DigNet of New York City and Long Island
New York state law requires professional excavators within Long Island to notify DigNet at least two working days prior to beginning any mechanized digging or excavation on a site — and failure to do so is punishable by fine from the Public Service Commission.
Although not required by law, homeowners in New York City and Long Island are also encouraged to call DigNet before beginning any digging projects on their properties due to the safety concerns.
Home improvement projects that may warrant a phone call to DigNet include the installation of mailboxes or fences; landscaping, tree planting and any other renovation project that involves digging. Homeowners are also encouraged to verify that professional excavators hired to dig on their properties have followed the law and placed a call to DigNet before beginning work.
A person shall not, either at his own expense, or on behalf of another person, make, construct or reconstruct, locate or relocate, relay or repair a driveway or curb cut abutting a highway without first obtaining a Right of Way Permit from the Department of Highways. All curb cuts and driveways shall be constructed as shown by the detailed plan and specifications showed in the booklet.
All aprons and curbs cuts must be constructed in concrete.
Each application for a permit shall be signed and acknowledged by the applicant and shall set forth a fully dimensioned site plan showing the existing and proposed driveways, curbs and sidewalks of the subject property and on each side of the subject property.
The Department of Highways shall review each application and shall issue such permit upon compliance by the applicant with the provisions of the Town Code provided that he shall determine that:
The issuance of a permit herein does not constitute a waiver of any requirements respecting the subject property which may exist pursuant to statute, local law or ordinance.
For a residential or noncommercial curb cut permit, the application fee shall be $55 for each single-car-width driveway (10 foot maximum) or $75 for each double-car width driveway (18 foot maximum). For commercial permit, the application fee for each commercial-use driveway shall be $300.
Each curb cut and driveway for noncommercial use constructed under a permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall be constructed in accordance with the detailed plan-and-specification exhibit provided in this chapter and in accordance with the following additional specifications:
Curb cuts for connected or U-shaped driveways shall comply with the following requirements:
An existing curb cut may be supplemented by not more than one additional single-width ten-foot curb cut, provided that the proposed additional curb cut be located not less than 18 feet from the existing curb cut at the curbline, and the application otherwise meets all other requirements.
An existing 10-foot curb cut for an attached garage may be widened to an 18-foot curb cut when the application otherwise meets all other requirements herein.
Each curb cut and driveway for commercial use constructed under a permit issued shall be constructed in accordance with the detailed plan-and-specification exhibit provided and in accordance with the following additional specifications:
Each permit shall authorize the Commissioner of Highways to complete the repair, construction or reconstruction of driveway entrances and curb cuts whenever the Commissioner finds reasonable cause to conclude that the applicant fails, refuses or neglects to complete such repair, construction or reconstruction. The Town shall be reimbursed for the cost of such repair, construction or reconstruction by assessment against and collection from the lots or parcels of land where such work was performed or services rendered for so much of the actual and complete costs as incurred upon and from each lot or lots, in the manner provided for the cost of public improvements by Article 15 of the Town Law.