§ 2-14 Miscellaneous.
RCNY § 2-14
(a)Public pay telephones.
(1)An application for a permit for public pay telephones and related equipment shall be made to the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DOITT) pursuant to Chapter 4 of Title 23 of the Administrative Code and pursuant to 67 RCNY Chapter 6.
(2)A street opening permit for installation of a public pay telephone line or stanchion shall be obtained from the Department, pursuant to 34 RCNY § 2-02, after obtaining a permit from DOITT. Fees shall be paid pursuant to 34 RCNY § 2-03.
(3)A street opening permit shall be obtained for the removal of a public pay telephone stanchion and the restoration of the sidewalk. Such sidewalk restoration shall be performed in accordance with the Standard Specifications and Standard Detail Drawings.
(b)Banners.
(i)The Commissioner may issue permits for the display of banners promoting cultural exhibits and events or public or historical events which foster tourism and/or enhance the image of the City. The Commissioner may issue permits to business improvement districts (BIDs), local development corporations (LDCs) or other organizations that have received Commercial Revitalization Program funds (CRP fund recipients) from the Department of Business Services within the past year for the display of banners within the BID, LDC or CRP fund recipient's area that are designed to provide information about such BID, LDC or CRP fund recipient's area to the general public.
(ii)No person shall install, place, affix or attach a banner on any property within the jurisdiction of the Department without first obtaining a permit from the Commissioner.
(iii)No person shall install, place, affix or attach a banner on any property within the jurisdiction of the Department which contains a sponsor trade name or logo without the specific prior authorization of the Commissioner.
(iv)Vertical banners shall be not more than 3 feet wide and not more than 8 feet in height. All such banners shall have 6 slits to allow air passage. Two banners per pole are allowed only if they collectively do not exceed 24 square feet. For existing banners only, two banners per pole not exceeding 30 square feet collectively may be allowed by the Commissioner in his/her discretion. Each such banner shall have 3 slits to allow air passage. The bottom portion of a banner shall be not less than 18 feet above the roadway.
(v)Banners shall contain no advertisements. The trade name(s) or logo(s) of the sponsor(s) of the event may be placed on the banner but shall occupy no more than 10% of the banner in total. Corporate sponsor's trade name(s) or logo(s) shall be located on the lower portion of the banner.
(vi)All applicants shall submit a final graphic of the banner prior to the issuance of a permit. It shall be a condition of each permit that the banner is in compliance with the final graphic.
(vii)Applications for banner permits shall be submitted no fewer than 45 days prior to the planned installation date.
(viii)Applicants shall be responsible for inspecting banners and poles and replacing and/or removing banners that are torn, defaced or in general disrepair, including rigging.
(4)Duration and renewal of permits. Banner permits shall remain in effect for a period of 30 days including installation and removal, and may be renewed up to two times at the discretion of the Commissioner.
(5)Duration and renewal of permits granted to BIDs, LDCs or CRP fund recipients. Permits granted to BIDs, LDCs or CRP fund recipients may remain effective for up to 90 days and may be renewed at the discretion of the Commissioner.
(6)Revocation. Banner permits are revocable at will by the Commissioner.
(c)Bandstands and temporary platforms.
(d)Helicopter lifts. A street closing permit for the closing of streets along the route of a helicopter lift shall be required for contractors with licensed operators performing helicopter rigging operations on construction sites. The permit is subject to the following requirements: (1) a permit for Aviation Operation, External Lift Operation, from the Public Transportation Safety Unit of the Fire Department and (2) a signed and notarized Indemnification and Hold Harmless Agreement.
(e)Temporary Festoon/Holiday Lighting and/or other Temporary Lighting.
(ix)A permit to hang temporary festoon/holiday lighting and/or other temporary lighting shall be obtained from the Department of Transportation, prior to commencing work, upon the showing of the letter of consent from the Street Lighting Unit and the Certificate of Electrical Inspection from the Department of Buildings pursuant to subparagraphs (iii) and (vi) of this paragraph.
