GENERALLY

Norfolk City Code ch. 42, art. II, div. 1

in effect

Norfolk City Code § 42-52 Definitions.

Sec. 42-52. - Definitions. (a) Certain words used in this article shall have the meanings ascribed to them by this section, unless clearly indicated to the contrary. (b) Distributing pole. The words "distributing pole" shall mean any pole on which an underground cable terminates, and which is used only for the support of distributing wires or transformers, or both. (c) Distributing wire. The words "distributing wire" shall mean any wire strung direct from a distributing pole to some building or structure, without any intervening pole. (d) Inferior block work. The words "inferior block work" shall mean the grouping of distributing wires into cables, metal rings or pipes, and attaching the same to the exterior wall of some building or structure. (e) Install. The word "install" shall mean to set or use. (f) Pole. The word "pole" shall mean a pole on any street or lot in the city. (g) Street. The word "street" shall mean the entire width from property line to property line of any street, as defined in section 1-2 of this Code, which has been accepted as such by action of the city council. (h) Utility facility. The words "utility facility" shall mean the plant, equipment and property, including, but not limited to, pipes, mains, conduits, ducts, cables, fiber optic cables, circuits, wires, guy wires, pedestals, cross-connect cabinets, power supplies, transformers, meters, lines, plant and equipment located under, on or above the surface of the ground within the public ways of the city. (i) Overhead catenary system. The words "overhead catenary system" shall mean the conductors and related items, including foundations, poles, contact wire, messenger wire, feeder cables, support assemblies, sectioning devices, disconnect switches, grounding connections together with their related supports, terminations and insulation and other equipment and assemblies that distributes DC electric power from substations to light rail transit vehicles. (Code 1958, § 35-1; Ord. No. 40,212, § 1, 2-13-01; Ord. No. 43, 637, § 1, 10-27-09)

Norfolk City Code § 42-53 General duties of city right-of-way administrator of division of right-of-way.

Sec. 42-53. - General duties of city right-of-way administrator of division of right-of-way. Under the supervision and control of the director of public works, the city right-of-way administrator of the division of right-of-way shall have charge of all matters relating to poles, wires, conduits, electrolysis and tests pursuant to the provisions of this article. (Code 1958, § 35-2; Ord. No. 35,363, § 1, 1-10-89; Ord. No. 40,378, § 4, 6-19-01; Ord. No. 47,014, § 1, 10-10-17)

Norfolk City Code § 42-54 Poles and wires installed prior to 1919.

Sec. 42-54. - Poles and wires installed prior to 1919. All poles and wires installed prior to 1919 on any street shall be deemed to have been installed under and by virtue of a permit granted in accordance with the city ordinances as they existed at the time of such installation and to be subject to all the provisions thereof, and to all the conditions and restrictions required to be attached to permits issued thereunder; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be deemed to authorize the maintenance of poles and wires, regardless of when installed, contrary to the provisions of section 42-58. (Code 1958 § 35-13)

Norfolk City Code § 42-55 Franchise and permit required for installation.

Sec. 42-55. - Franchise and permit required for installation. It shall be unlawful for any person to install in, over or under any street any utility facility intended to support or carry wires or cables for telecommunications, telephone, fiber optic, electricity, gas or cable television services, without having first obtained a franchise from the city council permitting the same, and until the director of public works has granted a permit for such installation in accordance with the requirements of this article and other city ordinances. (Ord. No. 35,363, § 1, 1-10-89; Ord. No. 40,212, § 2, 2-13-01)

Norfolk City Code § 42-56 Suspension of permits and franchises for violation of article or other applicable ordinances or regulations; discontinuance of current in emergencies.

