It is unlawful for any person to break, excavate, tunnel, undermine or in any manner affect the surface or base of any street, or to place, deposit or leave upon any street any earth or any other excavated material obstructing or tending to interfere with the free use of the street, unless such persons shall first have obtained an excavation permit therefor from the public works director or his designee. Any public utility regulated by the state or holding a franchise from the city which in the pursuit of its calling has frequent occasion to open or make excavations in streets, may, upon application, receive a general permit from the city to cover all excavations such utilities may make within the streets of the city. All permits shall be subject to revocation, and the city may refuse to issue a permit for failure of the permittee or applicant to abide by the terms and conditions of this chapter. Excavation permits shall not be required prior to excavation in case of emergency endangering life or property, providing the city is notified as soon as practicable and a permit is applied for upon the next regular working day following the emergency. (Ord. 2006-18, 2006)