(a) The following requirements apply to all work noted, which is installed on private property. No items listed herein, unless specifically noted, are permitted within the public right-of-way. Locate property lines to insure no encroachment on public property or adjacent property. Any such encroachment will be ordered removed. In addition to items listed, decorative features, landscaping, signs, etc. shall comply with this section.
(b) Walks and driveways shall be minimum three and one-half inches thick (actual) and placed on an earth surface, properly excavated or filled, rolled, tamped and graded. Concrete finish shall be wood float finish or other approved finish.
(1) Note requirements of the City Engineer for these items when constructed in the public right-of-way.
(c) Exterior steps and stairs shall comply with the requirements of this section and shall also receive a wood float or other approved finish. Brick and wood treads are also acceptable. Steps shall be proportioned so that the maximum riser is eight inches and the minimum tread is nine inches.
(1) Provide railings and guards as required in subsection (f) hereof.
(d) Retaining walls may be placed on the property where required, except that within thirty feet of the intersection of two or more streets, no grading or construction work can be permitted where such work would reduce the visibility of observing traffic movement.
(1) Design provisions. Retaining walls shall be engineered and designed to comply with the conditions and as follows:
A. Curb type walls (not over one foot six inches high), adjacent to and retained by hard-surfaced paving at the front of the wall, may be built without footings and with the bottom of the wall at the same level as the bottom of the retaining slab.
B. Low retaining walls (up to four feet high), adjacent to and retained by hard-surfaced paving at the front of the wall, may be built with the bottom of the retaining wall at one foot six inches below the finished grade at the front of the wall.
C. All other retaining walls shall be built with the bottom of the footings at least two feet six inches below the finished grade at the front of the wall.
D. In lieu of engineered design, gravity walls, with level backfill and level grade at the front of the wall shall have a minimum width at the top of eight inches if of poured concrete or twelve inches if of brick, solid concrete block or stone. At any point along the height of the wall, the thickness of the wall shall be no less than one-third of the distance from this point to the top of the wall, if the wall is poured concrete or two-fifths of the distance if the wall is brick, solid concrete block, stone.
E. Unengineered hollow concrete block walls shall not be permitted for the construction of curb walls or retaining walls.
F. A granular backfill shall be placed behind the wall at an elevation coinciding with the finished grade in front of the wall extending to within eight inches of the top of the wall. This backfill shall be at least twelve inches thick against the back of the retaining wall. Earth backfill shall be carefully placed behind this granular backfill; the granular backfill shall be made sufficiently wide to assure a full twelve inches thick drainage strata.
G. Provisions for drainage of the backfill shall be made either by means of weep holes (four inch diameter maximum six inches o.c.) in the wall or with a system of perforated pipe of four inch minimum diameter laid at the base of the backfill and having a proper gradient to an outlet.
(e) Railings and guards shall be used in connection with platforms, porches, stairs, retaining walls and areaways as required by this section. The height and design shall be as conditions require by this section. The height and design shall be as conditions require for reasonable safety for persons using the area. Railings shall conform to building code requirements.
(1) Retaining walls over two feet in height when closer than two feet to a walk, path or driveway on the high side shall have a railing, guard or continuation of wall to protect those using the property on the high side.
A. Railings, guards, etc., shall also be installed when, in the opinion of the Building Inspector, a hazardous slope or change in grade exists in close proximity to a pedestrian use.
B. Height of railing, guard or wall shall be minimum of thirty inches and maximum of thirty-four inches above treads.
(2) Porches, platforms or terraces that are over thirty inches above adjacent finish grade shall have a railing or guard installed at its edge.
A. Height of railing or guard shall be as required by the Building Code.
(3) Exterior stairs to porches or platforms or along walks or paths in the yard shall require a continuous durable handrail on at least one side where the vertical rise of the stair exceeds thirty inches or contains more than three risers.
(Ord. 26-1989. Passed 12-18-89.)