What Precautions Should I take Before Breaking a City-Owned Curb or Sidewalk?
5 February 2022
You’re about to do a major renovation or new construction and you’re thinking of breaking the municipal sidewalk to build a driveway, for example. Before doing so, it is important to know how to proceed and what regulations are in place in your city regarding public sidewalks. The following article will attempt to provide you with information on this subject to help you avoid certain problems.
When a Curb Cut is Needed
One of the most common reasons for breaking a municipally owned curb is to create a driveway. This is the drop in the sidewalk that gives access to your private property and the ends of which are raised, similar to the hull of a boat. This difference in level allows you to access your parking lot with your vehicle, for example. Most cities require this type of entrance to access your property. In other words, you cannot drive your vehicle onto a sidewalk that does not have this difference in level.
Request for a Permit
Obviously, before doing this type of work, you will need to obtain the necessary permit since zoning regulations require fair and equitable use of public property. In fact, each city has its own rules regarding the number, location and width of driveways. The city has several requirements such as street parking and the installation of street furniture including trees, streetlights, benches, fire hydrants, etc. They must also consider snow removal activities and the safe cohabitation of pedestrians and vehicles. You will have understood that the creation of this type of entrance must be done according to various imperatives and provisions imposed by the city. The same is true if you need to break the sidewalk for another reason than the creation of a driveway. A permit application must therefore be filed with the city before any modification of the sidewalk. The inspector will proceed with the analysis of the application by verifying the certificate of location, the exterior development plans of your property or your construction or renovation project. He will also analyze your needs and the documents submitted must be very detailed and precise to properly evaluate all applicable rules.
In all cases, before breaking a sidewalk, ask the municipality about the rules in effect. They may differ from one municipality to another. Even if this type of procedure may seem cumbersome or complex, it is always better to do things in the right order from the start than to start all over again once the work is done. This will save you a lot of trouble and possibly fines or additional costs for redoing the work according to the regulations in effect. Don’t hesitate to contact your municipality, they will be happy to give you the information you need to complete your project.
