News Flash

Mayor Joines’ Statement on House Bill 459

Mayor Allen Joines today released the following statement on House Bill 459:

“City Council members and I have learned that House Bill 459 was filed yesterday to deannex Smith Reynolds Airport from the city of Winston-Salem. This action would resu...

Ribbon Cutting Scheduled for Phase Two Improvements to Salem Lake

City officials will hold a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 1 to celebrate the completion of phase two improvements to Salem Lake.

The improvements, which began in July 2021, were part of the 2018 bond referendum, in which about $2.9 million we...

Dam! Creek Week is finally here

Forsyth Creek Week, from March 18 to 26, is nine days of ways to enjoy, learn about, and help our waterways. Creek crawls and wetlands walks. Bike rides and segway glides. Community clean-ups, paw paw plantings, library events, and more.

Information Session on Upcoming City Capital Projects

The city’s M/WBE program and the Office of Business Inclusion and Advancement are holding a virtual information meeting Wednesday, March 30 at 6 p.m. to brief prime contractors and minority- and women-owned businesses about upcoming projects tha...

Police Accepting Applications for Youth Citizens’ Police Academy

The Winston-Salem Police Department is now accepting applications online for the Youth Citizens’ Police Academy. This program is being offered to young men and women, from the sixth through 12th grades, who are interested in learning about the W...

Positive Path Program Accepting Applications

The city is accepting applications for its Positive Path Program for city residents through April 2, 2023. Classes will begin on Monday, April 24.

The Positive Path Program is a temporary part-time training program that offers exposure to science, technolo...

Understanding Compliance for Professional, General and Other Services

Minority and women-owned businesses can receive assistance with the process of bidding for professional, general and other services through free training that will be available online on Tuesday, March 28 at 10 a.m.

The training will cover the overall proc...

Tour a Water Treatment Plant: March 22 at 5:30 p.m.

Our local tap water is tops in the nation and this Forsyth Creek Week there’s a free water treatment plant tour for all ages at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22. Come to Thomas Water Treatment Plant at 1201 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive near W...

Habitat for Humanity First Responders Build

As a part of our sponsorship we will host fundraisers to assist with the cost of building the home. Each agency has their own fundraising page to share with team members and community members interested in supporting our efforts. Habitat is in the process...

Free Leaf Mulch is Back!

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities has announced the annual leaf mulch giveaway for Forsyth County homeowners. Free leaf mulch will only be available on a first-come, first-served basis starting Good Friday, April 7 and continuing while supplies last&...

File a Police Report Online

Citizens can now file a police report online using WSPD's online reporting portal. If a citizen has been a victim of certain incidents and the details of the event meet certain criteria, the online portal may be used. To use this system, the following mus...

City Holding Small Business Plan Competition; Information Meeting Scheduled

The city is holding its Small Business Plan Competition again in 2023 and will hold an information meeting for entrepreneurs interested in participating on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. in the City Hall Committee Room at 101 N. Main St. An online session wil...

Winston-Salem Recreation App Puts the City’s Parks at User’s Fingertips

The Winston-Salem Recreation app gives users information about the city of Winston-Salem’s over 80 parks and greenways. Citizens can find specific amenities such as dog parks, ball fields and tennis courts. They can reserve shelters, as well as ...

Collection System Improvement Program

Sewage spills (aka: sanitary sewer overflows) in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County have been drastically reduced in recent years. This is primarily due to proactive measures by Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities as part of their Collection System Impro...

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New Winston-Salem Police Chief Announced

City Manager Lee Garrity announced that he is appointing Assistant Chief William Penn, Jr. to be Winston-Salem’s new police chief. The appointment is effective immediately. A formal swearing in ceremony date will be announced soon.

Penn was selec...

Council Member Adams Appointed to NLC Committee

WASHINGTON —  Winston-Salem Council Member and Mayor Pro Tempore Denise D. Adams has been appointed to the National League of Cities (NLC) 2023 human development federal advocacy committee. Adams was elected to a one-year term ...

