(a) No person shall construct, or erect, or cause to be constructed or erected, in, under or upon any street, alley, sidewalk in the City, any area, cellarway, or step, without having first obtained the consent of the City Manager. No person owning, using or occupying any such cellarway or area having an entrance upon any street, alley or sidewalk in the City, shall allow such entrance to remain uncovered or unsecured by a safe and sufficient door or grating, covering the whole opening into such streets, alley or sidewalk, nor shall such person allow such door or other covering to remain open except when in actual use; provided, that the City Manager shall not grant permission for the permanent occupancy for private use of any part of any street, alley, sidewalk or public place in the City, nor shall he grant permission for any use thereof for private purposes that may obstruct the free use thereof by the public.
(b) All such cellarways, vaults and areas, mentioned in the preceding section shall be securely walled with brick, cement or stone. No person shall construct or cause to be constructed any such vault, cellarway or area contrary to the provisions of this section.
(c) The construction of all such cellarways, vaults or areas shall be completed and the same shall be closed within five days after such construction is commenced. In case of a delay, beyond such five days the person constructing any such vault, cellarway or area shall be guilty of a violation of this chapter; provided, that the City Manager may, by written permission, when he deems it expedient so to do, extend the time for such completion for not more than five days at a time. (1972 Code § 18-1-11, 12. )