During a Halloween celebration in NYC, a young person dressed as a fire fighter walks on a wide sidewalk in front of townhouses.
  • Maintenance
    • Mutual Defects
  • Inspections & Violations
    • Discover of Sidewalk Violation
  • Repair
    • Picking a Contractor
    • Sidewalk Construction Permits
    • Distinctive Sidewalks
    • NYC DOT's Expedited Sidewalk Repair Program
    • Repairs Performed by NYC DOT
  • Dismissal Inspections
  • Battling a Sidewalk Violation
    • Request a Re-Inspection
  • Other Sidewalk Questions

New York City has over 12,000 miles of sidewalks. Smoothen, even sidewalks complimentary of defects and debris provide a safe place for New Yorkers to walk, employ a wheelchair, or push a stroller or shopping cart. NYC DOT is committed to making our pedestrian infinite rubber and accessible for all.

Maintenance

NYC DOT's goal is to make the City'due south sidewalks safe for pedestrians and help prevent injuries caused past defective sidewalks. The City replaces more two meg square feet of sidewalk a yr, mostly on Urban center-endemic holding and in residential neighborhoods with predominately one, ii and three family homes.

Sidewalks should be free of cracks or holes and have an even surface. NYC relies on belongings owners to maintain the sidewalk adjacent to their property, including repairs and removal of snow, ice, or debris.

Property owners are responsible for installing, repairing and maintaining sidewalks bordering their backdrop (Section 19-152 of New York City'south Administrative Code).

Property owners are potentially liable for personal injuries caused past their failure to maintain the sidewalk free of defects (Section 7-210 of the New York City's Administrative Code). Nosotros encourage property owners to perform repairs to their sidewalk before a condition becomes a defect which may result in a Notice of Sidewalk Violation.

Mutual Sidewalk Defects

Sidewalk defects that can exist cited with violations are listed in department 19-152 of the New York City Administrative Code.

Some of the common defects that could result in a violation:

an orange cone rests on top of a sidewalk that has collapsed near the corner.

Collapsed Sidewalk

A sidewalk has an uneven surfacing creating a trip hazard.

Trip Adventure

A sidewalk square is sunken in at the corners, creating an improper slope.

Improper Gradient

Close up of a sidewalk piece that has a corner filled in with concrete, creating a patchwork of sidewalk materials.

Patchwork

A utility cover protrudes from a sidewalk's surface creating a hardware trip hazard.

Hardware Trip Take a chance

Problems Caused by Tree Roots

If sidewalk problems are caused by tree roots, the holding may be eligible for repair by the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) nether their Trees and Sidewalks program. DPR besides offers free consultations for holding owners doing piece of work around tree roots. Cut or shaving the roots of City-endemic trees is strictly prohibited.

NYC does not charge owners of one, two or three family properties for the repair of a sidewalk damaged past a Urban center tree or tree roots.

Remove a Lien Due to City Tree Damage

The City will no longer issue a sidewalk violation for one, two and three family properties that have sidewalk damage acquired solely by Urban center trees.

NYC DOT has completed the review of all outstanding Notices of Sidewalk Violation for one, ii and three family backdrop and determined which were caused solely by Urban center street copse and volition cancel the lien for whatsoever that see the criteria.

Missing or Defective Curbs

Property owners are encouraged to repair or replace missing or lacking curbs. NYC DOT may repair or replace missing and defective curbs at no cost to the property owner when performing sidewalk piece of work related to a violation or when in that location is an active Curb Repair Contract.

Bug Caused by Others

If a sidewalk was damaged past a utility company or other contractor, the holding owner must certificate the damage and attain out to the company who made the harm for repair. Search permits that NYC DOT has issued for an address or area. Claims against utility companies should be filed with their respective claims departments.

Inspections

NYC DOT inspects sidewalks throughout the city to ensure that they are safe. If inspectors discover an unsafe sidewalk status, a Notice of Sidewalk Violation volition exist issued to the property owner.

Notices of Sidewalk Violation

A sidewalk violation is an official observe issued past NYC DOT to a property owner, stating that the sidewalk is defective.

The City problems sidewalk violations to encourage property owners to repair their sidewalks to enhance public safety. In that location is no fine associated with a violation. A re-create of the notice is filed with the County Clerk and remains on file until the Clerk receives official notification from the Metropolis that satisfactory repairs have been made. A violation may complicate selling or refinancing a belongings.

A property owner has 75 days to brand a repair after a Notice of Sidewalk Violation has been received. If a belongings owner does non perform repairs within 75 days, NYC DOT may have a contractor perform the work, and the Section of Finance volition bill the property owner pursuant to Section 19-152 of the New York City Administrative Code.

If a property owner received multiple Notices of Sidewalk Violation, the newest violation supersedes all previous notices. Every flag (sidewalk square) marked with a number on the Preliminary Inspection Written report (the sketch included with the violation) must be replaced and any defects must be corrected.

