No person, firm or corporation shall set any curbing, set any building, open any sidewalk, lay new sidewalk or relay old sidewalk or construct any vault under a sidewalk, until a permit has been obtained from the Director of the Department of Public Works or his/her designee. The Director or his/her designee is authorized and directed to establish such rules and regulations, as s/he deems necessary, for the proper control of the operations permitted relative to the issuance of such permit, subject to the approval of Council.