§ 22.10.160. Underground Utilities.

Utilities serving new structures shall be installed underground rather than by the use of poles and overhead lines, and where applicable shall be installed in accordance with California Public Utilities Commission rules and regulations. This requirement applies to electrical service and telecommunications (including cable TV, telephone and data transmission) connections between utility company distribution lines and all proposed structures on a site, and all new installations that distribute utilities within a site. This requirement does not apply to the following:

A.

New structures on parcels of five acres or larger, or requiring uninterrupted utility runs of five hundred feet or more;

B.

Public utility distribution service to the edge of the lot, except in an underground utility district or where 75 percent of the lots on the street within 1,000 feet of the site are already developed, and have overhead service from the utility company distribution source to the residences.

C.

Where underground installation may cause a substantial adverse environmental impact, as determined by the Director; or

D.

Temporary overhead extensions for use during construction and/or for the purpose of testing the power supply.

This Section may require an applicant to underground utilities from the utility company distribution source to the site, as well as on the site itself. The utility service provider should be contacted for information on the Public Utility Commission's rules and regulations regarding the undergrounding of utilities. Poles and overhead lines other than those allowed by this Section are allowable subject to Minor Use Permit approval, provided that the Review Authority first finds that either topographical, soil or similar physical conditions, or the distance to the utility company distribution source make the use of underground utilities unreasonable or impractical.

[Amended 1992, Ord. 2553; 1999, Ord. 2880] [22.05.120]