Columbia Right-of-way work permits ordinance (§ 24-168)

(a) Excavation permit. No person shall make an excavation within the rights-of-way without first obtaining an excavation permit from the director. All excavation permits shall expire after thirty (30) days from the date of issuance, unless otherwise specified in the permit.

(b) Facilities maintenance permit; bulk or individual permits. No person shall perform facilities maintenance within the rights-of-way without first obtaining a facilities maintenance permit from the director, except where such facilities maintenance is expressly authorized by an existing valid excavation permit for the applicable maintenance location. In addition to the conditions set forth in section 24-169 of this article, conditions of a facilities maintenance permit shall be as established in the permit and shall include requirements of notice to the city whenever traffic lanes are to be obstructed, manhole covers or safety barriers removed or altered, temporary or other barricades installed, and other events set forth in the permit. All facilities maintenance permits shall expire after thirty (30) days from the date of issuance, unless otherwise specified in the permit.

(1) Bulk facilities maintenance permits. The director may issue bulk facilities maintenance permits covering multiple projects, types of actions or locations during a period of up to one (1) year that may be thereafter performed during that permit year. Where a bulk permit is proposed, the applicant shall provide sufficient information regarding the types of actions and locations to be approved so as to allow the director to condition and ensure compliance with safety and other regulations herein. When circumstances require, a bulk facilities maintenance permit may be issued by the director for a generally defined area or neighborhood.

(2) Work under bulk facilities maintenance permit. Prior to beginning any work under a bulk facilities maintenance permit, a ROW-user shall provide seventy-two (72) hours' notice to the director of such work, providing the location of the work, anticipated time and duration of the work, and a description of any traffic and pedestrian safety plans applicable to such work. When advance notice is not practicable under the circumstances, the ROW User may notify the director of such work within 48 hours after commencement of the work.

(c)

Emergencies. In case of emergency requiring immediate attention to remedy defects, and in order to prevent loss or damage to persons or property, it shall be sufficient that the person making such excavation or performing such facilities maintenance obtain the necessary permit as soon as possible and may proceed without a permit when such permit cannot be obtained before starting such excavation or facilities maintenance. Notice to the city of the emergency shall be provided at the earliest possible time and a permit shall be obtained as soon as reasonably possible, or as otherwise directed by the city.

(d) Application for ROW work permit. Applications for ROW work permits shall be submitted to the director of public works on forms provided by the city for review for compliance with the provisions of this chapter and all other applicable ordinances, codes, rules, and regulations and such application shall include all such plans and drawings necessary to complete such review. Applications for ROW work permits shall be processed within thirty-one (31) days of submission of a completed application, including all necessary plans and drawings required by the director, unless such time is extended with written consent of the applicant.

(e) Applicable regulations. All ROW-users and persons obtaining an excavation permit or facilities maintenance permit shall be subject to the "permit conditions" in section 24-169 herein and all rules, regulations, policies, resolutions, and ordinances now or hereafter adopted or promulgated by the city in the reasonable exercise of its police power and are subject to all applicable laws, order, rules and regulations adopted by governmental entities now or hereafter having jurisdiction. In addition, the ROW- users shall be subject to all technical specifications, design criteria, policies, resolutions and ordinances now or hereafter adopted or promulgated by the city in the reasonable exercise of its police power relating to permits and fees, sidewalk and pavement cuts, utility location, construction coordination, surface restoration, and other requirements on the use of the rights-of-way. All persons obtaining a ROW work permit under this article shall provide the director certificates of insurance showing proof of liability coverage for personal injury and property damage, as required herein.

(f) Stop work orders. Any ROW-user found to be working without a permit, failing to provide for required safety and traffic control measures, or otherwise violating any requirements herein, may be directed to stop work until the necessary ROW work permit is obtained, the appropriate measures are implemented, or violations are discontinued or remedied in accordance with this article. Any person who shall continue to work within the rights-of-way after issuance of a stop work order shall be guilty of an offense subject to the penalties set forth in section 1-8 of this Code.