News Flash

Use this online services portal to search for and print public safety incidents, crash reports, arrests, and access other useful information. These features are intended to provide convenience and greater ease of use.

The City of Sanford has released the 2026 Resident’s Guide to Municipal Services, a tool designed to help residents better understand how the City functions, the programs and services it provides, and where to find additional information.

While the City website is the most comprehensive resource available to residents, the guide provides an overview of each customer-facing department, spotlights helpful tools, and answers frequently asked questions.

“We hope the Resident’s Guide to Municipal Services serves as a clear, go-to resource to help our residents quickly find the information they need,” says Kelly Miller, Public Information Officer for the City of Sanford. 

The guide is printed annually. Hard copies are available now at these Sanford locations, while supplies last:

• City of Sanford Customer Service (upper level of Sanford Municipal Center), 225 E. Weatherspoon Street
• Sanford Police Department (lower level of Sanford Municipal Center), 225 E. Weatherspoon Street
• Buggy Company Building, 115 Chatham Street
• Visit Sanford Welcome Center, 229 Carthage Street
• Lee County Library main branch, 107 Hawkins Avenue

Though the print run is limited, the guide is updated quarterly and shared on our website under Resident Resources.

For more information or to request bulk copies, contact Miller at 919-777-1048 or kelly.miller@sanfordnc.net.

The Sanford ABC Board is now accepting submissions for its annual Underage Drinking Prevention & Education Award.

For 2026, 20 applicants will be selected to receive a $3,500 scholarship. Award winners will be selected by a panel of judges at Central Carolina Community College.

All students in grade 12 residing in Sanford/Lee County are eligible to apply for the award, including private, charter, and home school students. Each entrant must be under the supervision and direction of a teacher/Sunday school teacher.

Students who have family members employed by the NC ABC Commission or the Sanford ABC Board are not eligible to participate.

The deadline to apply is April 20, 2026. All information is shared here.

E. Weatherspoon Street will be closed to through-traffic between Hawkins Avenue and Third Street for approximately six months starting Monday, February 23, 2026.

The closure will allow contractors to expand the culvert (or tunnel) under Weatherspoon Street that allows Little Buffalo Creek to pass through. Once complete, the expanded culvert will be better equipped to accommodate excess stormwater collected by the creek, reducing the risk of flooding along its path.

The project is funded by a $2.6 million Flood Mitigation Assistance grant from the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Flood Resiliency Blueprint and N.C. Emergency Management for infrastructure projects to reduce flooding and associated damage.

When not in use for a rain event, pedestrians can walk through the expanded culvert to access the Sanford Municipal Center – a feature of the Sanford Central Green concept. The expansion project includes adding a pedestrian path from First Street to the culvert.

The project is a critical component of the City’s flood management plan for downtown Sanford. Expanding the culvert helps mitigate flooding and connects the municipal center to the Sanford Central Green.

Future flood mitigation improvements include restoring the Little Buffalo Creek’s natural meandering path. The natural path will help slow stormwater and give the expanded culvert time to channel the water more effectively.

Contractor activity is expected to begin next week. Once the road is closed, traffic will be detoured to Charlotte Avenue and Third Street. Access to the Sanford Municipal Center will not be affected.

For more information about the project, contact Mary DePina, City of Sanford Civil Engineer II and project lead, at 919-777-1121, or visit our projects hub.