Street Occupancy Permit
Street Occupancy Permits are required for any use of a street right of way that is prohibited by the Street Traffic Bylaw or posted regulations. The street right of way encompasses streets (including lanes, parking lanes, and travel lanes) and boulevards (including sidewalks).
Street Occupancy Permits are only issued for areas that are essential for the required street usage. Impacts on traffic (vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists) and surrounding properties must be kept to a minimum and may require consultation. Access for pedestrians and cyclists must be carefully planned for. Depending on the nature of the street use, approval for Street Occupancy Permits may require a Traffic Management Plan (TMP), a damage deposit, proof of insurance or copies of consultation correspondence.
Some examples of street uses that require a Street Occupancy Permits are:
- Disposal bins
- Moving pods/trucks
- Street festivals
- Block parties
- Road closures
- Development related construction activity (such as crane lifts, concrete pours, staging and deliveries)
- Crane lifts
- Recreational vehicles
Due to an unusually high volume of requests and limited staff resources, Street Occupancy Permit applications now require 5-10 business days to process. Please make sure to review all of the requirements below before submitting your application. You can help the review process by ensuring that your application is complete, and that your Traffic Management Plan has been carefully prepared by a qualified traffic management professional. Applications that are incomplete (missing required information) and that include Traffic Management Plans that need significant adjustment will require additional review time (possibly exceeding 10 business days) and may delay your project. City staff will contact you to request any necessary changes to your permit application and/or arrange payment of permit fees once the permit is ready to be issued.
new 2023 FEE SCHEDULE
As of January 1, 2023, updated fee pricing will be in effect and charged on all new Street Occupancy Permit applications received after this date.
Street Occupancy Permits received prior to January 1, 2023 but have an effective start date in 2023 will be subject to the new 2023 rates.
Street Occupancy Permits (SOP) that require a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) or other conditions will be subject to a $107.00 Application Fee. This fee applies to the initial SOP application and/or renewal or extension of an existing SOP.
Street Occupancy Permits that require the use of on-street parking spaces will be subject to the Temporary No Parking Sign installation fee.
2023 Street Occupancy Permit Fees
- Street Occupancy Permit Application Fee1
(Applicable to permits requiring a TMP) - $107.00 per initial permit - Street Festival - $159.00 per block
- Parade - $39.00 /block
- Block Party (local street only) - $39.00 /day
- Construction, maintenance and/or ancillary works on a street
or boulevard - $54.00 per block face /day - Installation, maintenance and/or removal of utilities on a street
or boulevard (excluding City Works) - $54.00 per block face /day - Hoarding and/or staging area for private development on a street
or boulevard - $54.00 per block face /day - Parking of moving truck, unattached trailer or container on a street - $54.00 /day
- Temporary No Parking Sign Installation - $54.00 per block face
- Rental of each metered parking stall - $22.50 /day
- Rental of each on-street parking space, or portion thereof (5 meters length or longer), in a pay station zone - $22.50 /day
- Parking of recreational vehicle on a street - $11.00 /day2
- Parking of unattached recreational or utility trailer on a street - $11.00 /day
- Redemption of Impounded Chattel - $32.00
- Pre and post construction inspection fee - $54.00 per inspection.
A block face is defined as the area between the property line and the road centerline for a distance of 1 block. The block is defined by the block number or as the area between 2 cross streets. (The fee will be applied when there is occupation of a full or partial block.)
The rental of parking meters is required if the Street Occupancy permit involves the affected parking meter space. For pay station zones, the charge is calculated per vehicle space needed. (A typical space is approx. 6 meters).
Temporary No Parking signs are required for all SOPs that require the use of on-street parking space and subject to the applicable installation fee. Having these signs allows the City to remove by courtesy tow any vehicles parked at the location when the signs are put up. Vehicles parked after the installation of signs will be towed/ticketed at the owner's expense.
Fees are subject to applicable taxes.
1The Street Occupancy Permit (SOP) Application Fee only applies when a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) or other conditions are required when applying for an initial SOP, SOP renewal or extension under the following type of work:
- Construction, maintenance and/or ancillary work on street or boulevard.
- Installation, maintenance and/or removal of utilities on a street or boulevard (excluding City Works).
- Hoarding and/or staging area for private development on a street or boulevard.
2First 48 hours are free.- Street Occupancy Permit Application Fee1
Any street usage that will impact the movement of vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists will require a Traffic Management Plan (TMP). Street Occupancy Permits will not be issued until the TMP has been approved. Approval of TMPs will be conditional on some or all of the requirements indicated below. The required elements must all be shown clearly on the TMP.
TMPs need to address the movement of vehicles, pedestrians including people with disabilities and cyclists. They do not have to be done to scale, but should be reasonably accurate proportionally. Signs, cones, barricades and traffic control persons (TCPs) should all be clearly indicated. Street names should be clearly labelled and affected lanes and driveways must be shown. Road markings and medians should also be shown. Sidewalks will need to be indicated if pedestrian movements are impacted, and any sidewalk, bike lane, or greenway that is impacted must have a provision included to ensure safe, convenient passage for pedestrians. Critical dimensions relating to the work area and traffic control are to be shown.
