Redwood City Municipal Code § 18.242 Underground Utilities

The purpose of this Article is to provide for the planned extension and repair of utility and street improvements upon the construction of new buildings (residential or commercial) or tenant improvements or the substantial remodeling of existing buildings.

(Ord. No. 2153, § 1, 11-16-98)

For the purposes of this Article, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this Section:

COMMERCIAL BUILDING: Means any structure that relates to or is connected with a business or trade, including, but not limited to, office or industrial uses.

EXISTING BUILDING: Means the building, where tenant improvements or substantial remodeling will be performed on the date of the application for the building permit.

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE: Means the construction and retrofit of storm drainage to reduce runoff volumes, disperse runoff to vegetated areas, harvest and use runoff where feasible, promote infiltration and evapotranspiration, and use bio-retention and other natural systems to detain and treat runoff before it reaches our creeks and Bay. Green infrastructure facilities include, but are not limited to, pervious pavement, infiltration basins, bio-retention facilities or "raingardens", green roofs, and rainwater harvesting systems. Green infrastructure can be incorporated into construction on new and previously developed parcels, as well as new and rebuilt streets, roads, and other infrastructure within the public right-of-way.

NEW BUILDING(S) (Residential or Commercial): Means any construction of a building, or buildings with a total floor area of eight hundred (800) square feet or more.

OWNER: Means the owner or owners of record of the subject property.

PARKING FACILITIES: Means a parking lot or parking structure for five (5) or more parking spaces.

PROPERTY OR SUBJECT PROPERTY: Means the real property which is being approved.

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING: Means any structure that is used for private permanent dwelling purposes. Residential buildings do not include hotels, motels or other similar structures.

STREET: Means and includes any public street, avenue, lane, alley, court, and place.

STREET FRONTAGE: Means the area included between the extension of property lines which runs perpendicular to the center line of the street for the property line facing the street to the vehicular public right-of-way.

SUBSTANTIAL COMMERCIAL REMODELING or SUBSTANTIAL REMODELING OF A COMMERCIAL BUILDING: Means any:

1. Remodeling of a commercial building or buildings and/or the construction of tenant improvements which amounts to more than fifty percent (50%) of the square footage of the existing building or building(s) on which the remodeling or the tenant improvements are performed; or

2. The construction of an addition of one thousand (1,000) square feet or more floor area to a commercial building; or

3. A combination of remodeling, tenant improvements, and construction of an addition if the combined square footage of any improvement amounts to fifty percent (50%) or more of the square footage of the existing commercial building.

SUBSTANTIAL RESIDENTIAL REMODELING: Means any addition of one thousand (1,000) square feet or more floor area; any construction resulting in replacement or increase of over fifty percent (50%) of the existing foundation for purposes other than a repair or reinforcement as defined in California Existing Building Code Section 202; or where over fifty percent (50%) of the existing framing above the sill plate is added, removed, or replaced for purposes other than repair.

TENANT IMPROVEMENT: Means any construction or demolition of interior walls, floors, ceilings, plumbing, electrical, or mechanical systems or the creation, elimination, or replacement of any exterior door or window.

(Ord. No. 2153, § 1, 11-16-98; Ord. No. 2239, § 1, 12-2-02; Ord. No. 2325, § 1, 1-14-08; Ord. No. 2465, § 4(Exh. A), 8-26-19; Ord. No. 2542, § 4(Exh. A), 10-14-24; Ord. No. 2562, § 4(Exh. A), 7-27-26)

Water Main Improvement requirements must comply with Article VI — Water Main Upgrade - in Chapter 38 of the City's Water System Regulations. Refer to other Articles for appropriate requirements for water meter services, fees, and charges.

(Ord. No. 2153, § 1, 11-16-98; Ord. No. 2325, § 1, 1-14-08)

Stormwater improvement requirements must comply with Article II—Stormwater Management and Discharge Control Program—in Chapter 27A of this City Code. Upon the construction of a new building (residential or commercial) or upon the performance of substantial commercial remodeling, Green Infrastructure improvements must be implemented per Section 27A.37.

