2024 Holiday Embargoes: Snow Falls and Construction Stalls
The weather is getting colder, and you know what that means: grab your sweaters and hot chocolate, and prepare for your construction projects to be impacted by another round of holiday embargoes!
Every year, New York City overflows with pedestrian activity during the holiday season as parades, retail stores, restaurants, and events draw in tourists and locals alike. During this busy period, the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) releases an annual embargo, restricting construction activity and permit issuance.
This year, the embargo will be in effect from Friday, November 15, 2024 through Thursday, January 2, 2025. The construction ban will encompass all working hours, from 6AM to 11:59PM. To view the affected streets, make sure to check out the map provided by NYCDOT.
Without the approval of both NYCDOT and the Office of Construction Mitigation and Coordination (OCMC), all routine work within the specified areas must stall. Emergency waivers are available for certain projects, while non-emergency projects may apply for a permit.
How do I obtain a permit?
During this year’s holiday embargo period, you can expect considerably relaxed restrictions compared to previous years. There is no longer a deadline for submitting HE permit applications, so don’t stress about the fast-approaching dates!
To obtain an HE permit, non-emergency projects must identify critical reasons to resume construction on their applications.
All permit applications during this time, including requests to work on embargoed streets, will be charged a $135 Holiday Embargo (HE) application fee. If this fee is not paid within 5 days, the application will be denied by NYCSTREETS, an automated application review system administered by NYCDOT.
However, paying the fee does not guarantee that the permit will be granted, so it’s important to be confident your project will be accepted before applying.
Conclusion
November and December are some of NYC’s busiest months — but the holiday cheer doesn’t need to interfere with your project! It’s vital for contractors and project managers to reach out to qualified professionals during this time, to effectively navigate the time restrictions and avoid unnecessary penalties.
If you are concerned about the upcoming embargo, or if you require assistance with any building code or zoning issues, the experts at Outsource Consultants, Inc. are equipped to help you.
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