Torrance Municipal Code Art. 3 Undergrounding of Utilities

All electrical, telephone, Community Antenna Television System (C.A.T.V.) and similar service wires or cables, which provide direct service to new buildings and structures shall be installed underground.

(Amended by O-3032)

Such service wires shall also be placed underground when existing buildings or structures are repaired, remodeled or expanded where the value (as determined for building permit fee purposes by the Building Code of the City) of such repairs or remodeling or expansion in any calendar year exceeds Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00).

The developer and owner are jointly and severally responsible for complying with the requirements of this Article and shall make the necessary arrangements with the utility companies for the installation of such facilities.

For the purpose of this Article, appurtenances and associated equipment such as, but not limited to, surface mounted transformers, pedestal mounted terminal boxes and meter cabinets, and concealed ducts in an underground system may be placed above ground if permitted by and in accordance with the rules of the State Public Utilities Commission.

Risers on poles and buildings are permitted and shall be provided by the developer or owner on the pole which services said property.

(Amended by O-2056)

a) If topographical, soil or any other conditions make such undergrounding installation unreasonable or impractical, the requirements of this Article may be waived by the Underground Utilities Committee. The Committee shall adopt rules of procedure for such waivers.

b) An applicant for a waiver who is dissatisfied with the decision of the Underground Utilities Committee may file with the Planning Director an application for waiver by the Planning Commission, in which event the Planning Commission shall process the waiver in accordance with the procedure in Article 2, Chapter 4, Division 9 of this Code, and the criteria set forth in subsection a) of this Section 77.3.6. The decision of the Planning Commission shall supersede the decision of the Committee and may be appealed to the City Council in accordance with the provisions of said Article 2.

This Article shall not apply to utility lines which do not provide service to the area being developed.