Every property owner with an active underground vault extending past the building line must possess a valid license issued under NYC Administrative Code Section 19-117. The city charges an initial filing fee of two dollars per square foot of vault space, along with potential annual revocable consent charges depending on use. When purchasing a property, buyers must conduct a thorough title search to ensure any existing vault was legally permitted and licensed with the city. Unlicensed vaults discovered during municipal surveys or DOT inspections can lead to heavy administrative fines, stop-work orders, or demands to completely backfill the space.
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