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,...
NYC DOT's mission is to provide for the safe, efficient and environmentally responsible movement of pedestrians, goods, bicycles and vehicular traffic on the streets of the city of New York. In addition, the streets serve as the access point for the subsurface infrastructure that provides water, sewer, power, and...
In order to apply for a permit, an applicant must first register with NYC DOT by submitting a completed Permittee Registration Application along with insurance and supporting documents. Although registration is a one-time process, registered applicants must keep all insurance and general information up to date.
The required documents include:
Completed Permittee Registration Application. Click here for a completed Permittee Registration Application. An application can also be found in Appendix B, Forms.
Copy of E.I.N. or Tax I.D. number as provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Original insurance certificates for Commercial...
New permittees must first email the Commercial General Liability Policy for review, email the policy to constructionpermits@dot.nyc.gov and await a response.
The completed Permittee Registration Application and other required documents must be submitted to the NYC DOT central Permit Office to complete the registration process....
There is one permit application form that covers Street Opening, Building Operations/Construction Activity, and Sidewalk Construction permits for non-governmental work. These applications can be submitted online using NYCStreets. Applicants who prefer to apply in person may do so using an Application for Roadway/Sidewalk...
Applicants must be registered with NYC DOT and have a Permittee ID Number, except in the case of a Sidewalk Repair Permit taken out by a homeowner, where the work will be performed by the homeowner.
Applicants must submit a completed permit application. Generally, applicants must provide business and contact information;...
Street Opening Permits are required for excavations or other work in a city street that disturbs the street surface.
Outlined below are the basic application procedures for Street Opening Permits. These are in addition to the "Common Requirements" listed at the beginning of this section. Additional requirements are contained in...
Building Operations/Construction Activity Permits apply to construction activities that take place within the street and are generally associated with construction work adjacent to the street. A valid permit issued by DOB is usually required in order to apply for permits in this category. Some of the activities covered include...
Sidewalk Construction Permits apply to any repairs, replacements or new sidewalk installations.
Outlined below are the basic application procedures for Sidewalk Construction Permits. These are in addition to the "Common Requirements" listed at the beginning of this section. Additional requirements are contained in Sections 2-02...
Permit Review is the process by which NYC DOT reviews permit applications and supporting documentation and makes determinations regarding the issuance of permits and permit stipulations. In some cases, applications and supporting documentation must be submitted in person, however the majority of permit applications may be...
All construction-related permits have expiration dates. If a permit is about to expire and the permittee has not completed the work, the permittee must apply for a permit renewal as all work must be performed pursuant to an active permit at all times. The permittee may apply for a renewal online, or in-person by accessing...
Canopy authorizations and permits are required to place a canopy over the sidewalk. Canopy placement must be adequate for public safety and must be suitable to the circumstances of the proposed canopy location and not interfere with the public use of the sidewalk.
Listed in the following paragraphs are some of the requirements...
Application for a canopy installation involves three major steps. First, the applicant must obtain authorization from the Highway Inspection and Quality Assurance (HIQA) unit for the placement of the canopy at the proposed location. Second, after obtaining HIQA's authorization, the applicant must obtain a permit to install the...
Each canopy maintenance permit expires one year after the date of issuance, unless revoked sooner by NYC DOT.
Applications for renewal of a canopy maintenance permit must be made at least one month prior to the permit expiration date and must be submitted to the Permit Office in the borough in which the canopy is located. All...
A hold is a "do not release" order that can be placed on permits or permittees to prevent the permit from being processed. Any given permit or permittee may be subject to one or more holds. Contact information pertaining to the release of holds by NYC DOT can be found in Appendix C, NYC DOT Contact Information.
Permit Office...
NYC DOT may revoke or refuse to renew a permit for any of the reasons listed below. The Highway Rules, Section 2-02(k) contains additional information.
For failure to comply with the terms or conditions of such permit, the Highway Rules or other applicable law in carrying out the activity for which the permit was issued;...
Suspension of Application Review— NYC DOT may suspend the review of applications for permits pending:
Payment by an applicant of outstanding fines, civil penalties or judgments imposed or entered against such applicant by a court or ECB;
Payment by an applicant of outstanding fees or other charges lawfully assessed by NYC DOT...
In addition to the application procedures for the four categories of permit types, there are some situations or street conditions that require special procedures. These include:
Emergency utility access cover openings and emergency street openings/excavations
Embargoes
Certain circumstances are considered to be emergencies, meaning situations that endanger the public safety or cause or are likely to cause the imminent interruption of service. Special and separate procedures govern emergency work: one for utility access covers (including those for "manholes," valve covers and grates) and one...
OCMC imposes construction embargoes* for significant special events including the New York City Marathon, parades, high profile projects and for the winter holiday season. All active permits in the affected area(s) are suspended during the dates and times of the embargo period and no new permits may be approved, unless a waiver...
PEU performs the initial review of all applications for building vault permits and licenses. A DOB-approved plan must be obtained and submitted to PEU with the application for a final approval and permit. Different from DOB, DOT plans requires 600 PSF live loads on all sidewalk doors, gratings, covers and vault structures.
If...
All applications for construction or repair of a transformer vault must be accompanied by an electric utility company layout, and must comply with the minimum clearance requirements for transformer vaults unless an approval or waiver is obtained from the appropriate agency or utility (more information is available in Appendix B...
Call 911 to report a gas odor or a gas leak.
Permits— In order to perform work in the street, it is necessary to obtain a permit from NYC DOT. Permits are available for various types of work, including Street Opening Permits, Building Operations/Construction Activity Permits, and Sidewalk Construction Permits. The requested...