(x)Temporary festoon/holiday lighting and/or other temporary lighting with necessary feed wires and supports may be permitted over sidewalks for a period not to exceed 90 days, provided they do not interfere with the free use of fire escapes and drop ladders. All such electrical construction shall be removed within the time stated on the permit, excluding the authorized GFCI weatherproof receptacle. The receptacle shall be permitted to remain provided that it is properly maintained. Any receptacle(s) not properly maintained shall be removed, within one (1) to ten (10) days of notice from the Department, as directed by the Department, by the sponsoring group at its sole cost and expense. In the event that the sponsoring group fails to remove the receptacle(s) or in the case of an emergency, the Department may remove such receptacle(s) and charge the cost of removal to the sponsoring group.
(xi)Prior to commencing any work, the electrical contractor shall test each pole for stray voltage. if a pole tests positive, the electrical contractor shall contact the Department and Con Edison immediately and shall report such test result and the location of the pole. The electrical contractor shall wait for clearance from the Department and Con Edison prior to the commencement of work.
(xii)After completing the installation of the temporary festoon/holiday lighting and/or other temporary lighting, the electrical contractor shall retest each pole for stray voltage. If a pole tests positive, the electrical contractor shall contact the Department and Con Edison immediately and shall report such test result and the location of the pole.
(xiii)The electrical service shall not exceed 120 volts and shall not be fused larger than fifteen (15) amperes.
(xiv)The installation of temporary festoon/holiday lighting and/or other temporary lighting shall comply with the minimum height clearances below: Nature of CrossingConductors Guys, Spans, MessengersUnder 300 Volts300 Volts to 750 Volts750 Volts to 15,000 Volts15,000 Volts to 33,000 VoltsAbove track rails of freight railroads.27 feet27 feet28 feet30 feetAbove track rails of elevated railways.25 feet25 feet25 feet25 feetAbove track rails of surface railways.22 feet22 feet25 feet25 feetAbove roadways of streets, etc.18 feet18 feet20 feet22 feetAbove spaces or ways accessible to pedestrians only, i.e., sidewalks and alleyways.14 feet**For guys, 8 feet shall be sufficient for anchor guys not crossing pathways.18 feet20 feet22 feet (xv) Temporary festoon/holiday lighting and/or other temporary lighting, strings or messengers shall not be supported by or secured to any fire escape or drainpipe. They shall be insulated from their supports by strain insulators.
(xvi)Streamers, messengers or supports shall not be attached to or supported from electric, light, telephone, communications or trolley poles or lines without permission from the owners.
(xvii)Any sponsoring group and/or electrical contractor who fails to comply with the requirements of this subdivision shall be excluded from the permit process for temporary festoon/holiday lighting and/or other temporary lighting for the following year or seasonal cycle, or other period of time as determined by the Department.
(xviii)Requests to make adjustments to the work performed shall be approved by the Department.
(xix)The Department may mandate that changes be made to the work performed.
(xx)The electrical contractor shall test each pole for stray voltage after removing the temporary festoon/holiday lighting and/or other temporary lighting equipment in compliance with the permit limits. If a pole tests positive, the electrical contractor shall contact the Department and Con Edison immediately and shall report such test result and the location of the pole.
(xxi)At the completion of the work, a letter shall be sent to the Department certifying that the work was conducted in accordance with all rules and regulations.
(f)Commercial refuse containers. Commercial refuse containers are containers placed on the public roadways temporarily, the use of which is not related or connected to any use or activity for which a Department of Buildings permit and/or a construction activity permit from the Department, pursuant to 34 RCNY § 2-05, is required to be obtained. Commercial refuse containers shall not be used for the storage of putrescible waste.
(7)All containers shall be clearly marked on all four sides with high intensity reflective paint, reflectors, or other markings capable of producing a warning glow when struck by the head lamps of a vehicle or other source of illumination at a distance of three hundred feet.
(8)Sidewalks, gutters, crosswalks, bike lanes and driveways shall at all times be kept clear and unobstructed and all dirt, debris and rubbish shall be promptly removed therefrom.
(9)The owner of any container shall comply with all applicable provisions of Titles 16 and 16-A of the New York City Administrative Code and Title 17 of the Rules of the City of New York.
(g)Storage boxes. No person shall place on any street a box for the purpose of storing written matter or any other type of material or attach such box to any item of street furniture or to the pavement in any way.
(h)No smoking in pedestrian plazas. Smoking is prohibited in all pedestrian plazas under the jurisdiction of the Department. Such pedestrian plazas will be designated by the Department on its website.
(j)Temporary Outdoor Dining Setups.