Counting the 75 Days

The 75 days begins when the Notice of Sidewalk Violation is received by the property owner as indicated on the certified postal service receipt. When the notice is not delivered by mail, the sidewalk violation will be posted on the property, and the posting date is the start of the 75 days.

The 75 day menses is the aforementioned throughout the yr. A contractor should be scheduled to perform the repairs as weather permits.

Repair

To repair a sidewalk, a belongings possessor should:

  • NYC Sidewalks: A Property Owner's Guide to Address Sidewalk Defects (pdf)
  • Download a checklist for repairing a sidewalk (pdf)
  • Hire a licensed contractor
  • Obtain necessary permits
  • Review Guidelines for the Design of Sidewalks (pdf) and Commercial District Sidewalk Design Standards
  • Request a dismissal inspection when repairs are completed

Picking a Contractor

Hire a contractor who is familiar with NYC DOT specifications for sidewalk repair. Offset past searching the Department of Consumer Affairs' (DCA) database of licensed contractors, to find a contractor or verify that the contractor is licensed.

Once a contractor has been selected, you may contact NYC311 to find out if there are any consumer complaints pending against them. DCA'due south Quick Tips on Hiring Home Improvement Contractors DCA'southward Consumer Guide to Dwelling house Comeback (pdf)

Sidewalk Construction Permits

Before sidewalk repairs begin, be certain that the holding owner and/or contractor has all necessary permits and information. Annotation: a sidewalk permit does non extend the 75 day period to kickoff repairs.

Currently, the price of a sidewalk repair allow is $70 for every 300 linear feet of sidewalk for any ane belongings. Multiple permits may exist needed if work will be performed at a corner property or through lot. Sidewalk Construction Permit via nycstreets.net NYC DOT Chapter two Highway Rules (pdf) DDC'south Standard Details of Construction (pdf) NYC DOT Instructions for Filing Plans & Guidelines for the Design of Sidewalks (pdf)

Commercial Commune Pigmented Concrete Sidewalk Standards

NYC has a standard for pigmenting and scoring sidewalks to encourage an attractive, uniform advent in the urban center's busiest commercial areas (Affiliate 2 § 2-09(f)(four) of the Highway Rules). Learn more about pigmented concrete in the Street Design Manual

Pigmented Sidewalk Rules Apply in Certain Commercial Districts

Pigmented concrete material must be used on sidewalks in front of all lots in commercial zoning districts C4-4 through C4-vii, C5 and C6. This includes special purpose districts where such zoning is the underlying control, such as the Special Midtown District. Search NYC zoning maps by address, intersection or revenue enhancement cake and lot

Existing sidewalks in these commercial districts do not demand to be replaced to come across the standard. These may remain as they are, unless replacement of more than l percent of the sidewalk in front of a lot is planned, then pigmented physical must be used. Property owners may choose to use the pigmented physical standard if replacing less than 50 percent of their sidewalk.

The standard does not apply to landmarked celebrated districts.

Public Design Commission (PDC) approving

Public Design Committee (PDC) approval is non required if the pigmented concrete is being used in the prescribed commercial districts (C4-4 to C4-7, C5 and C6). Outside of those districts information technology is considered distinctive and requires a Distinctive Sidewalk Maintenance Agreement with NYC DOT and PDC approving.

Properties within these commercial districts may nevertheless apply for distinctive sidewalks if they so choose, though this is discouraged by NYC DOT and PDC.

Distinctive Sidewalks

If you currently have a textile other than standard concrete or wish to suggest a cloth other than standard concrete for the sidewalk in front of your property, there are additional reviews required before you may begin construction or repair work. For properties with an existing physical sidewalk, refer to the standard sidewalk material process (pdf) More than information nearly sidewalk materials in the Street Pattern Manual

NYC DOT'southward Expedited Sidewalk Repair Programme

repair truck repairing sidewalk

NYC DOT offers the Expedited Sidewalk Repair Program where the City will fix the lacking sidewalk and bill the property owner for the work. Nether this plan, holding owners will be responsible for all repairs (including tree related defects) and volition be billed at a premium charge per unit. After repairs are performed, no further inspection is required.

Some properties are not eligible for expedited repair, these include:

  • Properties within community boards where contractors are currently performing work
  • Properties that are scheduled for uppercase reconstruction
  • Commercial backdrop
  • Properties with four or more residential units
  • Properties with vaulted sidewalks
  • Properties with distinctive sidewalk treatments

Expedited Sidewalk Repair Brochure - Bronx (pdf) Expedited Sidewalk Repair Brochure - Brooklyn (pdf) Expedited Sidewalk Repair Brochure - Manhattan (pdf) Expedited Sidewalk Repair Brochure - Queens (pdf) Expedited Sidewalk Repair Brochure - Staten Island (pdf)

Vaults

A vault could include basement space for a building, under a sidewalk. Fixing the sidewalk over a vault may require considerable structural work. If the defective portion of the sidewalk is over a vault, the holding owner must repair the sidewalk privately. The City volition not repair sidewalks over vaults or other structures.