For vehicular traffic TMPs need to address through traffic, turning movements, on-street parking and driveway access/egress. When parking meter spaces are to be occupied, the meters and meter numbers are to be identified on the TMP. Parking lanes can be used to provide additional travel lanes if motor vehicle volumes on the street dictate that capacity is a priority. If volumes are low and parking is at a premium, single lane alternating traffic may be approved with parking maintained in the curb lane. If driveways or on-street parking are to be impeded there must be consultation with those affected. When single lane alternating traffic is in place TCPs will be needed to monitor vehicles exiting from driveways and curbside parking.
Pedestrian traffic includes ambulatory persons as well as those using wheelchairs or mobility assistive devices. If sidewalks or crosswalks are impacted, temporary measures will be required to deal with pedestrian movements. These measures could include reasonable detour or a diversion. Any temporary measures should retain the existing level of accessibility. Extended sidewalk closures will not be permitted if site hoarding can be constructed to provide safe pedestrian passage. If pedestrian traffic is not affected this should be clearly noted on the TMP.
A detour would divert pedestrians to the opposite side of the street or some other alternate route. Signage would be required at the previous legal and safe crossings for both directions. If there are no destinations on the block the signs should read “SIDEWALK CLOSED”. If there are destinations within the block that are still accessible from one end or the other the signs should read “SIDEWALK CLOSED AHEAD”. A proper closure would then have to be in place at the work site.
While not preferred, short term sidewalk closures may be permitted when pedestrian volumes are low and work can be stopped so pedestrians can pass safely with minimal delays.
Temporary sidewalk diversions may be approved provided pedestrian safety is not compromised and accessibility for people with disabilities is maintained. The temporary diversion could be in the form of an asphalt or wooden walkway, or re-routing pedestrians onto the roadway. Using the roadway would require proper separation between pedestrians and vehicles, and accessible transitions between the sidewalk and the roadway.
If pedestrian access to a specific destination is prevented or delayed, there must be consultation with the impacted property and accommodation as necessary.
Cyclists must be assisted in passing through closure areas safely. If travel lanes are significantly reduced TCPs should stop vehicle traffic to allow cyclists to pass. When construction results in the closure of a marked bike lane and cyclists on the route must use regular travel lanes, “SHARE THE ROAD” signs are to be installed as part of the TMPs.
Where construction occurs on a designated greenway or bikeway and a detour is required, the detour must be clearly signed, and cyclists must be detoured to routes that are safe. Movement at intersections must be carefully planned and signage clearly indicated on the TMPs.
The Traffic Control Manual for Work on Roadways produced by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is aimed primarily at highway conditions, and should be used only as a reference when preparing TMPs for urban environments. Photocopies or cited figure numbers from the manual are not acceptable as TMPs.
These guidelines 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.
Construction Work Zone Traffic Control Guidelines for Pedestrians and Cyclists
A Prime Contractor must be named for any work being undertaken on City Streets and a completed Prime Contractor Designation Form must be received by the City before a Street Occupancy Permit will be issued.
A printable copy of the Prime Contractor Designation form is available here.
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 $5 million liability with the City of New Westminster named as additionally insured.
- 2023 Street Occupancy Damage Deposits
- 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 (e.g., house relocation traversing multiple blocks) - $10,000.00
- Major works with significant risk of damage to asphalt road surfaces, concrete road and/or sidewalk surfaces, boulevard (e.g., house relocation traversing multiple blocks) - $20,000.00
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 the final inspection. Development projects that have already provided the City with deposits as part of their Works and Services Agreement are not required to provide additional damage deposits for street occupancy permits, unless there are extraordinary circumstances.
All fees are subject to applicable taxes.
As of April 3rd, 2023, the City is waiving the Street Occupancy Permit (SOP) fee for the first block party each calendar year held on each block of a local street (see map). This temporary fee waiver will remain in place throughout the remainder of 2023 and 2024 unless Council chooses to extend it. Any subsequent block parties on the same block within each calendar year will be charged the SOP fees as outlined in the Engineering Fees & Rates Bylaw.
Although the fee is waived, organizers are still required to obtain an SOP prior to hosting a block party. Only residents of the block where the party is being held, including those in corner properties that adjoin the block regardless of their street address, may apply for a street occupancy permit. Businesses and other non-local resident entities are ineligible to receive block party SOPs.
Block parties are intended to be a neighbourhood activation so all residents living on the block must be invited to the party. Private functions are therefore ineligible to receive a block party SOP. Please refer to this document on ideas to make your block party a success and other related guidelines. 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.
On the day of the event, it will be the event organizer’s responsibility to place barricades and ensure that a minimum 3-m wide travel lane remains clear at all times for emergency vehicles and residents wishing to access or leave their driveways. Access for the general public traversing through the party on foot, bike or other mobility device must be maintained at all times as well. Please refer to this document for information on how to set up the barricades and signs on the day of your block party.
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.
Engineering staff retain the right to deny block party SOP applications on local streets where there may be extenuating road safety, transportation network or other impacts from road closures. Block parties will not be permitted on any collector or arterial streets, the designated Major Road Network or highways.
A Neighbourhood Support Form must be completed for any Block Party application. A minimum of 3 neighbours must be included on the form.
A printable copy of the Neighbourhood Support Form can be found here.
Engineering Department
511 Royal Avenue
604-527-4592
Printable Application Form [PDF] - 596KB
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