(a) Notification to the Department. Pursuant to § 27-195 of the Administrative Code and subject to the exceptions set forth in subdivision (e) herein, no earthwork within the property line shall commence unless the permit holder notifies the Department as here prescribed at least twenty-four (24) but no more than forty-eight (48) hours prior to the commencement of such work. The notification shall state the date that such earthwork is to commence. Should the notification date fall on a weekend or an official holiday, the permit holder shall notify the Department on the last business day before the commencement date.
(b) Cancellation. In the event that the earthwork does not begin on the date provided in the notification to the Department, the permit holder shall notify the Department of its cancellation not more than twenty-four (24) hours prior to but no later than the date for which the earthwork was scheduled. Should the cancellation date fall on a weekend or an official holiday, the permit holder shall notify the Department on the next business day after the intended commencement date. The permit holder shall notify the Department of the new intended commencement date pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (a), above.
(c) Method of notification and cancellation. Such notification and cancellation shall be made by telephone or electronically.
(d) Stop work order. The Commissioner may issue a stop work order if there is a failure to provide notice as required in this section and if the work is found to violate any of the provisions of the Building Code, the Zoning Resolution or other applicable law, rule or regulation. Upon issuance of such stop work order, the work shall be stopped for a minimum of three (3) business days to enable the Department to take any other appropriate action to ensure that the earthwork is being performed in a safe manner. The earthwork shall not recommence until the stop work order has been lifted.
(e) Exceptions. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
(1) Hand excavation work that extends five (5) feet or less below the grade existing at the time of earthwork commencement and is two (2) feet or more from an existing foundation. This exception shall not apply to any hand excavation work performed anywhere in existing or demolished basements or cellars that adjoin existing foundations.
(2) Test pits for geotechnical observation that do not exceed ten (10) feet in length, width or diameter and that are excavated under the supervision of a licensed professional.
(3) Work on cemetery grounds for burials.
(4) Emergency work performed by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) or other agency as directed by the Commissioner or work on unsafe buildings performed by HPD or other agency pursuant to a precept.