Street or Highway Opening Encroachment Permit Bond - City of Norwalk, CT in Connecticut

Brief Summary

Norwalk will not issue an excavation or encroachment permit until a bond is on deposit with the Director. A surety bond satisfies that for a premium, and if you work in Norwalk streets often, a blanket bond can cover every permit you pull in a twelve-month period.

Chapter 96 of the Norwalk Code bars any excavation or encroachment in a public street without a permit, and Section 96-7 bars any permit until the applicant deposits a bond with the Director. The minimum is $2,000 for a general permit and $1,000 for a permit that needs only pavement restoration. The Director sets the actual amount for each permit at a level adequate to protect the City.

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How to Apply for a Street or Highway Opening Encroachment Permit Bond:

• Confirm with Public Works the bond amount the Director sets for your permit.
• Decide between a single permit bond and a blanket bond of at least $50,000.
• Order the bond in the name of the company doing the actual excavating or encroaching work.
• Deposit the executed bond with the Director before the permit can issue.
• File a certificate of insurance naming the City as an additional insured.
• Submit the permit application on the Department of Public Works form with plans and the permit fee.

Detailed Information About the Connecticut Street or Highway Opening Encroachment Permit Bond:

The minimum is not always the amount

Section 96-7A sets floors, not a flat price. A general permit needs at least $2,000 and a pavement-only permit at least $1,000, but the Director sets each bond separately at a level adequate to protect the City against loss. Larger jobs can carry a larger figure.

Single permit bond or blanket bond

Contractors who work in Norwalk streets regularly can file a blanket performance, maintenance and payment bond under Section 96-7B instead. It must be at least $50,000, meet the same conditions as a single permit bond, and covers all permits issued to that applicant within a twelve-month period. With the approval of Corporation Counsel, the Director may also accept an alternative form of security in place of a surety bond.

Who posts it and who is exempt

The applicant is the person actually doing the excavating or encroaching work, under Section 96-3A. A public utility or taxing district does not need to post a bond if it has filed a timely statement of solvency acceptable to the Secretary of State, or another statement the Director accepts, under Section 96-7D. Routine Department of Public Works operations and some minor activities are outside the permit requirement under Section 96-2B.

What the bond guarantees and for how long

The bond runs to the City and covers failure to do or complete the work, remove an encroachment, make repairs and restorations, and clean up. It also guarantees proper care and maintenance of permanent repairs for two years. A general permit bond stays in effect for two years after the permittee completes all permanent repairs. A pavement-only bond runs one year from completion of the temporary repair.

A second requirement

Section 96-8 requires a certificate of insurance naming the City as an additional insured before any permit issues or emergency work begins. For emergency work started without a permit, the bond and insurance must still be on deposit before work starts, under Section 96-10B.

How premium is set

Premium depends on the amount the Director sets, whether you choose a single or blanket bond, and the contractor's credit and experience. Confirm the current bond form and filing steps with the Norwalk Department of Public Works before the bond is issued.

Eligibility and Requirements for a Connecticut Street or Highway Opening Encroachment Permit Bond:

• Minimum $2,000 for a general permit or $1,000 for a pavement-only permit.
• Qualified surety satisfactory to the Director, with the bond running to the City.
• Two-year guarantee on permanent repairs.
• Blanket option of at least $50,000 covering a twelve-month period.
• Utility and taxing district exemption only with an accepted solvency statement.

Connecticut Street or Highway Opening Encroachment Permit Bond FAQs:

Official and Additional Resources for the Connecticut Street or Highway Opening Encroachment Permit Bond: