Street Occupancy Permits

If you want to temporarily close or limit traffic on any public path, including streets, sidewalks, and lanes, you need a Street Occupancy Permit (SOP). Permit applications take five to ten business days to process, and your project may need additional lead time for other factors.

Please review all steps below before submitting your application. Note that block parties have a simplified process, see Block Parties section below.

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Work Hours

Work is allowed from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday through Friday, and from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm on Saturdays. Work on major roads must be completed between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. Work is not allowed on Sundays or statutory holidays. Additional time restrictions may be put in place by City staff.

For construction work near schools, permit holders must pause all work and fully reopen the roads and sidewalks during pick up and drop off hours.

To conduct work outside these hours, you need a noise bylaw variance, which must be approved by Council. This process can be impacted by Council’s meeting schedule. Allow for an additional four to six weeks of lead time for variance approval.

Permit Application Process

Complete the Project Category Assessment (PDF) to determine the level of impact your project will have. The fee to review your application will vary depending on your project’s category — Level 1, 2, or 3.

Consider the entire footprint of your project, including the work zone, staging/laydown areas, and contractor parking if applicable.

Save this document to be submitted with your application.

Any project that will impact the movement of vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists needs a traffic management plan (TMP). TMPs must incorporate the BC Traffic Management Manual for Work on Roadways fundamentals and should be prepared by a qualified traffic management professional.

Applications for things like disposal bins, moving trucks, and RVs do not require TMPs.

Pedestrian and Cyclist Considerations

TMPs must provide pedestrians, cyclists, and those using mobility aids with safe, convenient, and accessible routes through construction zones. They must be clearly marked, protected from hazards, and may require traffic control personnel. If a temporary route is needed, you must provide temporary curb ramps and any other accessibility features that were present in the original route.

For guidance, please consult the Construction Work Zone Traffic Control Guidelines for Pedestrians and Cyclists (PDF).

Temporary Bus Stop Relocation

If your project requires the relocation of a bus stop, please consult the TransLink page on Temporary Traffic Changes and complete their Temporary Transit Changes Request Form. Note TransLink’s requirements for how much notice you must give.

Damage Deposits

If construction or roadwork is being planned, review the damage deposit that applies to your project in the table below. Deposits will be collected during the application review process and refunded after a final inspection, less any cost incurred by the City.

Work Type	Associated Deposit
Minor works with limited risk of damage to asphalt road surfaces	$2,600.00
Coring, test holes, drilling on asphalt or concrete road and/or sidewalk surfaces	$2,600.00 per location
Coring, test holes, drilling on asphalt or concrete road and/or sidewalk surfaces	$10,250.00
Major works with risk of damage to asphalt road surfaces, concrete road and/or sidewalk surfaces, boulevard	$20,500.00

Insurance

Proof of insurance is required for any work that has the potential to cause injury or damage of a value greater than the damage deposit. The insurance should consist of a minimum $5 million liability with the City of New Westminster named as additionally insured, and proof of insurance should be submitted with your application.

Prime Contractor

If work is being planned, a prime contractor must be named and a completed Prime Contractor Designation Form (PDF) must be received by the City before a Street Occupancy Permit can be issued. A prime contractor is typically the general contractor for a given project.

Apply online using the Street Occupancy Permit Application online form.

Street Occupancy Permit Application

Alternatively, you can print and complete the Printable Street Occupancy Permit Application (PDF) and scan or take a picture of it and email it to sop@newwestcity.ca.

Whether applying online or emailing, attach the following completed documents to your application:

Project Category Assessment Form
Proof of Insurance
Traffic Management Plan, if noted as required in Step 2
Prime Contractor Designation Form, if work is being planned
Neighbourhood Support Form, if the permit is for a block party

Please allow five to ten business days for staff to review your application.

Fees

You will be invoiced for the application review fee depending on your Project Category Level, which will be confirmed by staff. Payment must be received before the permit can be issued.

There will be no refunds if you do not perform the work on the scheduled dates.

As of January 1, 2026, the following fees are in effect for any SOP that has an effective start date in 2026 and beyond. Fees are subject to applicable taxes.

SOPs that require the use of on-street parking spaces will be subject to the Temporary No Parking Sign Installation fee.

