Public Improvement Commission
There are over 900 miles of streets in Boston's infastructure, of which 780 miles is maintained by the
The owner and regulator of the City's rights of way, the Boston Public Improvement Commission (PIC), plays an integral role in the City's development and permitting process.
Business owners, developers and homeowners alike conduct business in the air, on the surface and below ground that requires the approval of the PIC. From the restaurant that wants to add a seasonal café on the public sidewalk, to the developer who wants to construct an underground parking garage for a new housing development, or the homeowner who wants to add an architectural feature to a house that juts into the public space, each must seek approval from the PIC to have its private venture occupy public space, either permanently or on a licensed basis.
In general, the PIC authorizes development activity in the following categories:
| Category | Description / Example |
|---|---|
| 1. Discontinuance (public way) / Abandonment (private way) | 1. Request that the City discontinue its claim to certain public space - roof cornices, underground garages. |
| 2. License | 2. Request license to use a public right of way or space - sidewalk café, marquee, canopy, areaway, earth retention systems, and monitoring wells. |
| 3. Specific Repair | 3. Request specific changes to a public right of way - use of brick instead of concrete or paver for sidewalk. |
| 4. Street Layout / Approval of Line & Grade | 4. PIC ensures that the line and grade of a private development compliments that of the public way it borders. |
| 5. Telecommunicationand Utility Grant of Locations | 5. PIC regulates how telecom and utility companies access and occupy the underground and above ground cable networks. |
| 6. Easement / Widening and Relocation | 6. Shift the public way in on private property in exchange for the right to occupy sidewalk space - sidewalk landscaping. |
Originally established and elected by the public in 1870 as the Board of Street Commissioners, the current mayoral appointment structure for the Public Improvement Commission replaced the Board of Street Commissioners in 1954 by the City's reorganization ordinance. The Commission is chaired by the Public Works Commissioner, and includes the Commissioners of Inspectional Services, Transportation and Property Management and Construction, respectively, as well as the Executive Director of the Boston Water and Sewer Commission. The Commission meets every Thursday at 10:00 A.M., in City Hall, Room 801, to consider petitions.
For further information regarding the PIC and the necessary forms for approval, please contact the Executive Secretary of the Public Improvement Commission at 617-635-4961.
For Permits contact the Permit Division Supervisor of the Public Works Department at 617-635-4910.
©2008 The City of Boston