Article III — UNDERGROUND UTILITIES — South Lake Tahoe Zoning Code

§ 6.15.170. Definitions. ¶

For the purpose of this article, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

"Communication service"

means the transmission of intelligence by electrical means, including, but not limited to, telephone, telegraph, messenger call, clock, police, fire alarm and traffic control circuits and circuits for the transmission of standard television or radio signals.

"Electrical service"

means the distribution of electricity for heat, light or power. (Ord. 1024 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 1064 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 1134 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 1168 § 1 (Exh. A); Code 1997 § 8-34; Formerly 6.15.490)

§ 6.15.180. Service required – New buildings. ¶

It shall be a condition of permits issued for the construction of new homes and other buildings which will require electrical or communications services provided by cables and wires that facilities necessary to receive utility cables and wires be installed underground by the permittee from the building to the service point to be determined by the utility company.

If the serving utility pole is located on the same side of the street as, and between, the extended side lot lines of the property involved, the utility service shall thereafter be connected underground.

If the serving utility pole is located elsewhere, underground connection of the utility service shall be made at the time the aerial lead of the serving utility is removed and replaced by an underground lead.

(Ord. 1024 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 1064 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 1134 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 1168 § 1 (Exh. A); Code 1997 § 8-35; Formerly 6.15.500)

§ 6.15.190. Service required – Remodeling or repairs. ¶

It shall be a condition of any permit for the repair or remodeling of a building or sign requiring communication service or electric service, which repair or remodeling shall be in an amount exceeding 50 percent of the market value of the property, as determined by applying the last available assessment ratio to the last available assessment by the county assessor, that facilities necessary to receive such services be placed underground from the building to the serving point designated by the utility company.

If the serving utility pole is located on the same side of the street as and between the extended side lot lines of the property involved, the utility service shall be connected underground upon the completion of the work authorized by the building permit.

If the serving utility pole is located elsewhere, the utility service shall be connected underground at the time the serving utility aerial lead is removed and replaced with an underground lead. (Ord. 1024 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 1064 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 1134 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 1168 § 1 (Exh. A); Code 1997 § 8-36; Formerly 6.15.510)

§ 6.15.200. Exemptions from article. ¶

The provisions of SLTCC § 6.15.180 and § 6.15.190 shall not apply to the following types of facilities and situations:

A. Poles without overhead lines used exclusively for fire or police alarm boxes, lighting purposes or traffic control.
B. Overhead wires attached to the exterior surface of a building by means of a bracket or other fixture and extending from one location on the building to another location on the same building.
C. Radio antennas, their associated equipment and supporting structures, used by a utility or person for furnishing communication services.
D. Equipment appurtenant to underground facilities, such as surface-mounted transformers, pedestal-mounted terminal boxes and meter cabinets and concealed ducts. Such facilities shall be so located as to harmonize with the area or screened and landscaped. The city council may, after hearing with the utility companies and affected property owners, by resolution, require that all or part of the transformers and service terminals be flush with or below the surface of the ground at the point of installation.
E. Where the city engineer expressly finds that topographical or soil conditions make such application unreasonable or impractical.
F. Where the city engineer, upon application of the applicant for a building permit, expressly finds that application of such sections cannot be accomplished feasibly and practically within pertinent safety regulations and other laws applying to the installation and that such application will cause unnecessary or unusual hardship.

(Ord. 1024 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 1064 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 1134 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 1168 § 1 (Exh. A); Code 1997 § 8-37; Formerly 6.15.520)