Sec. 42-56. - Suspension of permits and franchises for violation of article or other applicable ordinances or regulations; discontinuance of current in emergencies. Any violation of this article or any other ordinance of the city relating to the subject matter of this article, or any refusal to make such alterations and repairs in present or future construction as may be required to conform to this article or such ordinances and to regulations of the department of public works, shall work immediate suspension of all permits, rights and franchises, held by the person guilty of such violation or refusal, and in case of persistent violations, and in case of emergencies or dangerous necessity, the director of public works is authorized to issue a discontinuance of electrical service order in any locality concerned and to enforce the discontinuance of electrical service until all ordinances and regulations are complied with. (Code 1958, § 35-19; Ord. No. 35,363, § 1, 1-10-89)

Norfolk City Code § 42-57 District for underground wires—Designated.

Sec. 42-57. - District for underground wires—Designated. All that portion of the city bounded and described as follows is hereby designated as the district for underground wires: Beginning at the prolongated western end of the centerline of Clay Avenue where it intersects with the waters of the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River; thence northeastwardly along the centerline of Clay Avenue to the point where it intersects with the centerline of Lovitt Avenue; thence northwestwardly along the centerline of Lovitt Avenue to where it intersects with the centerline of Park Avenue; thence westwardly along the centerline of Park Avenue to where it intersects with the centerline of Holt Street; thence northwardly along the centerline of Holt Street and as it meanders to the point where the centerline of Holt Street intersects with the eastern right-of-way line of Tidewater Drive; thence northwardly along the eastern right-of-way of Tidewater Drive to the point where it intersects with the northern right-of-way of Virginia Beach Boulevard; thence westwardly along the northern right-of-way of Virginia Beach Boulevard to where it intersects with the eastern line of St. Paul's Boulevard; thence southward along the eastern right-of-way line of St. Paul's Boulevard to the southern right-of-way line of Virginia Beach Boulevard; thence westwardly along said line, across St. Paul's Boulevard, Granby Street, Boush Street and Duke Street, to the southern line of Olney Road; thence westwardly along said line to the eastern line of Mowbray Arch; thence southwardly, westwardly and northwardly along the eastern, southern and western line of Mowbray Arch to the intersection of said line with the prolongation eastwardly of the southern line of Fairfax Avenue; thence westwardly along the last-mentioned line to the western line of the new relocated Colley Avenue; thence northwardly along said line to the southern line of Redgate Avenue; thence westwardly along said line to the eastern line of Hampton Boulevard; thence southwardly along said line across Gresham Drive and Brambleton Avenue to the southeastern corner of Riverview Avenue and Brambleton Avenue; thence southwardly along the eastern line of Riverview Avenue across Southampton Avenue to the northern boundary line of the property of the United States of America (Fort Norfolk); thence eastwardly along said line and southwardly along the eastern boundary line of the aforesaid property of the United States of America (Fort Norfolk) to the southern line of Front Street; thence eastwardly along said line to the dividing line between the aforesaid property of the United States of America and property of others; thence southwardly along said line to the pier head line of the Elizabeth River and eastwardly along the pier head line of the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River to the point of beginning. (Code 1958, § 35-4; Ord. No. 47,972, § 1, 4-28-20)

Norfolk City Code § 42-58 Same—Certain poles and wires prohibited.

Sec. 42-58. - Same—Certain poles and wires prohibited. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain or use on any street in the district or districts designated in section 42-57 any pole or to maintain or use any overhead wire or cable, other than poles and overhead wires and cables used for street lights, traffic signals, and overhead catenary systems. (b) No permit shall be granted to install, within the district designated by section 42-57, any pole, other than poles intended to support street lights, traffic signals, and overhead catenary systems, and no permit shall be granted to install any distributing pole in such district, until the director of public works shall be satisfied that all reasonable effort has been made, without avail, to secure permission to install interior block work construction in order to eliminate the necessity for such pole. (Code 1958, § 35-5; Ord. No. 35,363, § 1, 1-10-89; Ord. No. 43,637, § 2, 10-27-09)

Norfolk City Code § 42-59 Permit application and bond for conduits; use of conduits for municipal wires.

