Chapter 12.20 — CONSTRUCTION GENERALLY

The provisions of this chapter apply to permits for the laying, constructing, reconstructing or repairing of curbs, well-walks, gutters, driveways, highway surfaces, retaining walls, storm drains, culverts or other appurtenant highway structures. This chapter also applies to permits for the construction, reconstructing or repairing by any person of any highway light, or highway lighting system in any highway or in any privately owned thoroughfare which is open to public travel.

(Prior code § 38-106)

An applicant for a permit shall state in his or her application:

• A. The location, nature and extent of the work to be performed, including, if the work relates to highway lighting, plans and specifications.

• B. The materials to be used.

• C. Such other information as the County Road Commissioner may require. (Prior code § 38-107)

• A. Required—Amounts. An applicant for a permit to construct any work shall, in addition to the issuance fee, pay or make a deposit for an engineering or inspection fee or engineering and inspection fee in an amount estimated by the Superintendent of Streets to be equal to twice the actual cost of all necessary engineering and inspection.

  1. For each residential driveway, $12.00.

  2. For each commercial driveway, $23.00.

• B. Refunds—Deductions—Costs in Excess of Deposit.

  1. The engineering and inspection costs provided for in subsection A of this section shall be presumed to be the actual cost. A refund shall not be made to any applicant unless the inspection and engineering fee was erroneously collected, in which case the entire amount may be returned, or if the driveway or driveways were not constructed by the permittee, the applicant may apply for a refund of the unused fees less a charge of one dollar and fifty cents on the permit for final inspection charges. Where the deposit has been made under subsection A, the County Road Commissioner shall deduct from the deposit the amount of the issuance fee and the actual cost to the County of the required engineering and inspection. If such cost and fee is less than the deposit, the difference shall be refunded to the person making the deposit in the same manner as provided by law for the repayment of trust money.

  2. If the cost, plus the issuance fee, exceeds the deposit, the permittee shall pay the excess to the City. If he or she does not so pay within 15 days, the City may recover such sum in any court of competent jurisdiction. Until such amount is paid, further

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City of Paramount, CA § 12.20.030

STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC PLACES

§ 12.20.080

permits shall not be issued.

(Prior code §§ 38-108, 38-109)

If in the opinion of the County Road Commissioner, the work proposed to be done requires the making of plans or the setting of stakes, or both, the Commissioner may require the application be accompanied by the necessary plans, which plans shall be prepared by a competent engineer. (Prior code § 38-111)

If the applicant complies with every provision of this chapter and with all applicable provisions of all other ordinances and statutes, the County Road Commissioner may issue to the applicant a written permit to perform the work set forth in the application. (Prior code § 38-112)

If an application relating to highway lighting is denied, the applicant may apply to the City Council for such a permit.

(Prior code § 38-113)

• A. Issuance of Permit. The County Road Commissioner shall issue without any inspection fee or deposit therefor, a permit to construct a residential driveway if the applicant for such permit pays the issuance fee and submits satisfactory evidence to the Commissioner that:

  1. The distance from the curb line to the property line does not exceed 10 feet.

  2. There is no space between the sidewalk and the curb.

  3. The distance from the inside of the sidewalk and the property line does not exceed five feet.

  4. The driveway will be inspected by a competent governmental agency other than an agency of the City, and such governmental agency will furnish a certificate to the effect that portion of the driveway installed in the public right-of-way was inspected and complies with minimum standards required by the City.

• B. Inspection by Commissioner. If an applicant receives a permit pursuant to the provisions of subsection A of this section and the governmental agency referred to in paragraph 4 of that subsection fails to make the inspection or fails to file the certificate there provided for within four months of the issuance of the permit, the County Road Commissioner may him or herself inspect the driveway in which case the applicant shall pay to the Commissioner the actual cost of such inspection.

• (Prior code §§ 38-114, 38-115)

Every permittee shall commence the proposed work within 60 days after the granting of the

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City of Paramount, CA

PARAMOUNT CODE

§ 12.20.080

§ 12.20.130

permit and thereafter prosecute the work in a diligent and workmanlike manner to completion. (Prior code § 38-116)

• A. Delay in Commencing Work. Unless in his or her opinion a good and sufficient reason exists for the delay, the County Road Commissioner may revoke a permit unless work thereunder is commenced within 60 days of the date of issuance.

• B. Work to Be Included in That of Assessment District. The County Road Commissioner may refuse to issue permits or may revoke any outstanding permits heretofore or hereafter issued, or any portion thereof, where the work has not been started, when the work authorized by the permits, or such portions thereof, is included in the proposed work to be done by any existing assessment district, or by any proposed assessment district, concerning the formation of which the debt limit report required by law has been filed.

• C. Refund of Deposit or Fee. When a permit has been revoked by the County Road Commissioner, the permittee may obtain a refund of any unused fee paid or unused deposit made. No part of any issuance fee may be refunded.

• (Prior code §§ 38-117—38-119)

If so required by the County Road Commissioner, the permittee shall make proper arrangements for, and bear the cost of, relocating any structure, public utility, tree or shrub, where such relocation is made necessary by the proposed work for which a permit is issued. The Commissioner may elect to do the necessary relocation. In that case the permittee shall deposit with the Commissioner a sum of money estimated by him or her to be sufficient to pay the costs thereof. After such relocation, a refund shall be paid to, or a deficiency shall be paid by, the permittee as provided in Section 12.20.030(B). (Prior code § 38-120)

Before a permittee performs any work covered by this chapter he or she shall obtain from the County Road Commissioner the lines and grades therefor. (Prior code § 38-121)

• A. The permittee shall perform all work in accordance with plans, if plans are made, and specifications referred to in the permit, and to the satisfaction of and under the supervision of the County Road Commissioner.

• B. The Commissioner may waive inspection if he or she believes such inspection is not necessary for the best interests of the City.

• (Prior code § 38-122)

If any stakes set for any work covered by this chapter are disturbed or destroyed and it becomes necessary to set additional stakes, the permittee shall deposit a sum estimated by the

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City of Paramount, CA § 12.20.130

STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC PLACES

§ 12.20.170

County Road Commissioner to be sufficient to pay the cost of setting additional stakes. The Commissioner shall set the additional stakes. After such setting, a refund shall be paid to, or a deficiency shall be paid by, the permittee as provided in Section 12.20.030(B). (Prior code § 38-123)

Not less than 18 hours before the commencement of any work covered by this chapter, the permittee shall apply in writing to the County Road Commissioner for an inspection therefor. In such application he or she shall specify the day and hour when, and the location at which, the work will be commenced.

(Prior code § 38-124)

A permittee shall place and maintain at each end of the work, not more than 50 feet apart along the side thereof, unless otherwise directed by the County Road Commissioner, from sunset of each day until sunrise of the following day, until the work is entirely completed, flares or red warning lights. He or she shall also place and maintain barriers not less than three feet high at each end of the work until the work is completed to the entire satisfaction of the Commissioner. (Prior code § 38-125)

• A. Notice to Commissioner. Whenever any permittee has completed any work for which a permit has been granted, he or she shall so notify the County Road Commissioner in writing.

• B. Removal of Debris. A permittee shall remove all material and debris:

  1. Where new work is covered with earth, in accordance with the terms of the specifications attached to the permit.

  2. In all other cases within three days.

• C. Certificate of Acceptance. If the County Road Commissioner by survey or by inspection or by both ascertains that the work has been completed according to the requirements of the permit issued therefor, and of all of the provisions of this chapter, he or she shall issue, if requested to do so by the permittee, a certificate of acceptance which shall contain a statement of the location, nature and extent of the work performed under the permit.

• (Prior code §§ 38-126—38-128)

• A. Conformance to Specifications. Every highway light and highway lighting system installed or constructed in any highway or private thoroughfare which is open to public travel, and any excavation or backfill therefor, shall be made to conform in workmanship and material, and manner of construction, with those certain specifications of the County Road Commissioner designated as "Standard Specifications for the Construction of Street Lighting Systems and Appurtenances thereto in the County of Los Angeles, California," as approved by the Board of Supervisors of the County, as the same shall exist at the date of the issuance of the permit, insofar as such specification may be applicable thereto.

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City of Paramount, CA § 12.20.170

PARAMOUNT CODE

§ 12.20.180

• B. Dedication—Conformance with Requirements. If any person offers to dedicate as a highway any land upon which any highway light or highway lighting system has been installed, the City Manager, before presenting such offer to the City Council, shall refer such offer to the County Road Commissioner for investigation and report as to whether such highway light or highway lighting system conforms with the requirements of this chapter and with the specifications adopted hereby.

• C. Investigation by Commissioner.

  1. Upon reference to him or her the County Road Commissioner shall make an adequate investigation of such highway light or highway lighting system, and the construction and installation thereof and shall report, in writing, to the City Council advising it as to whether or not such highway light or highway lighting system so complies, and if not, what changes or alterations are necessary so that such light or system will conform.

2. If such light or system does not conform the City Council shall not accept such offer of dedication unless and until such light or system, shall have first been made to conform to the provisions of this chapter and to the specifications.

(Prior code §§ 38-129—38-131)

No person shall perform any work covered by this chapter in an amount greater than, or in any way different from, or contrary to the terms of any permit issued therefor. (Prior code § 38-132)

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City of Paramount, CA § 12.24.010

STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC PLACES

§ 12.24.030