(a) No person shall construct, reconstruct or extend along a street, alley or any public ground within the City any utilities without obtaining a permit from the Department of Public Service. A utility is one of the following: sewer, water, storm sewer, electric, natural gas, telephone, television or a facility of similar nature. Before a permit is issued, if the Director of Public Service deems it necessary, the applicant shall file plans and specifications which show the course and route of the proposed utility facilities within the City, the exact nature of the utility to be constructed, the material, appurtenances and apparatus to be used in the construction, the location and depth thereof and the kind and amount of energy to be transmitted, if applicable, together with detailed specifications of the method of transmitting or conducting the utility, and require a deposit as per Section 901.04(d). The fee for the permit shall be thirty dollars ($30.00). The release of the deposit shall be conditioned upon the proper performance of all conditions of the permit, if granted. Noncompliance with the conditions of the permit shall be treated as in Section 901.04(d).
(b) Utilities constructed or extended to serve a new subdivision shall comply with the City Subdivision Regulations.
(c) In the event emergency repairs are necessary, the work shall be undertaken immediately and the office of the Director of Public Service shall be notified as soon as possible of such work and a permit shall be issued subsequent to the beginning of such repair work. Public utility companies shall not be required to obtain a permit to work in the City right of way to perform emergency repairs, although they are required to restore the right of way to its original condition and to notify the City safety forces of such work.
(d) No permit for the construction or reconstruction of utility facilities shall be granted if Council or the Director finds that the construction or reconstruction would:
(1) Unreasonably impair the safety of the inhabitants of the City, the general motoring public or the owners of property abutting on the streets and ways on which the facilities are to be installed;
(2) Violate generally accepted standards of safe construction; or
(3) Otherwise adversely affect the public health, safety or welfare.
(e) Should Council or the Director fail to act upon an application for a permit within thirty days after its filing, the application shall be deemed granted and the permit deemed issued.
(1979 Code 97.10)