Sec. 42-59. - Permit application and bond for conduits; use of conduits for municipal wires. (a) No permit to construct a conduit under any street shall be granted until application therefor, in writing, has been filed with the director of public works, accompanied by a diagram, in triplicate, showing the location, the desired depth and dimensions of such conduit, the desired size and location of the manhole to be constructed therewith, and the desired size and number of each duct or compartment therein, nor until a bond has been delivered, with surety approved by the director of public works, in a penalty of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), conditioned to indemnify the city from all loss, damage, expense or cost incurred by it by reason of anything done or omitted to be done in or about the construction of such conduit. No such bond shall be required in any case where a proper bond, required by the franchise of the applicant for the purpose of such indemnity, is in force. (b) Every permit for the construction of a conduit system shall be subject to the condition that the city shall at all times have the free and unrestricted use of one duct for municipal wires. Upon request the city may release the requirement for the use of this one duct. (Code 1958, § 35-12; Ord. No. 35,363, § 1, 1-10-89)

Norfolk City Code § 42-60 Manholes for conduits—Generally.

Sec. 42-60. - Manholes for conduits—Generally. (a) No person shall construct any manhole connected with any underground conduit, without first obtaining a permit from the director of public works. (b) Every manhole connected with any underground conduit shall be so constructed, and the cover thereof so maintained, as to prevent such cover from being displaced by vehicles passing over the same. (Code 1958, §§ 35-6, 35-14; Ord. No. 35,363, § 1, 1-10-89)

Norfolk City Code § 42-61 Same—Precautions to be taken when uncovered.

Sec. 42-61. - Same—Precautions to be taken when uncovered. It shall be unlawful for any person to remove the cover from any manhole connected with any underground conduit, unless conformance with city standards for traffic and pedestrian control as well as all standards pertaining to work zone traffic control as contained in the Federal and Virginia Manuals on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways and the Virginia Work Area Protection Manual, are adhered to. (Code 1958, § 35-7; Ord. No. 35,363, § 1, 1-10-89)

Norfolk City Code § 42-62 Utility cut permit fee.

Sec. 42-62. - Utility cut permit fee. (a) Whenever it is necessary to issue a permit to any utility company or contractor for a cut to be made in city streets, other than for test hole boring, a fee in the amount of two hundred fifteen dollars ($215.00) plus one dollar ($1.00) per square foot of the street cut shall be charged for the cost of issuing said permit and inspecting the work. This fee shall be applicable in all such cases, regardless of whether the work is performed directly by a utility company or by a contractor. The fee shall be collected by the department of public works. (b) Whenever it is necessary to issue a permit to any utility company or contractor for test hole boring in a city street, a fee in the amount of forty dollars ($40.00) shall be charged for the cost of issuing said permit and a fee in the amount of five dollars ($5.00) per test hole shall be charged for inspecting the work. For a test pit, a fee in the amount of three hundred fifteen dollars ($315.00) shall be charged for the cost of issuing said permit. These fees shall be applicable in all such cases, regardless of whether the work is performed directly by a utility company or by a contractor. The fees shall be collected by the department of public works. The permit and inspection fees for test hole boring shall not be applicable in the case of any work performed for or in behalf of the city. (c) Whenever it is necessary to issue a permit to any utility company or contractor for a cut to be made in city verge (grass/dirt) area, other than for test hole boring, a fee in the amount of sixty-five dollars ($65.00) shall be charged for the cost of issuing said permit and inspecting the work. This fee shall be applicable in all such cases, regardless of whether the work is performed directly by a utility company or by a contractor. The fee shall be collected by the department of public works. (d) Whenever roadway construction takes place for a period exceeding thirty (30) days or takes place on an arterial, collector street, or in the central business district (CBD), a permit for street and major utility construction is required. A fee in the amount of two hundred dollars ($200.00) plus one dollar ($1.00) per square foot of the street cut shall be charged to any utility company or contractor for the cost of issuing said permit and inspecting the work. This fee shall be applicable in all such cases, regardless of whether the work is performed directly by a utility company or by a contractor. The fee shall be collected by the department of public works. (e) An administrative fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) will be assessed when a utility company or contractor fails three (3) or more inspections under the same permit. An administrative fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) will be assessed when a utility company or contractor works outside of normal business hours and an inspection is required outside of normal business hours. (f) A written warning on the first occurrence for failure to secure a permit will be issued to the utility company or contractor. An administrative fee for failure to secure a permit will be assessed on the second occurrence at five hundred dollars ($500.00); for subsequent times thereafter, the administrative fee will be assessed at one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) per occurrence to the utility company or contractor. (g) If there are any cuts to a newly resurfaced roadway within a four-year period after the roadway has been repaved per final contract invoice date or work order date if in-house paving, a five hundred dollar ($500.00) administrative fee will be assessed to the utility company or contractor. (Ord. No. 38,267, § 1, 5-24-94; Ord. No. 38,369, § 1, 5-21-96; Ord. No. 39,191, § 1, 5-26-98; Ord. No. 43,857, § 1, 5-18-10; Ord. No. 47,229, § 39, 5-22-18, eff. 7-1-18)

