The Department of Public Works provides services through two internal divisions, Engineering and Operations. 

The Engineering Division oversees the design and construction of public roads and sewers through the oversight of development applications for adherence to current construction standards and practices.  This is accomplished through the plan review process and issuance of permits for work within existing and future public right-of-way, for site grading and erosion control measures and for the construction of public infrastructure. The Engineering Division is also responsible for plan review and permitting of all franchise utility companies operating within the City, Special Events, Block Parties, Sidewalk Vendor, Sidewalk Mobile Vendor and any other type of work or event taking place in the City owned right-of-way. Transportation and traffic engineering issues are also addressed in the Engineering Division including the proper placement of traffic control measures, including stop signs, speed zones, traffic signals, school zone crossings and parking within neighborhoods.  The Engineering Division also designs and implements a pavement overlay and maintenance program which keeps the street surfaces in good condition.

The Operations Division is grouped into three sections, a Street Section, a Sanitary and Storm Sewer and Surface Water Management (SWM) Section, and the Traffic Section.  The Street group maintains most public right-of-way throughout the City with the following activities: pavement sealing and patching, ditch and culvert cleaning, tree pruning and chipping for pedestrian and vision clearances, autumn leaf pickup, barricade maintenance and street sweeping.  The Sewer and SWM group inspects and cleans most of the underground sewer mainlines and manholes on an annual scheduled maintenance program.  The Traffic group maintains most traffic signals, street lighting, street and traffic control signs, pavement striping and markings, City owned parking lots and parking meters throughout the City. Other agencies working with established inter Governmental Agreement's (IGA's) with the City of Hillsboro Public Works Department are responsible for maintaining the public right-of-way, sewer mainlines and manholes, signals, street lights, street and traffic control signs and pavement striping not maintained by Public Works Operations.