Concrete Stoops and Sidewalks in New York
Crumbling stoops and lifted sidewalk flags are everyday concrete jobs in New York's older neighborhoods, from Long Island villages to upstate cities. The footing and the permit matter as much as the concrete.
Footings below the local frost line
A new stoop needs footings below the frost line your municipality publishes. In New York those figures range from 36 inches in Malverne to 48 inches in the Town of Ithaca, so ask the building department for yours rather than relying on a neighbor's job.
Sidewalks in the right-of-way
Public sidewalks usually sit in a town, village or city right-of-way. In the Town of North Hempstead, a road opening permit from the Highway Department covers work in the roadway, curb strip and sidewalk, and other municipalities have their own versions.
Along a Westchester County road, work in the right-of-way needs a permit from the county's Department of Public Works in White Plains, which takes notarized applications. Ask the contractor to confirm who owns the road before they price the sidewalk section.
The call before digging
Under 16 NYCRR Part 753, excavators must contact the one-call center at least two working days and no more than 10 before work starts. New York 811 covers the five boroughs and Long Island; UDig NY covers everywhere else. Hand tools are required within the tolerance zone around a marked line.
Stoops and Sidewalks questions
How deep should stoop footings be in New York?
Below your municipality's published frost depth. Code tables posted by Malverne, Peekskill and the Town of Ithaca list 36, 42 and 48 inches respectively.
Do I need a permit to replace a sidewalk in New York?
Usually, because the sidewalk is in the public right-of-way. In the Town of North Hempstead, for example, a road opening permit covers the sidewalk and curb strip.
How much notice does a New York one-call request need?
At least two working days and no more than 10, excluding weekends and holidays, under Part 753. Utilities then have two working days to mark their lines.
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