(Ord. No. 2465, § 4(Exh. A), 8-26-19)

Upon the construction of a new building (residential or commercial) or upon the performance of substantial commercial remodeling, a minimum eight inch (8″) sewer line shall be constructed from the nearest point of connection through the entire street frontage if no sewer line exists.

(Ord. No. 2153, § 1, 11-16-98)

Upon the construction of a new building, any damaged curb, gutter, and sidewalk adjacent to the property shall be replaced or repaired in accordance with the Redwood City Engineering Standards. Upon the performance of substantial residential remodeling or substantial commercial remodeling, any damaged curb, gutter, and sidewalk shall be replaced or repaired in accordance with the Redwood City Engineering Standards. If there is no curb, gutter, or sidewalk on the street frontage of a property, curb, gutter, and sidewalk shall be extended through the street frontage, provided that the street frontage in front of the adjacent property has previously been improved with curb, gutter, and sidewalk.

(Ord. No. 2153, § 1, 11-16-98)

Upon the construction of a new building, the performance of substantial commercial remodeling or substantial residential remodeling, the street shall be repaired, repaved, or reconstructed along the street frontage to conform with any newly installed curbs and gutters.

(Ord. No. 2153, § 1, 11-16-98)

Upon the construction of a new commercial building or performance of substantial commercial remodeling with street frontage of two hundred (200) feet or more, new streetlights shall be installed, if needed, as determined by the City Engineer.

(Ord. No. 2153, § 1, 11-16-98; Ord. No. 2562, § 4(Exh. A), 7-27-26)

Upon the construction of a new building or the performance of substantial commercial remodeling, or when sidewalks are replaced or repaired, on the street frontage, as required by this Article, four (4) square foot street tree wells shall be dug, grates and frames shall be installed, and twenty-four-inch box trees planted every thirty (30) feet on average for the entire length of street frontage, except at driveways. The tree grate and tree well shall conform to the City's Engineering Standards. Irrigation shall be provided to each tree well unless exempted by the City in writing. The type of tree shall be specified by the City and the property owner will be responsible for watering the tree.

This street tree requirement shall be imposed on the following streets:

Allerton Street (500 through 600 block)

Arguello Street (400 through 600 block)

Bradford Street (200 through 300 block, 600 through 800 block)

Brewster Avenue (500 through 1000 block)

Broadway (1400 through 1800 block and 2700 block)

California Street (00 through 100 block)

El Camino Real (entire length within Redwood City)

Fuller Street (200 through 400 block)

James Avenue (00 block)

Jefferson Avenue (500 through 1100 block)

Main Street (400 through 1600 block)

Marshall Street (200 through 800 block)

Middlefield Road (400 through 700 block)

Perry Street (00 block)

Spring Street (Main Street to Maple Street)

Veterans Boulevard (400 through 1400 block)

Warren Street (400 through 600 block)

Whipple Avenue (500 through 900 block)

Winslow Street (00 through 800 block)

Woodside Road (entire length where access is allowed, not along the expressway)

(Ord. No. 2153, § 1, 11-16-98)

A. Upon the construction of any new commercial building, the electrical, telephone and cable TV lines will be installed underground along the street frontage as well as on the subject property. In lieu of the underground requirements along the street frontage associated with the construction of a new commercial building, a developer may pay a fee, as established by resolution of the City Council, into the City's Utility Undergrounding Fund. Said fee will not exceed the costs associated with the required undergrounding.

B. All existing below ground electrical, telephone, communications, and cable TV lines shall remain below ground, including all replaced services and frontage infrastructure.

C. This Section will not apply to undergrounding required as part of a subdivision or other permit approval.

(Ord. No. 2153, § 1, 11-16-98; Ord. No. 2207, § 1, 3-26-01; Ord. No. 2239, § 2, 12-5-02; Ord. No. 2542, § 4(Exh. A), 10-14-24; Ord. No. 2556, § 4(Exh. A), 12-22-25; Ord. No. 2562, § 4(Exh. A), 7-27-26)

Any work performed in the public right-of-way due to this Article will require that a permit be issued by the Department of Community Development Services/Engineering and Construction. Plans for the improvements must be submitted and approved by the City before the permit is issued.

(Ord. No. 2153, § 1, 11-16-98)