Application Type	Fee
Street Occupancy Permit Application and Traffic Management Plan Review Fee – Level 1	$128.00 per initial permit
Street Occupancy Permit Application and Traffic Management Plan Review Fee – Level 2	$256.00 per initial permit
Street Occupancy Permit Application and Traffic Management Plan Review Fee – Level 3	$528.00 per initial permit
Street Festival	$173.00 per block
Parade	$42.00 per block
Block Party (local street only)	No fee
Construction, maintenance and/or ancillary works on a street or boulevard on a: Local Street	$59.50 per block face per day
Construction, maintenance and/or ancillary works on a street or boulevard on a: Collector, Great Street, MRN street, cycle route, greenway	$91.00 per block face per da
Installation, maintenance and/or removal of utilities on a street or boulevard (excluding City Works) on a: Local Street	$59.50 per block face per day
Installation, maintenance and/or removal of utilities on a street or boulevard (excluding City Works) on a: Collector, Great Street, MRN Street, cycle route, greenway	$91.00 per block face per day
Hoarding and/or staging area for private development on a street or boulevard on a: Local Street	$59.50 per block face per day
Hoarding and/or staging area for private development on a street or boulevard on a: Collector, arterial, Great Street, MRN street, cycle route, greenway	$91.00 per block face per day
Closure of existing sidewalk, multi-use pathway, protected bicycle lane, with no alternate provision	$53.50 per block face per day
Closure of existing sidewalk, multi-use pathway, protected bicycle lane, with accessible alternative provisions for foot traffic and people using various wheeled micro-mobility devices	$10.25 per block face per day
Parking of unattached commercial trailer or container on a street	$59.50 per day
Parking of unattached recreational or utility trailer on a street	$12.30 per day
Parking of recreation vehicle on a street	First 48 hours free, then $12.30 per day thereafter
Rental of each metered parking stall or equivalent metered zone	$36.00 per day
Temporary No Parking Sign Installation and Removal	$81.00 per block face
Temporary Barricade Use	$63.50 per intersection
Pre-, post-, and other construction inspection fee	$102.50 per inspection
Redemption of Impounded chattel	$35.00

Factors That May Impact Your Start Date

Complex or long-duration closure requests
Work zone conflicts with other nearby approved work
Missing or incorrect documentation
All parking regulation signs must be installed 72 hours in advance to be enforceable
Planning bus detours and installing temporary bus stop infrastructure via TransLink requires a minimum of 72 hours notice or more, depending on the length of request
Installation of No Parking signs and hooding of parking meters by City crews requires five business days
You must give at least two weeks’ notice to the public for major road impacts and one weeks’ notice for all other impacts
A noise variance permit can take four to six weeks to obtain from Council, if needed

Block Parties

A Street Occupancy Permit is required for all block parties. Block parties can only be held on a local street or cul-de-sac. Check if your street is eligible on the Local Street Map (PDF). Only residents of the block where the party is being held, including corner properties that adjoin the block, may apply for an SOP for a block party. All residents living on the block must be invited.

The City will deliver barricades and appropriate signage to your location as part of your approved permit.

Event insurance: You must purchase event insurance covering the host’s general liability with a minimum of $5 million coverage and tenants’ legal liability with $1 million coverage, naming the City of New Westminster as a third party on the policy. The insurance can be purchased from any insurance agency and a Certificate of Insurance must be provided to City staff before the permit will be issued. Once the permit has been conditionally approved, you will be required to obtain and submit a Certificate of Insurance.
Neighbourhood Support: You must complete a Neighbourhood Support Form (PDF) showing support for the party from three neighbours living on the same block. City staff may contact these individuals to confirm their support for the event.
Event Guidelines: Review and adhere to the Block Party Guidelines.
No Fee: There is no fee for a block party SOP.

Review the Block Party Requirements above and then submit your online application.

Street Occupancy and Block Party Permit Application .

Alternatively, you can print and complete the Printable Street Occupancy Permit Application (PDF) and Neighbourhood Support Form (PDF). Then scan or take a picture and email them to sop@newwestcity.ca.

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact Engineering Services or visit in person at City Hall.

Address: 511 Royal Avenue
Telephone: 604-527-4592
Email: sop@newwestcity.ca