Street Opening Permit Bond - City of Warren, PA in Pennsylvania

Brief Summary

Warren's street excavation ordinance keeps you answerable for your work for two full years after final restoration. This bond is the City of Warren's assurance that if a cut settles or fails in that window, the repair gets paid for. Have it lined up before you apply, because the permit has to be in hand before the first shovel goes in.

The City of Warren requires a City permit for each separate street opening under Chapter 410, Article VIII of the City Code (§ 410-36). Permittees remain responsible for their work for two years from final restoration (§ 410-48), must do the work or indemnify the City after a notice of default (§ 410-50), and must carry liability insurance under § 410-51. This bond backs those duties, with the City of Warren as obligee.

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How to Apply for a Street Opening Permit Bond:

• Confirm the bond amount and form with the City of Warren before the bond is written.
• A separate City permit for each street opening, secured before work starts.
• Certificate of insurance meeting § 410-51, delivered before the permit issues.
• Permit fee as set by City Council resolution.
• Start work within 10 days of permit issuance or request an extension from the Director.
• Keep the permit and approved plan at the site while work is in progress.

Detailed Information About the Pennsylvania Street Opening Permit Bond:

Two years, not until the patch is down

The obligation people underestimate is the tail. Under § 410-48 of the City Code, "The permittee shall be responsible for all work performed by him for a period of two years from the date of final restoration." If the City sends a notice of default, § 410-50 requires the permittee to do the work within the time given or indemnify the City for the cost of doing it. The bond stands behind that promise.

Who needs a permit

Section 410-36 makes it unlawful to make any tunnel, opening, test hole or excavation in or under a street without first securing a permit from the City for each separate undertaking. The ordinance defines person to include utilities, corporations and authorities. In an emergency, a person maintaining underground facilities may open the street without a permit, but the City Police Department must be notified first and the application filed on the next regular business day the City office is open.

Exceptions

Openings for utilities owned or operated by the City are made under the Director's supervision, and the permit fee and insurance requirements do not apply to them (§ 410-41). The article does not apply where the highway is maintained by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (§ 410-42).

Insurance, fees and timing

Section 410-51 requires a certificate of insurance before the permit issues, covering collapse, explosion and underground hazards, at $1,000,000 for each occurrence or $1,000,000 aggregate for bodily injury and $500,000 for each occurrence and aggregate for property damage. Public utilities and authorities may submit that evidence once a year instead of with each permit. The City handles final surface restoration, and the permit fee set by City Council resolution covers inspection and the cost of final restoration (§ 410-46 and § 410-48). Work must start within 10 days of issuance (§ 410-38), and unless the permit says otherwise it expires 24 hours after work begins (§ 410-40). Streets paved less than five years earlier are closed to cuts unless public health or safety requires the work or an emergency exists (§ 410-53).

Before you buy

The ordinance leaves the bond amount to the City. Confirm the current amount and bond form with the City of Warren Department of Public Works before the bond is issued.

Eligibility and Requirements for a Pennsylvania Street Opening Permit Bond:

• City of Warren named as obligee.
• Responsibility for the work for two years from the date of final restoration.
• Immediate temporary surface restoration after backfill, per § 410-48.
• No cuts in streets paved less than five years earlier, except for public health, safety or an emergency.
• Permits cannot be transferred to another person or used at another location (§ 410-39).

Pennsylvania Street Opening Permit Bond FAQs:

Official and Additional Resources for the Pennsylvania Street Opening Permit Bond: