El Cajon Municipal Code Ch. 12.20 Excavations

The excavation of all trenches and refilling of the same in any public street, alley or other public place in the city shall be done according to the specifications set forth in Sections 12.20.010 through 12.20.180.

(Prior code § 25-18)

The provisions of Sections 12.20.010 through 12.20.180 as to the method of doing excavation work shall apply to all excavations made by direction of the city council.

(Prior code § 25-19)

No person shall make any excavation in any public street, alley or other public place in the city without first making application in writing to the city council and filing the same with the city clerk.

(Prior code § 25-20)

The application required in Section 12.20.030 shall contain a specific description of the location and area of the excavation intended to be made.

(Prior code § 25-21)

No person shall make any excavation in any public street, alley or other public place in the city without first making a cash deposit for damages as provided in Sections 12.20.010 through 12.20.180.

(Prior code § 25-22)

A cash deposit as required by Section 12.20.050 shall not relieve the person depositing the same from making written application of intention concerning each excavation as prescribed in Section 12.20.030 before beginning such excavation.

(Prior code § 25-23)

The amount of money to be deposited for making excavations shall be as follows:

A. The minimum amount to be deposited with any single application for excavation for any water or sewer lateral on a dirt street, alley or public place not exceeding two feet in width and ten feet in length shall be five dollars. Such deposit may remain as a general deposit.

B. For opening a trench on a dirt street, alley or public place not exceeding two feet in width and ten feet in length, and not exceeding two blocks, every person filing an application to make an excavation shall deposit with the application twenty-five dollars for any damages that may be caused by the making of such excavation.

C. For opening a trench in any street or other public place which may be wholly or partially paved with concrete cement, the person making the application to make an excavation shall deposit one hundred dollars for any damages that may be caused by the making of such excavation.

(Prior code § 25-24)

The city clerk, on receiving the written application and the deposit required under Sections 12.20.010 through 12.20.180 shall then issue a receipt therefor, and shall open and keep an account thereof.

(Prior code § 25-25)

The receipt from the city clerk for a cash deposit made pursuant to Sections 12.20.010 through 12.20.180 shall specify the person to whom it is issued, the amount of the deposit, the street, alley or other public place where the excavation is to be made, the particular portions thereof to be excavated and the extent of such excavation.

(Prior code § 25-26)

Every receipt issued under Sections 12.20.010 through 12.20.180 shall be considered a permit to do the excavation work stated in such receipt.

(Prior code § 25-27)

The refilling of excavations made pursuant to Sections 12.20.010 through 12.20.180 shall be made in the following manner:

A. The dirt shall be replaced and carefully tamped in layers not exceeding twelve inches in thickness and each layer shall be well flooded with water before the next layer is put on. The last layer shall be well flooded and tamped although the same may be less than twelve inches in thickness.

B. In all cases where a pipe not exceeding four inches in diameter is placed in such excavation, all the dirt removed therefrom shall be replaced therein.

C. When the street or other public place where an excavation is made is paved with concrete cement, the person making the excavation shall refill the same as provided in subsections A and B of this section, up to the underside of the pavement. When such refilling is in proper condition, the person making the excavation shall proceed to replace and repair the pavement torn up or damaged by such excavation in accordance with the specifications used by the state highway commission and the city for the laying of such concrete cement pavement.

(Prior code § 25-28)

Every person making any excavation in any public street, alley or other public place shall place and maintain lights at each end of such excavation and at a distance of not more than fifty feet along the line thereof from sunset to sunrise until such excavation is entirely refilled.

(Prior code § 25-29)

After any excavation under Sections 12.20.010 through 12.20.180 is commenced, the work of making and refilling the same shall be prosecuted with due diligence and so as not to obstruct the streets or other public places or travel thereon more than is actually necessary therefor.

(Prior code § 25-30)

If excavation work is not being done as required by Sections 12.20.010 through 12.20.180 or if the work of refilling does not, in the judgment of the city council, comply with the terms of Sections 12.20.010 through 12.20.180, the city council shall notify the person named in the receipt referred to in Section 12.20.090 that the work is not being prosecuted with due diligence or that the refilling of such excavation has not been properly done, as the case may be, and require such person within five days from the service of such notice to proceed with the diligent prosecution of such work and to properly complete the same in compliance with the terms of Sections 12.20.010 through 12.20.180.

(Prior code § 25-31)

The notice referred to in Section 12.20.140 shall be in writing and shall be served personally on the person named in the receipt of application and deposit.

(Prior code § 25-32)

If the notice referred to in Section 12.20.140 is not complied with, the city council shall do whatever work is necessary to refill any excavation and to restore any street or other public place or part thereof so excavated to as good a condition as before such excavation was made and charge the cost thereof against any balance on hand of such person. If there is still a balance due, the same shall be paid before any other permit is issued, and it shall be considered a debt of such person to the city.

(Prior code § 25-33)

The person by whom any excavation in a paved street shall be made shall be deemed and held to warrant the work of refilling and repair thereof for the period of one year after the refilling of such excavation, against all defects in material or workmanship. On five days' notice such person shall proceed to repair the same, and on failure thereof, such repair work may be done by the city council and the cost thereof deducted from any deposits of such person then in his hands. If any balance remains due, the same shall be paid by such person before any other permit is issued, or the damages may be collected by suit.

(Prior code § 25-34)

All excavations, refilling of excavations and repairing of pavements under the provisions of Sections 12.20.010 through 12.20.180 shall be made under the supervision and direction of the city council or such person as they shall duly appoint.

(Prior code § 25-35)

No person shall, without a special permit, cut into or break the surface of any public street or alley under the jurisdiction of the city for the installation of sewer lines.

(Prior code § 25-36)

Before a permit shall be issued to break or cut into the surface of any public road or alley under the jurisdiction of the city for the installation of sewer laterals, every applicant for such permit shall make application to the city clerk agreeing to comply with this code and all other ordinances of the city and the laws of the state, regarding obstructions in public streets and alleys and the installing of proper lights, signs and barriers.

(Prior code § 25-37)

If the cutting or breaking of the public street or alley under a permit issued under Sections 12.20.190 through 12.20.240 is not completed within six months after the issuance of such permit, the permit shall thereupon become void, and no work shall be done to such street until a new permit is issued.

(Prior code § 25-38)

The holder of each permit issued under Sections 12.20.190 through 12.20.240 shall, twenty-hour hours before the completion of the work referred to in Section 12.20.190, notify the city clerk in writing of the approximate time of the completion of such work and the inspection thereof.

(Prior code § 25-39)

If the work authorized under Sections 12.20.190 through 12.20.240 and the inspection thereof has not been completed at the appointed time as stated in the notice of such work and inspection to the city clerk, a new notice to the city clerk shall be required as in Section 12.20.220.

(Prior code § 25-40)

The city street department shall, from the funds available in the street improvement fund, repair the cut and break authorized in the permits issued under Sections 12.20.190 through 12.20.240.

(Prior code § 25-41)