(A) No person shall make any excavation in or near any street, alley or sidewalk so as to endanger the life or limb of any person or animal passing thereby without having secured by curbing or in some manner the excavation from the liability.
(B) It shall be unlawful for any person to remove or insecurely fix or cause or procure or suffer or permit to be removed or to be insecurely fixed, so that the grate or covering can be moved in its bed, any grate or covering of any coalhole, vault, chute or other opening in any street, sidewalk or other public place. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the owner or occupant of the building, with which the coalhole, vault or chute shall be connected, from removing the grate or covering for the proper purpose of the openings, provided, that he or she encloses the opening or aperture and keeps the opening or aperture enclosed while the grate or covering shall be removed with a strong box or curb at least 24 inches high, firmly and securely made. Also, he or she shall not remove the grate or covering until after sunrise of any day and shall replace the grate or covering before 1/2 hour after sunset.
(C) Every opening in any vault or coalhole or aperture in the sidewalk over the coal or vault shall be covered with a substantial iron plate with a rough surface to prevent accidents, and the entire construction of the coalholes and vaults shall be subject to the direction and supervision of the Board of Public Works and Safety.
(1) Whenever any coalhole, vault or elevator under any sidewalk or any aperture constructed in any sidewalk, is not covered or secured as provided in division (C) above, or, in the opinion of the Board of Public Works and Safety, the covering is unsafe or inconvenient for the public travel, then the Board may order the coalhole, vault, or elevator to be placed in a safe condition satisfactory to the Board.
(2) If the coalhole, vault or elevator is not placed in a safe condition within 2 days from the service of notice on the owner or person in possession of the premises, the Board may make the changes and the expense thereof shall be paid by the owner or person in possession of the premises.
(Prior Code, § 101.52) Penalty, see § 10.99