 each.

Here is a handy flyer with the Do's and Don'ts for holding a garage/yard sale in town: Garage/Yard Sale Flyer.

Basin Market parking lot at Division Ave E & D St SE



Alder St SW in the parking lot across from the Grant County Journal

Please contact the Fire Department at 509-754-4666

Yes, contact the Fire Department at 509-754-4666 and we will be happy to assist you with your request.

The Ephrata Fire Department offers CPR Courses on a regular basis. If you are interested in signing up for the next class simply call 509-754-4666 and ask to be put on the CPR class list. You will be notified when the next class will be offered.

The fire department responds on serious or life threatening calls. The fire vehicle may be an engine, ladder truck, or rescue unit. The personnel assigned to these vehicles assist the ambulance crew with equipment, patient care and transportation.

During the course of the day it is not unusual for two calls for the ambulance to come in at the same time. If the AMR ambulance scheduled for Ephrata is busy, an AMR ambulance will be sent from Moses Lake-area station.

State law, and common sense, dictate that vehicles yield to emergency vehicles that are operating their emergency lights and siren. Emergency vehicle drivers are taught to pass on the left whenever possible when responding in an emergency mode. When safe, slow down, pull over to the right, and stop. However, there are circumstances where that may not be possible (if you car is already stopped, and you don't have anywhere to pull over). Simply stay put until the emergency vehicle goes around you. If you are blocking the route of the emergency vehicle, and you are able to pull ahead and over into a clear area, use your turn signal to indicate your intentions, and proceed at a safe speed. Never slam on the brakes and stop in the middle of the road when you see apparatus approaching. Make no sudden moves. If an emergency vehicle is approaching from the opposite direction, you should pull over and stop. You have no idea if they are proceeding down the road, or are planning on turning into a driveway or intersection right in front of you. You are not required to slow down or pull over for emergency vehicles that are responding in the opposite direction on a divided highway.

Do not tailgate, "draft", or follow a responding apparatus closely.

Not only is this illegal, you run the risk of collision as vehicles pull back out into traffic after the emergency vehicle goes by.

Call the Fire Department at 509-754-4666.

Call AMR at 509-765-2155

Sparklers/Morning Glory, Wheels, Smoke, Ground Spinners, Cones & Fountains, as well as Novelties are allowable fireworks. 

Any firework that you buy from a firework stand in the city of Ephrata is allowable. We work specifically with these stands to sell only fireworks that fit within our rules. These stands will be open for fireworks sales starting Tuesday, June 28th. 

The city prohibits ALL aerial fireworks and all state prohibited fireworks. The risk for starting a wildfire is just too high and our families’ lives, homes, and properties are too valuable to chance a fast moving fire sweeping through town. Aerial fireworks will be confiscated and destroyed by the police and fire departments and you could end up with a $1251 fine.

This includes roman candles, single mortars, reloadable mortars, and helicopters/parachutes.

These are listed as Consumer Fireworks but are illegal to sell, possess, and/or discharge within
the State of Washington. They are legal to sell, possess, and/or discharge on tribal lands.

Firecrackers
Generally 1/4” x 1 1/2” or less that come in packs to large bricks. A firecracker makes a
single “pop” sound. Many firecrackers strung together will make repetitive “popping” sounds.



Bottle Rockets
A firecracker type (tube) attached to a 12” long wooden stick. The stick is placed in a bottle and
once lit, it rises into the air, travelling laterally before exploding.



Sky Rockets and Missiles
Similar to the Bottle Rocket, a Sky Rocket is attached to a stick or has fins and may have a
plastic cap. A missile will have fins rather than a stick. Once lit, it ascends rapidly, high into
the air where it explodes.

Illegal explosive devices are often wrongly referred to as fireworks because they look like large firecrackers, but they can have as much explosive power as a 1/4 stick of dynamite.

Mass-produced Homemade Devices
Example: M-80’s, M-100’s, etc.


Homemade Explosives
Example: Pipe Bomb & Tennis Ball Bomb


Altering consumer fireworks making an explosive device
Example: Sparkler Bomb



We will have officers and possibly the bomb squad evaluate and pick up the device. Possession, manufacturing, or using illegal explosive devices is a criminal offense in Washington.

Fireworks are only allowing to be set off during the 4th of July holiday and New Year's Eve. 

These two links will open up graphics with safety tips and injury statistics.
Fireworks Safety Tips
Fireworks Injuries

Teach your little ones about firework safety through some great activity guides you can print off at home!

WSP Fireworks Activity Book
WA State Fire Marshal's Office Activity Guide

The City of Ephrata has a variety of positions to cover all the services offered. Positions include professional, management, law enforcement, technical, clerical, labor, and customer service.

We hire for full-time, part-time and seasonal/temporary positions to work at several city facilities including City Hall, Department of Public Works, Police Department, and the Park and Recreation Department (including Splash Zone). 

All jobs are posted on the City of Ephrata website under Job Opportunities. 

Each position will have specific instructions on how to apply. Please follow these instructions directly and call 509-754-4601 ext 120 if you have any questions. 

There is no requirement for you to live within city limits for most positions. However, upper-level management employees may have that as a stipulation of hire. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR ENTRY-LEVEL APPLICANTS

• Valid Driver's License
• Citizen of the United States
• Must be 21 years of age at the time of appointment
• Possess a high school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent
• Physically able to meet minimum physical qualifications
• Able to read and write the English language
• Ability to Pass Background Investigation, Psychological Evaluation, Physical Agility Test, Drug Screening, and Polygraph Assessment

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR LATERAL APPLICANTS

• Two-years continuous law enforcement experience preferred
• Currently employed as a full-time police officer with public law enforcement
• Must be working in a job classification the same or similar to this position
• Must have successfully graduated from the Washington State Law Enforcement Academy or meet WACJT standards for equivalency.
• Able to meet medical standards for LEOFF Retirement System
• Ability to Pass Background Investigation, Psychological Evaluation, Physical Agility Test, Drug Screening, and Polygraph Assessment

In Washington State, the Peace Officer Certification is issued by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission once a candidate passes the Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA). In order to be accepted into a BLEA class, you must be a hired employee of a law enforcement agency. Aside from the requirements listed for the Entry Level position, there is no additional law enforcement training that is necessary prior to applying. 

Yes. The Ephrata Public Library is located at 45 Alder St NW, Ephrata. The library is part of the NCW Libraries system. 

Monday	10 am – 6 pm
Tuesday	10 am – 6 pm
Wednesday	11 am – 6 pm
Thursday	10 am – 6 pm
Friday	10 am – 5 pm
Saturday	10 am – 2 pm
Sunday	Closed

The main website is www.ncwlibraries.org.

The Ephrata specific link is:
https://www.ncwlibraries.org/locations/ephrata-public-library/

Children under the age of fourteen (14) years and and any individual who has an impairment (including a mobility, sensory or cognitive impairment,) which results in a functional limitation are allowed to fish.

There is a bag limit of 5 fish. The fish can be of any size. 

Oasis Park Opens on the 3rd Saturday on April and closes on Labor Day. 

The park itself is open during daylight hours. 

People who are caught illegally fishing at Oasis Park are subject to a C7 penalty. For 2021, a C-7 penalty is $160.00.

Please call 509-762-1160 to report violators. Please give the dispatcher as much detail as possible about the violator. 

Yes. Adults or older siblings are allowed to help younger children fish only for the purpose of teaching. Adults who are not allowed to fish should not have their own fishing pole. 

Report damaged mailbox or lawn to 509-754-4601 ext 300 as soon as damage is noticed so we can verify it and if city is responsible, fix it immediately.

Following the end of a snowfall, the city's priorities for plowing are the following:

1. Open up the hills and primary streets for emergency services and schools. 
2. Remove the snow that WSDOT plows to the middle of Basin Street, as required in an agreement with the State. 
3. Plow neighborhood residential streets, depending on the depth of the snow.

Read the full Ephrata Municipal Code 10.30 Snow Removal.

While plowing neighborhoods, the crews will plow down the center of the street. Both sides of the street will receive an equal amount of snow. The city understands that this can be frustrating, but it is the only way to fairly, effectively, and efficiently plow residential streets. 

It is illegal to push snow from any property onto a City street. This creates a hazard for emergency crews and the driving public; it slows down plowing efforts, and violator's will be subject to a $47.00 fine. 

If there is a significant snow event, move garbage cans and vehicles off roadway, if possible. If not, look for plow updates online, and for audible or visual signs that we are nearing your area.

For larger streets: Once plows have pushed snow completely to curb, citizens can park on plowed side to accommodate plowing on the opposite side. Do not shovel snow back into roadway after plowing; we will plow back to wherever it came from.

Please email Public Works directly. Staff will be assigned to review the section of road. 

For water emergencies during business hours, call City Hall 509-754-4601

Any water emergency outside of business hours, call MACC Dispatch 509-762-1160. MACC will contact the appropriate city personnel to help.

We understand that anyone can experience difficult times. Here is some information regarding the City of Ephrata's Utility Relief Program:

Utility Relief Application
Utility Relief Checklist
Past Due Resource Letter

There are a few organizations that also may be able to help:

OIC of Washington
(509)765-9206          

Salvation Army
(509)766-5875

Helping Hands
(509)754-5205

Hope Source:
(509)925-1448

Meters are read every March, May, July, September and November.

It may have been a meter read month. Those show the water consumption used for the previous 2 months.

Final Bills are normally requested and paid for by the Title Company. If not requested by the Title Co., the current owner is responsible for letting us know when the property is set to close with closing date and for paying any unpaid balance in full.

Transfer of water services
The new buyer is responsible to contacting City Hall to sign up for their new Utility Account. The new owner needs to come to City Hall with Closing Documents and Picture ID to do so. No Fee associated with that.

Please contact the Building Department for more information.

Payments for utility bills, on all accounts, are due the 20^th of the month.

The City of Ephrata offers an auto pay service for utility bills. 

Please complete the Application for Automatic Bill Pay Plan. Once completed and signed, submit the form and a voided check to the Utility Billing office. 

The completed application *with original signature* and voided check may be scanned and emailed to Kari Chornuk at kchornuk@ephrata.org for processing.

MerchantTransact also has a feature enabling you to set up Automatic Bill Pay. Please follow instructions listed on the MerchantTransact site.

The City of Ephrata Utility Billing to initiates debit withdrawals from the authorized checking or
savings account on the 20th of each month.