Agency Roles on the City's Streets

This diagram summarizes the roles and responsibilities of city agencies and other entities related to the most visible aspects of the City’s streets. It does not include all agencies with street–related roles and is not intended to be a literal representation of appropriate street furniture locations. 
Multi-agency diagram showing roles on NYC streets, including DOT's responsibilities for signage, plazas, art, and more, alongside agencies like DEP, DOB, Parks, DSNY, and MTA.

Agency Acronyms 

  • CECM: Mayor's Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management
  • DCAS: New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services
  • DCLA: New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
  • DCP: New York City Department of City Planning
  • DCWP: New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
  • DDC: New York City Department of Design and Construction
  • DEC: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
  • DEP: New York City Department of Environmental Protection
  • DOB: New York City Department of Buildings
  • DOHMH: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  • DoITT: New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications
  • DOT / NYCDOT: New York City Department of Transportation
  • DSNY: New York City Department of Sanitation
  • EDC: New York City Economic Development Corporation
  • FDNY: New York City Fire Department
  • FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • FHWA: Federal Highway Administration
  • FTA: Federal Transit Administration
  • LPC: New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
  • MOPD: Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
  • MOR: Mayor's Office of Resiliency
  • MOS: Mayor's Office of Sustainability
  • MTA: Metropolitan Transportation Authority
  • NYCEM: New York City Emergency Management
  • NYCT: New York City Transit, an MTA agency
  • NYPD: New York City Police Department
  • NYSDEC: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
  • NYSDOT: New York State Department of Transportation
  • OCPD: Mayor’s Office of Capital Project Development
  • OMB: Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget
  • Parks: New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
  • PDC: New York City Public Design Commission
  • SAPO: The Street Activity Permit Office within the New York City Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management
  • SBS: New York City Department of Small Business Services
  • SHPO: New York State Historic Preservation Office
  • US ACE: US Army Corps of Engineers
  • US DOT: US Department of Transportation

The following are agencies, authorities, and other organizations that are frequently involved in the design of streets in New York City. This list is provided as a reference tool, for informational purposes only, and is not an exhaustive list.

Street Planning, Design & Construction

Street Capital Projects

  • DOT (initiation, scoping, conceptual design)
  • DEP (initiation, scoping)
  • EDC (initiation, scoping, conceptual design, final design, agency alignment & construction)
  • DDC (conceptual design, final design, agency alignment & construction)=
  • Parks (parks, greenstreets)
  • NYSDOT (state highways within New York City)
  • Other city, state, and federal agencies and authorities for individual, typically site–specific projects
     

Comprehensive Street Planning

  • DOT (for most public streets)
  • DCP (zoning, private streets, transportation studies)
  • NYSDOT (for state and federal routes)
     

Design of Stormwater Best Management Practices/Source Controls

Greenstreets

Inclusive Design

  • MOPD (Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities)
     

Land Acquisition

Non–Capital Street Projects

  • DOT (design and implementation)
     

Street Tree & Tree- Bed Design Standards

Reviews, Approvals & Permits

Coastal Erosion Permits

Construction on Sidewalk or in Roadway, Permits

Curb Cut, Existing Cellar Door, Marquee & Awning Permits

Environmental Review (CEQR/SEQR/NEPA)

  • Lead agency and involved agencies vary by project
     

Emergency Vehicle Access Review

Historic District Review

Light Pole Banner Permits

Newsracks

Review of Works of Art and Structures (as defined in Chapter 37, Section 854 of the NYC Charter)

Revocable Consents

Sewers, Catch Basins & Drainage Approval

Sidewalk Shed Permits

Sidewalk Work Permits

  • DOB (Builder’s Pavement Plan)
  • DOT
     

Special Event/Street Fair Permits

Street Tree Permits (including Tree Guards)

Street Vendor Permits

Vaults & Canopies: Permits

Water Quality Permits/Approvals

Wetlands Permits

Operation & Maintenance

Coordinated Street Furniture Franchise (bus stop shelters, newsstands, automatic public toilets, bike shelters)

Greenstreets Maintenance

Roadway Maintenance and Repair

Roadway & Retaining Wall Inspection

Sidewalk Maintenance and Repair

  • Property Owners
  • DOT (in certain zoning districts or through prior notice)
     

Street Cleaning, Snow Removal & Litter Removal

Street Operations (Street Lighting, Traffic Controls, etc.)

Supplementary Maintenance & Services, Street Furniture

  • SBS
  • BIDs (Business Improvement Districts)
     

Tree-Bed Maintenance

  • Parks (first two years from planting)
  • Property owners (after two years from planting)
     

Transit (Bus) Operations

Utilities

Enforcement

Enforcement of Construction Permits

Enforcement of Traffic Rules (including parking regulations)

Stoop Line Enforcement