Construction in the right-of-way, including streets, alleys, sidewalks and other public property.
Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 50-13
in effect§ 50-13. - Construction in the right-of-way, including streets, alleys, sidewalks and other public property.
(a) Any applicant for a permit to place any object in a public right-of-way or other public property shall utilize existing facilities whenever possible, and shall not construct or install any new, different, or other facilities on rights-of-way or other public property until the written approval of the City Engineer is obtained. No location of any property of the applicant shall be a vested interest and any object shall be removed or modified by the applicant at its own expense whenever the City Engineer determines that the public convenience would be enhanced thereby.
(b) The facilities of the applicant shall be installed underground in those areas of the City where existing facilities are underground at the time of construction. In areas where utility facilities are installed aerially at the time of construction, the applicant may install its facilities aerially with the understanding that at such time as the existing aerial facilities are required to be placed underground by the City, the applicant shall likewise place its facilities underground.
(c) All facilities, transmission lines, equipment and structures shall be so installed and located as to cause minimum interference with the rights and reasonable convenience of property owners and at all times shall be kept and maintained in a safe, adequate, and substantial condition, and in good order and repair. The applicant shall at all times employ ordinary care and shall install and maintain in use commonly accepted methods and devices for preventing failures and accidents which are likely to cause damage, injuries, or nuisances to the public. Barricades, flags, lights, flares, or other devices shall be used in accordance with the current Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and at such times and places as are reasonably required for the safety of all members of the public. Any facilities placed in any public way by the applicant shall be placed in such a manner as not to interfere with planned improvements and the usual travel on such public way and as approved by the City Engineer.
(d) The applicant shall, at its own expense and in a manner approved by the City, restore to City standards and specifications any damage or disturbance caused to the public way as a result of its operations or construction on its behalf. The applicant shall guarantee and maintain such restoration for a period of one year against defective materials or workmanship. The applicant shall notify the City when this period of one year commences.
(e) Whenever, in case of fire or other disaster, it becomes necessary in the judgment of the City Manager, City Engineer, or the chief of the Fire or Police Department to remove or damage any of the applicant's facilities, no charge shall be made by the applicant against the City for restoration and repair.
(f) The applicant shall have the authority to trim trees on public property at its own expense as may be necessary to protect its facilities, subject to the supervision and direction of the City. Trimming of trees on private property shall require written consent of the property owner.
(g) The applicant at its expense shall protect, support, temporarily disconnect, relocate, or remove any property of the applicant when, in the opinion of the City Manager or City Engineer, the same is required by reason of traffic conditions, public safety, street vacation, freeway or street construction, change or establishment of street grade, installation of sewers, drains, water pipes, power lines, signal lines, transportation facilities, tracks, or any other types of structure or improvements by governmental agencies whether acting in a governmental or a proprietary capacity, or any other structure or public improvement, including but not limited to, movement of buildings, urban renewal and redevelopment, and any general program under which the City shall undertake to cause all such properties to be located beneath the surface of the ground. The applicant shall in all cases have the privilege, subject to the corresponding obligations, to abandon any property of applicant in place. Nothing hereunder shall be deemed a taking of the property of the applicant, and the applicant shall be entitled to no surcharge by reason of anything hereunder.
(h) Upon failure of the applicant to commence, pursue or complete any work required by law or by the provisions of this chapter to be done in any street, within the time prescribed and to the satisfaction of the City Manager or City Engineer, the City Manager may cause such work to be done. The applicant shall pay to the City the cost thereof in the itemized amounts reported by the City Manager to the applicant within 30 days after receipt of such itemized report.
(i) The applicant shall make no paving cuts or curb cuts unless absolutely necessary, but only after written permission has been given by the City Manager or City Engineer.
(j) The applicant shall install in conduit all cable passing under any roadway.
(Ord. No. 23499, § 2, 11-27-07)
Source: City of Oklahoma City, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ok/oklahoma_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=OKMUCO2020_CH50STSI_ARTIINGE_S50-13CORI-WINSTALSIOTPUPRFetched: 10/28/2026