Right Of Way

The Public Right-of-way includes the streets, alleys, and the area between the curb and private property line. This area must be monitored by the street department for the benefit of all citizens. The right-of-way is used for underground and overhead utilities, public sidewalks, and mailboxes. The vegetation in this area is the responsibility of the adjacent property owner. Trees in this area must be regularly maintained to not interfere with traffic flow: cars and pedestrians. This area is also used during winter weather as a depository for street snow removal.

• Sidewalks are required for all new construction in the City of York. The maintenance, snow removal and installation are the responsibility of the adjacent property owner. To install or replace right-of-way sidewalks the owner must first have an approved building permit
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• Mailboxes--Each year during snow removal, some residents can be inconvenienced because the snow removal process can in advertently damage a mailbox. Mailboxes must be installed at least 6-inches back of curb to have the best chance of survival. See Figure. Any structure in the public right-of-way, except simple mailboxes as shown in figure, must have an approved building permit
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• Utility Lines--Overhead and underground utilities in the public right-of-way must be protected for the public good. Therefore, any digging for the improvement or installation of utilities must be done only after calling Diggers Hotline (Dial 811) for clearance, and obtaining an approved street opening permit. This applies to all utility companies and contractors.


• Vegetation--Trees in the public right-of-way are the responsibility of the adjacent property owner. They must be healthy and trimmed to not create a hazard or hamper visibility to the public. The City Ordinance requires trees to be trimmed to at least 12'6" above the street or alley to maintain clear passage for all vehicles. Also, trees must be trimmed to at least 8' above the surface of the public sidewalk.
  
  Planting of any landscape materials, other than grass, can have an impact of the public's safety. Therefore, landscape permit and a call to Diggers Hotline are required for any planting in the public right-of-way. There are recommended species of trees that do well as "street plantings." Through the permitting procedure the applicant can be helped to choose vegetation and placement that does not hamper the primary purpose of the right-of-way.