drilling-excavation

Environmental Protection


Water & Sewer Forms

Drilling and Excavation


NYC Title 15, Chapter 57: Rules Concerning Drilling and Excavation protects water tunnels and shafts in the five boroughs of New York City from potential damage due to drilling or excavation.

These rules define a corridor within the City of New York and require pre-application and permit applications to be submitted for assessment and review for any proposed drilling or excavation within the corridor. No person may drill or excavate in a corridor within the City of New York, to a depth greater than fifty (50) feet below ground surface in the borough of the Bronx or on or north of 135th Street in the borough of Manhattan; or greater than 100 feet in the borough of Brooklyn, Queens or Staten Island or south of 135th Street in the borough of Manhattan or to any depth within 200 feet horizontal distance of a water tunnel shaft, without obtaining a permit. There are areas around the critical infrastructure where no drilling shall occur called “no drill” zones.

To schedule a preliminary meeting, please submit a pre-application (or inquiry) to: drillingdata@dep.nyc.gov.

The pre-application must include the following information:

(i) the name, address, and telephone number of the owner and project engineer, architect or contractor;

(ii) the proposed location and depth of the drilling and/or excavation, as applicable, by way of address, block and lot, and a survey of the proposed location in reference to the applicable block and lot.