City Hires Leader for the Behavioral Evaluation and Response Team

The city has hired Kristin Ryan as director of the new Behavioral Evaluation and Response (BEAR) Team, a pilot program that offers an alternative response to non-violent mental health calls made to law enforcement and other first responders. 

The ...

“Young Dreamers” Honored

The City Council and the Human Relations Commission honored two city residents this week as the 2023 recipients of the Martin Luther King Jr. Young Dreamers Award.

The Young Dreamers Award recognizes two emerging or proven young adult city residents betwee...

Winston-Salem Police Department has joined Neighbors

We are excited to announce that the Winston-Salem Police Department has joined Neighbors!  While this app will not be monitored by law enforcement 24/7, WSPD can see crime and safety related information posted on the Neighbors app.  So t...

Police Awarded Strategies in Policing Innovation Grant and Implement Real Time Crime Center

The Winston-Salem Police Department was recently awarded $700,000 through a U.S. Department of Justice / Bureau of Justice Assistance grant opportunity.  Eligibility for this competitive, open-bid solicitation included local, state, and federal&a...

Citizen Fingerprinting Location and Services By Online Appointment Only

The Citizen Fingerprinting services has been moved from the Public Safety Center on 725 N. Cherry St. to the Alexander R. Beaty Public Safety Training and Support Center located at 1200 N. Patterson Ave. Citizens MUST schedule an online appointment for th...

City Manager Lee Garrity To Retire June 23

City Manager Lee Garrity has informed Mayor Allen Joines and the City Council that he is retiring effective June 23. At his retirement Garrity, 61, will have served the citizens of Winston-Salem for more than 32 years, including almost 17 years as city ma...

National Park Service Approves Downtown Winston-Salem Historic District

The National Park Service approved the proposal to create a Downtown Winston-Salem Historic District and place it on the National Register of Historic Places. 

The district is bounded on the east by Chestnut Street and on the west by Broad Street....

Leaf Collection Update

The 2022 leaf collection season began on Nov. 7 in quadrant four, which is the area roughly bounded by New Walkertown Road on the east, Salem Parkway on the south, and Reynolda and Yadkinville roads on the west.

Collection has proceeded clockwise by quadra...

Independent Contractor Agreement (ICA) Revised

Please use the updated version of the Independent Contractor Agreement.  It was revised on December 12, 2022.  You can find the new document on the Purchasing division page in the Employee Center. 

The ICA should have all of the ...

Public Input Sought on New Walkertown Road Recommendations

The city’s Department of Transportation is asking citizens to view and respond to the results of a recently released New Walkertown Road traffic study via an online survey. The survey results will supplement comments received at a public meeting...

Employee Equity Survey Results Available for Review

The results of the 2022 Employee Equity Survey are now available.

The survey responses and employee concerns presented herein demonstrate a wide range of equity concerns that have since been addressed and/or are being addressed by the Human Resources Depar...

Employee Equity Survey Results Available for Review

The results of the 2022 Employee Equity Survey are now available.

The survey responses and employee concerns presented herein demonstrate a wide range of equity concerns that have since been addressed and/or are being addressed by the Human Resources Depar...

New Winston-Salem Collects App & Online Tool Launched

The city has launched a new app and online tool that takes the guesswork out of curbside collections, be it garbage, recycling, yard waste, brush or bulky item collection.

The app is called Winston-Salem Collects and is free for Apple and Android. It sends...

New Smart Meters are WaterSavvy

Watch our 3-minute introduction to WaterSavvy: https://youtu.be/2blmArJo7E4.

Since late 2020, contractors for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities have been installing new “smart” water meters as part of a systemwide infrastructure upgrade. Customers rec...

Drink Up! Our Local Tap Water Surpasses Federal Requirements

For more than twenty years, drinking water in Forsyth County has met or surpassed all water quality standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency. That excellent record continues today with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities 2021 Wa...

Public Education Request

Services

Report Smoke Alarm Issue                                 

Report Non-Emergency Fire Issue

Fire Pits and ...

Click or Call - At Your Service!

Need help with WSFC Utilities services?

• Pay Bill or Billing Questions: cityofws.org/paywater    *DRIVE-THROUGH service is available at two locations & there's also a night deposit. See the In Person tab on the table.

• Start, Stop or...

Can the Grease to Prevent Sewer Backups

As family and friends gather and we prepare for holiday feasts, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities reminds you to Can the Grease. 

Fortunately, it’s easy to avoid the mess and expense of a raw sewage backup. Just pour or scrape cooki...

Eviction Diversion Packet Offers Resources for Those Facing Eviction

A group of community organizations convened by the Human Relations Department has created an Eviction Diversion Packet with information and resources to help residents facing eviction. 

The packet is available in English and in Spanish and is post...

African American Heritage Initiative Offering Virtual Orientation Starting on Juneteenth

In conjunction with Juneteenth, the city’s African American Heritage Initiative Committee is posting this Saturday an online “virtual orientation” to better assist city residents who want to become involved with the initiative’s mission of preserving the ...

City Edition - March 2021

Read the newest edition of City Edition, plus sign up to receive the next one in your inbox.

Inside this month’s edition:

• Bulky Item Collection Now Underway
• Forsyth Creek Week Returns March 20 - 28
• Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Certification Web T...

Donate to those in need

Several area nonprofit agencies are generously providing financial assistance for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities customers with past-due water and sewer bills who have suffered financial hardship due to the pandemic.

If you’d like to contribute to ...

City Edition - December 2020

Read the newest edition of City Edition, plus sign up to receive the next one in your inbox.

Inside this month’s edition:

• City Conducting Resident Satisfaction Survey
• Joines Authorizes Enforcement of Cooper’s Emergency Orders
• Most of Winst...

City Edition - October 2020

Read the newest edition of City Edition, plus sign up to receive the next one in your inbox.

Inside this month’s edition:

• On-Street Parking Enforcement Back in Effect
• Public Safety Agencies Holding Drive-Through “Trunk or Treat”...

City Edition - August 2020

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Inside this month’s edition:

• Winston-Salem Cancels the Carolina Classic Fair
• Fire Department Offering "Virtual" Citizen Fire Academy
• New Liberty S...

City Edition - July 2020

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Inside this month’s edition:

• Old Greensboro Road Bridge Fully Closed
• Virtual Workshops Scheduled for Pedestrian Plan
• Community Meal Program Continues With N...

Winston-Salem Wins Four Telly Awards

NEWS RELEASEMarketing and CommunicationsJune 5, 2020

A WSTV profile of Police Capt. Rick Newnum and a public service announcement for social medial about holiday collection changes were honored during the 2020 Telly Awards.

“Behind the Badge &...

City Edition - June 2020

Read the newest edition of City Edition, plus sign up to receive the next one in your inbox.

Inside this month’s edition:

• $470.6 Million Budget Proposed for 2020-2021
• Brush Collection, Code Enforcement, Yard-Waste Fee Collection Resume
• Phase 2 Chang...

Upcoming City Bond Issue Earns Highest Possible Credit Ratings

NEWS RELEASEFinancial Management ServicesMay 29, 2020

All three credit rating agencies have assigned AAA ratings – their highest possible ratings -- to the $89 million in general obligation bonds the city is scheduled to sell in June. The high ra...

$470.6 Million Budget Proposed for 2020-2021

NEWS RELEASEBudget and Evaluation OfficeMay 21, 2020

City services to residents would remain at current levels, but the city would implement a variety of belt-tightening measures to close a $13.4 million shortfall driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, under the...

City Edition - May 2020

Read the newest edition of City Edition, plus sign up to receive the next one in your inbox.

Inside this month’s edition:

• Winston-Salem Wins $30 Million Grant to Transform Cleveland Avenue Homes
• City Panel Awards 23 COVID-19 Response Fund Grants
• Joi...

