Are NYC Sidewalks Public and How Can I Apply for Sidewalk Repair Permit?

NYC Sidewalks remain dedicated for the public use. Whether you have your property in a residential area, within a commercial hub or at a landmark site; maintenance and cleaning of these sidewalks remain the duty of the property owner.


NYC Sidewalks remain dedicated for the public use. Whether you have your property in a residential area, within a commercial hub or at a landmark site; maintenance and cleaning of these sidewalks remain the duty of the property owner.

For this reason, many owners opt for concrete-build sidewalks. As they are affordable yet reliable. However, due to the extensive use, these sidewalks might become broken with time. Starting from minor crack filling and resurfacing to entire concrete slab replacement – you might need any sort of repair service depending on the extent of damage caused. In this case, one must quickly hire sidewalk renovation services in order to avoid getting sidewalk Violation notice from DOT. 

There are plenty of NYC sidewalk repair contractors present in the field. Yet, one must only hire the one with innovative construction techniques, a skilled workforce, and affordable solutions. 

The extent of a sidewalk portion for a property owner.

Property lines, sometimes, extending from the building lines also merge into the sidewalks. Consequently, making that particular portion of the sidewalk a fundamental part of your property. Despite, sidewalk extending from the building line to 18 inches into the street also remains included. 

While the activities allowed on your sidewalk might differ depending on its residential or business use, the basic rules are the same. That is, the sidewalk in front of any property must remain clean, intact and passable at all times so to ensure the safety of the pedestrians. 

Obtaining a Sidewalk Repair Permit.

So, for any sort of sidewalk repair or construction work, it’s a legal requirement to obtain Sidewalk Construction Permit first. 

Price.

Currently, the official cost for obtaining a sidewalk repair permit is 70 USD for every 300 linear feet of the sidewalk (for any one property). It includes and covers the administrative cost of the permit and also the cost of sending out an inspector to perform a dismissal inspection. 

Validity.

A sidewalk repair permit is valid for a 75-day period. However, one must know that the permit does not extend the 75-day duration to start repairs i.e. repairs have to be made within this time period. 

Application and Documents.

DOT accepts/processes applications received by mail for sidewalk repair by private homeowners. However, you can also call 311 and request a permit online. On the other hand, if you have hired a contractor for the provision of sidewalk repair services, then the contractor must file for the permit.

Here’s how to do it.

•    Fill out and sign the Application required for acquiring Sidewalk Repair Permits.
•    Attach a notarized Affidavit of Ownership with it, verifying that the person applying for the permit is the homeowner.
•    A completed application document along with an affidavit, a stamped self-addressed envelope and a certified check should be made out to the New 
York City Department of Transportation for obtaining a permit. 

For detailed information on task-specific sidewalk permits, you can consult the NYC’s Department of Transportation Website. 

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