Street Occupancy Permit
A Street Occupancy Permit is required to allow the temporary closure of a street, including any portion of a road, lane, path, sidewalk, or any other portion of a City right-of-way.
Street Occupancy Permit Application require 5-10 business days to process.
Please review all requirements below before submitting your application.
As of January 1, 2024, updated fees will be in effect for any street occupancy permit that has an effective start date in 2024.
Street Occupancy Permits that require the use of on-street parking spaces will be subject to the Temporary No Parking Sign installation fee.
Fees are subject to applicable taxes.
Street Occupancy Permit Application and Traffic Management Plan Review Fee – Level 1
- $120.00 per initial permit
Street Occupancy Permit Application and Traffic Management Plan Review Fee – Level 2
- $240.00 per initial permit
Street Occupancy Permit Application and Traffic Management Plan Review Fee – Level 3
- $500.00 per initial permit
Street Festival
- $164.00 per block
Parade
- $40.00 per block
Block Party (local street only) – First Permit (applicable in 2023 and 2024 only)
- No fee – one per calendar year
Block Party (local street only) – Additional Permit(s) for the same block in the same calendar year (applicable in 2023 and 2024 only)
- $40.00 per block
Construction, maintenance and/or ancillary works on a street or boulevard on a:
- Local Street
- $56.00 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
- $86.00 per block face per day
Installation, maintenance and/or removal of utilities on a street or boulevard (excluding City Works) on a:
- Local Street
- $56.00 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
- $86.00 per block face per day
Hoarding and/or staging area for private development on a street or boulevard on a:
- Local Street
- $56.00 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
- $86.00 per block face per day
Closure of existing sidewalk, multi-use pathway, protected bicycle lane, with no alternate provision
- $50.00 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
- $10.00 per block face per day
Parking of unattached commercial trailer or container on a street
- $56.00 per day
Parking of unattached recreational or utility trailer on a street
- $11.30 per day
Parking of recreation vehicle on a street
- First 48 hours free, then $11.30 per day thereafter
Rental of each metered parking stall or equivalent metered zone
- $33.75 per day
Temporary No Parking Sign Installation and Removal
- $77.00 per block face
Temporary Barricade Use
- $60.00 per intersection
Pre-, post-, and other construction inspection fee
- $62.00 per inspection
Redemption of Impounded chattel
- $33.00
All applicants need to complete the Project Category Assessment to determine level of impact the project will have on the road network.
Please note, the impact of your project on the road network will impact the cost required to obtain a street occupancy permit. Project impact can be determined by completing this scoring assessment. Please complete the scoring assessment to the best of your ability, as it is to be submitted with your application and will be reviewed by City staff.
Any street usage that will impact the movement of vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists will require a traffic management plan. Street occupancy permits will not be issued until the traffic management plan has been approved.
Traffic management plans must be submitted with your application for review and permitting.
Please refer to the Traffic Management Plan Information Sheet for more details.
Traffic Control Guidelines for Pedestrians and Cyclists
These Construction Work Zone Traffic Control Guidelines for Pedestrians and Cyclists are intended to help you develop work zone traffic management plans that provide pedestrians, cyclists, and those on mobility aids with safe, convenient, and accessible routes through construction zones.
Temporary Bus Stop Relocation
If your project requires the relocation of a bus stop, please consult the TransLink Website and complete the Temporary Transit Changes Request Form.
- For short-term requests (1-29 days) please give at least three (3) business days notice or you will be subject to late fees.
- For long-term requests (30-89 days):
- Bus stop closures only: a minimum of ten (10) business days notice is required or you will be subject to late fees.
- Road closures: a minimum of twenty (20) business days notice is required or you will be subject to late fees.
- For major requests (90+ days):
- Bus stop closures only: a minimum of ten (10) business days notice is required or you will be subject to late fees.
- Road closures: a minimum of five (5) months advance notice is required or you will be subject to late fees.
As a note, street occupancy permit applications for disposal bins, moving trucks and other similar items do not require traffic management plans.
Insurance
Proof of insurance is required for any work which 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.
Prime Contractor
A Prime Contractor must be named, and a completed Prime Contractor Designation Form must be received by the City before a Street Occupancy Permit can be issued.
Prime Contractor is typically the General Contractor for a given project.
Damage Deposits
Damage deposits are collected as part of the Street Occupancy Permit process for City infrastructure and the amount subject to any cost incurred by the City will be refunded after final inspection.
Work Type
Associated Deposit
Minor works with limited risk of damage to asphalt road surfaces
- $2,500.00
Coring, test holes, drilling on asphalt or concrete road and/or sidewalk surfaces
- $2,500.00 per location
Moderate works with risk of damage to asphalt road surfaces, concrete road and/or sidewalk surfaces, boulevard
- $10,000.00
Major works with risk of damage to asphalt road surfaces, concrete road and/or sidewalk surfaces, boulevard
- $20,000.00
You may apply online using the Street Occupancy Permit Online Application Form.
You may also apply using the Printable Street Occupancy Application Form and send via email to sop@newwestcity.ca
Submit the following documents with your application:
- Project Category Assessment Form
- Traffic Management Plan
- Proof of Insurance
- Prime Contractor Designation Form
Please allow 5-10 business days for staff to review your Street Occupancy Permit application.
You will be invoiced for the occupancy fee once project level is confirmed by staff in step 5. Payment must be received from the applicant before the permit can be issued. There will be no refunds if you do not perform the work on the scheduled dates.
You may now implement your approved traffic management plan and begin your work. City staff will be checking for compliance.
If you are not complying with your approved traffic management plan, staff may:
- Provide guidance on site to adjust the traffic management plan
- Issue a warning
- Issue a ticket
- Cancel the Street Occupancy Permit whereby the occupied transportation infrastructure must be cleared and reopened for use by road users.
A Street Occupancy Permit (SOP) is required for all block parties. For 2024, the City is waiving the SOP fee for the first block party each calendar year held on each block of a local street (see map). Any subsequent block parties on the same block within each calendar year will be charged the SOP fees as outlined above, and in the Engineering Fees & Rates Bylaw.
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. Block parties are intended to be a neighbourhood activation so all residents living on the block must be invited. To ensure that residents of the block agree to hosting a party, the applicant must complete this Neighbourhood Support Form showing consent from 3 neighbours living on the same block. City staff may contact these individuals to confirm their support for the event.
For the 2023-2024 period, there is no fee for one Street Occupancy Permit per calendar year per eligible block, however the City requires you to purchase event insurance covering the host’s general liability with a minimum of $5 Million and tenant’s legal liability with $1 Million coverage and 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.
More information on hosting a Block Party can be found here.
Work is permitted from 7am-8pm Monday through Friday, 9am-6pm on Saturdays. Work is not permitted on Sundays or Statutory Holidays.
Additional time restrictions may be determined by City staff.
If you have any questions, please contact the Engineering Department or visit in person at City Hall.
Address: 511 Royal Avenue
Telephone: 604-527-4592
Email: sop@newwestcity.ca
.jpg)