Norfolk City Code § 42-63 Sidewalk repair fee; plumber's cut fee.

Sec. 42-63. - Sidewalk repair fee; plumber's cut fee. Whenever it is necessary to issue a permit to anyone other than a utility company for a cut to be made in a city sidewalk, then a fee in the amount of one hundred twelve dollars ($112.00) per square block of concrete shall be charged to cover the cost of the permit and the inspection. The fee shall be collected by the department of public works. (Ord. No. 39,192, § 4, 5-26-98; Ord. No. 47,229, § 40, 5-22-18, eff. 7-1-18)

Norfolk City Code § 42-64 Payment of permit fee prerequisite to grant of permit to install.

Sec. 42-64. - Payment of permit fee prerequisite to grant of permit to install. No permit shall be granted to install any utility facility until there has been paid into the city treasury a permit fee of sixty-five dollars ($65.00) per utility facility. Pipe, conduit, conductor, and cable lines will be assessed a fee of sixty-five dollars ($65.00) per five hundred (500) linear feet. The fees shall be collected by the department of public works. (Ord. No. 40,212, § 3, 2-13-01; Ord. No. 47,229, § 41, 5-22-18, eff. 7-1-18)

Norfolk City Code § 42-65 Conditions of permits.

Sec. 42-65. - Conditions of permits. (a) Every permit to install, renew or change any utility facility shall be subject to all conditions and restrictions set out in this division. (b) Utility facilities shall comply with the standards set forth in the city's policy pertaining to certain telecommunications and cable television facilities dated April 18, 2000, which may be amended from time to time. (Ord. No. 40,212, § 4, 2-13-01)

Norfolk City Code § 42-66 Relocation or removal of facilities.

Sec. 42-66. - Relocation or removal of facilities. (a) Within one hundred twenty (120) days following written notice from the city, the owner of utility facilities shall temporarily or permanently remove, relocate, change or alter the position of any utility facilities within the public ways at owner's expense whenever the city shall have determined that such removal, relocation, change or alteration is reasonably necessary for: (1) The construction, repair, maintenance or installation of any city facilities or other public improvement in or upon the public ways. (2) The operations of the city or other governmental entity in or upon the public ways. (b) The owner of such utility facilities may file with the director of public works an application for an extension of time in which to comply with the requirements of subsection (a). Such application may be granted upon a finding that removal within the time specified in subsection (a) is not feasible or will result in an undue hardship upon the owner. (Ord. No. 40, 213, § 1, 2-13-01)

Source: City of Norfolk, Virginia, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/va/norfolk/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COCI_CH42STSI_ARTIIUTPOWICOOVUNST_DIV1GEFetched: 11/1/2026