3.0 Permits & Approvals

Utility companies, developers, contractors, and excavators who undertake any type of construction that will impact the street or occupy it with equipment, structures or other installations must obtain a permit.

About this Chapter

New York City is brimming with construction activity—from the building of skyscrapers, rehabilitating and reconstructing of bridges and roadways, to the digging of new subway lines. At the foundation of the city that never sleeps lays a network of streets that helps keep New York and New Yorkers moving forward. In order to maintain world-class streets, permits must be obtained for the work performed in the street.

The term "street" means a public street, avenue, road, alley, lane, highway, boulevard, concourse, parkway, driveway, culvert, sidewalk, crosswalk, boardwalk, viaduct, square or place, except those streets adjacent to any waterfront property designated as a marginal street on a city map. This chapter describes the different types of permits that are issued by the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT), the one-time permittee registration process, the application procedure for each permit type, and special circumstances and procedures.