No Wipes in Pipes!

Toilet paper shortages have exposed the growing problem of wipes clogging our sewer system. As people run out of toilet tissue they may turn to other products. Unfortunately, “flushable” wipes are falsely labeled and are part of multip...

City Edition - April 2020

Read the newest edition of City Edition, plus sign up to receive the next one in your inbox.

Inside this month’s edition:

• COVID-19 NEWS
  • Stay-at-home Order in Effect
  • Bulky Item Collections Suspended
  • City Allocates 1 Million to Help Economic Victims of...

City Edition - March 2020

Read the newest edition of City Edition, plus sign up to receive the next one in your inbox.

Inside this month’s edition:

• Bulky Item Collection Begins March 2
• Information Sessions on Downtown Two-Way Street Conversions 
• Learn More about Cit...

City Edition - February 2021

Read the newest edition of City Edition, plus sign up to receive the next one in your inbox.

Inside this month’s edition:

• City Soliciting Voluntary Participation in Survey
• Fire Department Consultant’s Report Delivered
• Virtual Programs Scheduled in in February...

City Edition - February 2020

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Inside this month’s edition:

• City Observing Black History Month
• Fairgrounds Unveils Logo for Carolina Classic Fair
• Nominations Sought for Walk of Fame
• Regist...

Prevent Frozen Pipes

When temperatures drop, it’s time to protect your water pipes. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities encourages customers to consider how freezing water can damage home plumbing systems. Unprotected pipes can crack or break, resulting in floodi...

City Edition - January 2020

Read the newest edition of City Edition, plus sign up to receive the next one in your inbox.

Inside this month's edition:

• Local Governance Study Commission Holding Public Information/Input Sessions
• Learn More about City Recreation Opportunities at Open House...

Outstanding Women Leaders Committee Accepting Scholarship Applications

NEWS RELEASEMarketing and CommunicationsNov. 21, 2019

The Outstanding Women Leaders Program Committee is accepting applications for its 2020 Future Outstanding Women Leaders Scholarship, to be awarded next spring. Applications must be submitted by Jan. 31....

Applications Available for City of Winston-Salem University

NEWS RELEASEMarketing & CommunicationsOct. 2, 2019

The city is accepting applications for the next class of City of Winston-Salem University, to be held for 12 weeks starting Jan. 30, 2020. This free program gives citizens a better understanding of cit...

Applicants Sought for Community Appearance Commission

NEWS RELEASECity SecretarySept. 3, 2019

Mayor Pro Tempore Vivian H. Burke is accepting applications from citizens interested in filling a vacancy on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Community Appearance Commission.

The vacancy must be filled by a person who...

Funeral Arrangements for Bill Stuart Announced

NEWS RELEASEMarketing and CommunicationsAug. 6, 2019

Funeral Arrangements for Bill Stuart Announced; Memorial Book Available for Citizens to Express Their Condolences

The funeral for retired City Manager Bill Stuart will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 10...

Bond Projects

Check the progress of bond projects voters approved in 2014 and 2018.

City Wins Employee Safety Awards From N.C. Department Of Labor

Risk Management - July 1, 2019

City departments and facilities received 32 gold and 11 silver awards in the NC. Department of Labor’s annual safety awards program. The awards recognized city departments or city facilities with 10 or more employee...

Disparity Study Information Now Online

The City of Winston-Salem is working on a disparity study, led by MGT Consulting Group, to determine if a gap exists between the use and availability of minority- and women-owned businesses in the city's relevant marketplace.

MGT will be studying expenditu...

Think Orange Roundtable Leads To New Partnership For Feeding Kids

Business Inclusion and Advancement - June 28, 2019

Thanks to a connection made through the city's Think Orange campaign, 280 children in Winston-Salem are receiving meals during summer weekends through a new partnership between the Forsyth Backpack Program...

What Can You Recycle?

Find a listing of what can and can't be recycled.