No person shall place or cause to be placed, on any street, alley, public place, sidewalk or pavement in this City, any box, barrel, keg, shelf or table or other like property, or any fruit, vegetables, fuel, goods, wares or merchandise; provided, that such goods may be placed by any merchant in front of his place of business, during business hours, if same do not project more than two and one-half feet into the sidewalk from the line of the abutting property, and if confined in width to the frontage of the property occupied by such merchant; provided further, that this section shall not apply to any person who, with reasonable speed and diligence, is engaged in loading or unloading, moving or removing any goods, wares or merchandise in the way of his trade or business, or for the use of himself or his family, and provided, further, that, when in danger from fire or flood, any person may temporarily place any property at some convenient place on a street or sidewalk, so as not to impede the passage of persons or vehicles. (1972 Code §18-1-13.)