Riverside Municipal Code Ch. 13.12 Excavations

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— For general provisions for excavations and fills, see Ch. 16.28 of this Code. Prior code history: prior code §§ 28.24-28.31 as amended by Ord. 3557.

Any person holding a permit for the excavation of any street or alley shall place and maintain on all excavations all such necessary barriers, guards, lights, signs, flagmen and watchmen advising the public of detours and construction hazards as deemed to be necessary by the Public Works Director.

(Ord. 7362 § 5, 2017; Ord. 3927 § 2 (part), 1972)

Whenever any pipe for conducting water, gas or sewage or conduits for conducting electric or telephone lines along any street are laid by any person, such pipe or conduit shall be laid as set forth in Sections 13.12.030 through 13.12.060, unless special permission to the contrary has been given by the Public Works Director or the Public Utilities General Manager where applicable.

(Ord. 7362 § 5, 2017; Ord. 3927 § 2 (part), 1972)

A. All domestic water pipes shall be laid at such depth that the top of such pipes shall not be less than 30 inches below the established grade of the street, and all gas pipes shall be laid at such depth that the top of such pipes shall not be less than 30 inches below the established grade of the street; provided, however, that in cases where the grades may not have been established, these depths shall be below the existing surface of the street.

B. Water pipes shall be laid a minimum of six feet from the centerline of the street on the southerly or westerly side thereof.

C. Gas pipes shall be laid six feet toward center of street from the curb line of the street on the northerly or easterly side thereof.

(Ord. 3927 § 2 (part), 1972)

A. All sewer mains shall be laid at such depth that the top of such mains shall not be less than six feet below the established grade of the street; provided, however, that in cases where the grades may not have been established, these depths shall be below the existing surface of the street.

B. Sewer mains shall be laid a minimum of five feet from the centerline of the street on the northerly or easterly side thereof.

C. Location of sewers in plan and profile shall conform to the standards for the separation of sewers and domestic water pipes.

(Ord. 3927 § 2 (part), 1972)

A. All underground electrical conduits for residential service and telephone conduits, including communication facilities, shall be laid at such depth that the top of such conduits shall not be less than 45 inches and 30 inches, respectively, below the established grade of the parkway; provided, however, that in cases where the grades may not have been established, these depths shall be below the existing surface of the parkway. Major underground electrical conduits may be laid in the street and shall be not less than 30 inches below the existing surface or established grade of the street.

B. The underground electrical conduits for residential service and telephone conduits, including communication facilities, shall generally be laid a maximum of one foot from the edge of sidewalk and major electrical conduits in the street shall be laid at a location to be determined by the Public Utilities General Manager.

(Ord. 7362 § 5, 2017; Ord. 3927 § 2 (part), 1972)

All other miscellaneous underground facilities shall be laid at such location and depth as determined by the Public Works Director.

(Ord. 7362 § 5, 2017; Ord. 3927 § 2 (part), 1972)

It is unlawful for any person to tear up, excavate, open or remove any part of a street, alley, public parking space or public roadway easement in the City without first having obtained from the Public Works Director a written permit. Permits issued by the Public Works Director are not transferable under any circumstances and shall expire either six months or one year from the date of issuance at the discretion of the Public Works Director, after which time a new permit shall be required. At the discretion of the Public Works Director, a six month permit may be extended for an additional six months so that it expires 12 months after the date it was first issued.

(Ord. 7485 § 1, 2019; Ord. 7362 § 5, 2017; Ord. 6468 § 1, 1999; Ord. 3927 § 2 (part), 1972)

Permits granted to any person under this chapter to lay pipes or other conduits and to make excavation to receive the same under the terms of this chapter shall not be construed to change, lengthen or in any sense or manner give an indeterminate permit or franchise to any public utility or other company over and above any right or franchise which it may possess at the time, or thereafter.

(Ord. 3927 § 2 (part), 1972)

The Public Works Director is authorized, empowered and directed to employ competent inspectors who shall be qualified by experience in their particular line of work. They shall be placed as inspectors under the charge of the Public Works Director on all work done under this chapter, in order to inspect for the proper performance of the work, use of adequate materials, and proper proportion thereof, and generally to inspect upon the ground the actual work under construction. To pay the expense and wage of such inspectors, the Public Works Director is empowered and directed to estimate the cost of such employment and to collect the same from any person or contractor doing such work.

If any work requires inspection by City inspectors other than during regular City hours, the person or contractor shall pay an amount for such overtime work that is equal to two times the amount paid for inspection during regular City hours.

(Ord. 7362 § 5, 2017; Ord. 3927 § 2 (part), 1972)

The applicant shall backfill and pave or resurface trenches cut in the street. The work shall be done to the satisfaction of the Public Works Director and to the specifications of the Public Works Department. The applicant may request of the Public Works Director to resurface trenches. The Public Works Director shall determine if adequate City forces are available to perform trench resurfacing. If adequate City forces are not available, the applicant shall resurface the trenches. To pay the expense of resurfacing, the Public Works Director is empowered and directed to estimate the cost of any such work performed and to collect the same from the applicant.

(Ord. 7362 § 5, 2017; Ord. 7182 § 19, 2012; Ord. 3927 § 2 (part), 1972)

The applicant for a permit under Section 13.12.070 shall agree to pay any additional and extra cost made necessary by the refilling or resurfacing of any trench as herein mentioned; provided, that the earth sinks or a depression occurs within one year from the time such trench was filled by the party holding the permit.

(Ord. 3927 § 2 (part), 1972)

The Public Works Director, on the receipt of a written request to open any street according to the terms of this chapter, may or may not grant the request for a particular place asked for, and, if any good reason exists why another place should be or could better be opened, or only a portion of the street opened at a time, he shall designate such place or route, even if it is longer. All work shall comply with MS4 NPDES requirements.

(Ord. 7362 § 5, 2017; Ord. 7182 § 19, 2012; Ord. 3927 § 2 (part), 1972)

Any person excavating or tearing up the roadbed of any street shall cause all reconstruction of the roadbed to be inspected by the Public Works Department and shall notify the Public Works Department, engineering division, 24 hours before time set for inspection, exclusive of Saturday, Sunday and holidays.

(Ord. 7362 § 5, 2017; Ord. 3927 § 2 (part), 1972)

The work for which any excavation, tearing up or opening in a street is made shall be prosecuted with due diligence and so as not to obstruct the street or the travel thereon more than is reasonably required to perform the work.

(Ord. 3927 § 2 (part), 1972)

The Public Works Director may refuse to issue future permits for work performed under this chapter to any person who has failed to comply with the provisions of this chapter until such person has corrected any deficiencies to the satisfaction of the Public Works Director.

(Ord. 7362 § 5, 2017; Ord. 3927 § 2 (part), 1972)