(a) Before proceeding with the construction, enlargement, alteration, repair or removal of any building or other structure, a permit shall first be obtained by the owner or his or her agent from the Inspector of Buildings. The application shall be made in writing and upon printed forms furnished by the Inspector. It shall, except for removals, be accompanied by a complete set of specifications and by a complete set of plans and working drawings made to a scale of not less than one-quarter of an inch to the foot, and on paper or cloth, in ink or by a process which will not fade or be obliterated. When the plans, drawings and specifications are found to conform to the requirements of this chapter, the Inspector shall issue a permit and affix to the plans, drawings and specifications an official stamp of approval. The plans, drawings and specifications shall then be returned to the applicant. One copy thereof shall be filed with the Inspector before commencing the construction and shall remain on file until the completion of such building or structure, when the same will be returned to the owner or his or her agent if request for such return is made in writing at the time the copy is filed with the Inspector. If no such request for return of plans and specifications is made, the Inspector may destroy them after the completion of the work. One copy of the plans, drawings and specifications having the stamp of the Inspector is to be kept at the site of the work until such work is completed.
(b) Before proceeding with the construction, enlargement, alteration, repair or removal of any building or other structure, if it is desired or may be necessary to drive across the curb, tree lawn or sidewalk during the construction, the owner shall construct and maintain a driveway, according to the provisions of subsection (d) hereof, across and over such curb, tree lawn or sidewalk, so that the same shall not be injured or damaged.
(c) Before opening or excavating in any public street or road in the City, a permit shall first be obtained from the Inspector by the person, firm or corporation desiring to open the street. At the time of securing such permit, the applicant shall deposit with the Inspector the sum of three hundred dollars ($300.00). All resurfacing of openings in streets authorized by this chapter shall be done by the proper officers and employees of the City, and the cost of such resurfacing shall be charged to the applicant for the permit under which the openings were made. Such part of the deposit of three hundred dollars ($300.00) as may remain after deducting the cost of resurfacing shall be returned to the applicant upon the completion of resurfacing to the approval of the Service Director. If the cost of such resurfacing is more than three hundred dollars ($300.00), such excess shall be collected from the applicant. Applicants for and persons doing work under permits authorized by this subsection shall replace the earth removed in such work and shall puddle or tamp such earth to the satisfaction of the Service Director. Such persons shall maintain such guards and warning devices or lights around such work as may be provided by ordinance or directed by the Service Director. No person shall be allowed in any way to obstruct any street or railroad track or tracks by excavation between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.
(d) No work in connection with the construction of any new dwelling, building or other structure under any permit which has been obtained pursuant to this chapter shall be undertaken or commenced unless a driveway of at least nine feet in width has been constructed from the street pavement to the building site of slag, stone or other material satisfactory to the Inspector in order to provide a base and bearing sufficient to support material trucks and other vehicles necessary in the construction of such dwelling, building or other structure and to prevent dirt, mud and other debris from being dropped, spread or scattered on the public streets. Where such driveways must be constructed over or across any street drainage ditch which is adjacent to the pavement of the street, a culvert shall be constructed in such ditch, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 1020 of the Streets, Utilities and Public Services Code, in order that the flow of water therein will not be obstructed and the usefulness of the drainage ditch will not be impaired. Before proceeding with any such work, the sum of six hundred dollars ($600.00) shall be deposited with the Inspector, as a guarantee that the street, pavement, tree lawn, curb, sidewalk or ditch will not be damaged or injured in any way whatsoever. At the completion of the construction of any such dwelling, building or other structure, such sum of six hundred dollars ($600.00) shall be returned, provided that no damage or injury to the street, or to the pavement, tree lawn, curb, sidewalk, drainage ditch, sewer or drain therein, has been caused or allowed to remain. It shall be a further condition of the return of the deposit of six hundred dollars ($600.00) that the following requirements with respect to open drainage ditches, sewers or drains located in the street abutting the premises on which such building, dwelling or other structure is located shall be met:
(1) Any open ditch shown and described on the original plans and specifications for the improvement of the street by grading, draining, curbing and paving the same, shall be replaced and constructed to conform with such plans and specifications.
(2) The flow line of any such open ditch shall in no case be less than fifteen inches below the elevation of the edge of the road and the outlet lowered to insure drainage.
(3) The construction or restoration of all such open ditches shall be completed immediately and prior to the construction of any building, dwelling or other structure on the premises and such ditches shall be kept open at all times.
(4) Grass seed shall be sown immediately in the open ditches and adjacent tree lawns in order to prevent erosion.
If any damage or injury to the street, or to the pavement, tree lawn, curb, drainage ditch, sewer or drain therein, has been caused, exists or has been allowed to remain in connection with the improvement of the premises abutting on the street where the building, dwelling or other structure is located, or if the open ditches have not been restored or constructed as required above after notice from the Inspector, the City may cause such work to be done and the amount deducted from the sum of six hundred dollars ($600.00) so deposited and the balance returned. The Inspector shall be authorized to stop all construction under any permit which has been obtained pursuant to this chapter if the provisions of this subsection are not complied with.
(e) Before proceeding with the installation or repair of a water line requiring connection on the opposite side of the street, a permit shall first be obtained by the owner or his or her agent from the Inspector of Buildings and a deposit of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) made with the Inspector, as a guarantee that the improvements, including any sod in the right of way, will be restored to their former condition satisfactorily to the Inspector of Buildings upon inspection. If there is any damage or injury to the improvements in the right of way which have not been properly restored after notice from the Inspector, the City may cause such work to be done and the amount deducted from the sum of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) so deposited and the balance returned. Where, in the judgment of the Inspector, sowing grass seed would not be satisfactory to restore the ground to its prior condition, he or she may require that it be resodded.