Repairs Performed by NYC DOT

If sidewalk defects are not repaired within 75 days after a Detect of Sidewalk Violation is issued, NYC DOT may perform the sidewalk repair or rent a contractor to perform the piece of work.

The property possessor will receive a formal notification before the City's contractor arrives to perform the work. A consultant or representative of the Metropolis will photograph the sidewalk to document the status before structure, marking the sidewalk flags that must be replaced, and then perform the necessary repair work.

After all defects take been repaired, the holding owner will receive a bill from the Department of Finance and NYC DOT volition notify the Canton Clerk'southward Office to remove the violation from their records.

Cost of NYC DOT Sidewalk Repairs

To judge the price of the repair, multiply the estimated foursquare footage shown on the Preliminary Inspection Study (PIR) past the cost per square foot shown on the letter (concrete price is subject to change) that came with the Notice of Sidewalk Violation. If any of the area to be repaired is a driveway, apply the seven inch (7") concrete cost for that area, otherwise use the price of four inch (iv") concrete. The final bill may reverberate boosted repairs required to remove all defective conditions.

If whatsoever sidewalk flag on the PIR (sketch) is marked with an "X", NYC DOT may replace the sidewalk flag at no charge to the belongings possessor. A final decision regarding the replacement of such flag will be made past a Department of Design and Construction (DDC) engineer at the time of construction.

The holding owner has 90 days to pay the beak earlier interest is added. Afterward xc days, involvement will accrue and a monetary lien will be placed confronting the property. The contractor's piece of work is guaranteed for 18 months from the end of the contract catamenia.

To request a payment plan for a sidewalk repair by the Urban center, visit a Department of Finance Business organization Center or contact NYC311 and select Sidewalk Repair Payment Plan.

Battling Work Done past the Urban center

If the City performs sidewalk repairs and the holding owner is not satisfied with the quality of the piece of work, the amount of work that was done, or the accurateness of the measurements used to summate the bill, the property owner should make an entreatment to the Department of Design and Structure (DDC).

  1. Contact a DDC Borough Office via NYC311 or DDC'south website. Phone calls and personal visits will non be considered appeals.
  2. If a property owner is not satisfied with DDC's response, file a Notice of Merits with the Office of the Comptroller.
  3. If the Comptroller's Office does non observe in the property owner's favor, the holding owner may file a Petition of Appeal at the New York State Supreme Courtroom, Small Claims Assessment Review Role. The petition forms are provided upon asking, at no cost, by the County Clerk'southward role. To be eligible, the property possessor must allege that at to the lowest degree 30 days take passed since the Notice of Merits was presented to the Role of the Comptroller and that they did not make a determination or denied the claim.

*Important: All of the above procedures must be followed in the exact order outlined above.

If the City contractor amercement a sidewalk through its own negligence, the contractor must make the repairs at no cost. Please contact the DDC Borough Part or contact NYC311 and select DDC Services and Projects.

Claims for impairment allegedly done by the Metropolis should exist filed with the Office of the Comptroller within 90 days of the damage. Contact NYC311 for more information most How to File a Merits Confronting the City.

Dismissal Inspections

Once the sidewalk repairs are done, contact NYC311 to request a Sidewalk Violation Dismissal Inspection.

Have all of the following information ready:

  • Permit number
  • Property accost
  • Block and lot number
  • Violation number
  • Email address and telephone number of the property owner

NYC DOT volition ship an inspector to verify that the work has been satisfactorily completed. Brand sure that the unabridged sidewalk is visible earlier the inspection.

Contesting a Sidewalk Violation

Request a Re-Inspection

If the sidewalk defect on the Notice of Sidewalk Violation does not match the sidewalk condition, a belongings possessor may request a re-inspection within 75 days of receiving the notice.

Belongings owners should review the Preliminary Inspection Report (PIR) to check the width and other dimensions of the property. Check the location of copse, signs, utility caps, cellar doors, or other features. If the property details do not match the PIR, contact NYC311 to Appeal a Sidewalk Violation. NYC DOT will review the asking and schedule a re-inspection within 180 days of the entreatment.

A re-inspection is a second inspection of the sidewalk by a different inspector who does non take access to the written report made by the outset inspector. A belongings owner will be notified by mail at least five days before the re-inspection date. Inspectors will not come up to the door, every bit they are prohibited from seeking out property owners when conducting re-inspections. This is the final inspection. The results of the re-inspection will be sent to the belongings possessor.

Note: If the violation was issued to the wrong property possessor, please contact NYC311 to Appeal a Violation.

Other Sidewalk Questions

For other questions about sidewalks in New York City, or to share comments on the services of NYC DOT'south sidewalk inspectors or private contractors, please contact NYC DOT online, NYC311, or mail a letter to:
Sidewalk Program
NYC Section of Transportation
55 Water Street, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10041