OVERHEAD AND UNDERGROUND LINES

Omaha Municipal Code ch. 44, art. V, div. 3

in effect

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-181 Excavations to set poles or towers.

Sec. 44-181. - Excavations to set poles or towers. (a) No person shall make any excavation in any street, alley, public highway, boulevard, sidewalk space or public ground, for the purpose of setting any poles, posts or towers for supporting wires or other electrical conductors, unless area and subway permission has been granted as provided in chapter 34. (b) No excavation shall be made on private property for the purpose of setting any poles, posts, or towers for supporting wires or electrical conductors until a permit has been obtained from the permits and inspections division as set forth in sections 44-121 through 44-142. (c) Provisions set forth in this section shall not apply to franchised electric or communication utility corporations. (Code 1980, § 44-181)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-182 Excavations, backfilling, safeguards and restoration of pavement.

Sec. 44-182. - Excavations, backfilling, safeguards and restoration of pavement. Excavations, backfilling, safeguards and restoration of pavement shall be as provided in chapter 34 of this Code. (Code 1980, § 44-182)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-183 Interference with travel.

Sec. 44-183. - Interference with travel. All poles and wires on public property shall be so erected and placed so as not to interfere with ordinary travel over the streets and alleys or upon the sidewalks. (Code 1980, § 44-183)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-184 Removal—Generally.

Sec. 44-184. - Removal—Generally. Poles and wires shall be subject to removal within six months from the passage of any ordinance or resolution by the city council declaring the necessity of the removal thereof from the streets and alleys. (Code 1980, § 44-184)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-185 Same—Temporary poles.

Sec. 44-185. - Same—Temporary poles. All temporary poles, posts or towers erected on private property shall be removed within 60 days after completion of the building or 60 days after the premises are used or occupied for which the temporary permit was issued. (Code 1980, § 44-185)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-186 Same—House moving.

Sec. 44-186. - Same—House moving. Whenever it shall be necessary for any house mover to move along or across any street, alley, or other public thoroughfare or public property any building or other structure of such height or size as to interfere with any wires, cables, or other overhead work, or the poles or other supports of such overhead work, belonging to any individual, firm or corporation and maintaining such overhead work in accordance with any provision of this Code or ordinance of the city relating thereto, such individual, firm or corporation, or as many of them as are jointly operating such overhead work and the supports thereto, shall, within 48 hours after written notice has been served severally upon each local manager, agent or other person authorized to accept legal service, temporarily remove such overhead work and such supports thereto as shall be necessary to allow such building or structure to pass, and shall comply with chapter 43, article VI of this Code. (Code 1980, § 44-186)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-187 Same—At scene of fire.

Sec. 44-187. - Same—At scene of fire. In time of fire, all individuals, firms, or corporations owning and operating overhead or underground electric wires shall, on request of the electrical official or the chief of the fire division, send one or more linemen to the scene of the fire, who shall report for duty to the electrical official or the chief of the fire division and who shall disconnect and remove any wires or cables which may become a menace to life or property. (Code 1980, § 44-187)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-188 City fire and police signal system—Use of poles.

Sec. 44-188. - City fire and police signal system—Use of poles. All poles erected for communication or electric utility purposes shall be subject to the use of the city, free of charge, if space and structural strength is adequate, for the purpose of placing and maintaining thereon any wires which may be deemed necessary to the use of police or fire department of the city. Such city wires shall be classified as communication or supply wires in accordance with the rules set out in sections 44-222 through 44-233 hereof, be confined to their appropriate space, and be governed by all the rules contained which are applicable to said classes of conductors. (Code 1980, § 44-188)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-189 Same—Interference.

Sec. 44-189. - Same—Interference. No wires used as conductors of electric current for telegraph, telephone, or electric utility purposes shall be so erected or placed as to interfere by contact, induction or otherwise, with the successful operation of any fire alarm, police alarm, telephone or telegraph wire, circuit, or instrument. The location, placing and manner of protection from interference by contact, induction or otherwise, of any such wires shall be subject, at all times, to the direction of the electrical official under the terms of this chapter. (Code 1980, § 44-189)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-190 Same—Notice of removal.

Sec. 44-190. - Same—Notice of removal. Whenever any individual, firm or corporation who owns, operates or maintains electric lines for telegraph, telephone, or electric supply purposes shall propose to do any work in connection with such lines which will require disturbing, moving or removing any fire alarm, or police telephone or telegraph wires or circuit, such individual, firm or corporation shall notify the electrical official before any such work is begun. (Code 1980, § 44-190)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-191 City's rights paramount.

Sec. 44-191. - City's rights paramount. The city's right to occupy the street, or any particular part thereof, with its poles, pipes, drains, sewers, conduits, subways, and cables is always, and shall remain, paramount to all other rights acquired under this division, and, when the public interest so requires and it is so declared by the police department, public works department or the city council, then the conduits, cables, subways, etc., constructed with permission under this division shall be removed by the owner or lessee thereof at his expense. (Code 1980, § 44-191)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-192 Permit to place wires underground—Required.

Sec. 44-192. - Permit to place wires underground—Required. Except franchised utility corporations, any person desiring to use the streets, alleys, public highways, boulevards, sidewalk space or any public grounds within the jurisdictional area of the city for telegraph, telephone, or electric supply lines shall first obtain permission to place wires, conduits, cables or the like for use as stated, and shall comply with the requirements of this chapter, and chapter 34 of this Code. (Code 1980, § 44-192)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-193 Same—Application.

Sec. 44-193. - Same—Application. No person, except franchised utility corporations, or the public works department for work done within the public street right-of-way when said work is done by city forces, shall make any cut or excavation within any street right-of-way for the purpose of installing underground cables or wires without first making a written application to the public works director for a permit or to receive "permission to proceed" with the work. The public works director may require any additional information which is necessary or convenient to an understanding of the work proposed to be done. (Code 1980, § 44-193)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-194 Same—Plans.

Sec. 44-194. - Same—Plans. It shall be unlawful for any individual, firm or corporation, except franchised electric and communication utility corporations, to do, or cause to be done, any work of construction, reconstruction, maintenance or repair of any underground conduit, manhole, subway or cable, for telegraph, telephone, or electric supply purposes, within any street, alley, public highway, boulevard, sidewalk space or public grounds within the jurisdictional area of the city, requiring disturbance of the surface, whether natural or artificial, or the space beneath the surface, without first having filed with the public works director a plan and map showing all the necessary details of the work and the method of construction to be employed, all of which shall be subject to the inspection of the electrical official. No such excavation or construction shall be commenced until the plan has been approved and permission has been obtained from the public works director to proceed with the work. (Code 1980, § 44-194)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-195 Same—Refusal; appeals.

Sec. 44-195. - Same—Refusal; appeals. (a) The public works director shall refuse a permit to place wires underground if the work for which the permit is applied for is: (1) Prohibited by this Code or any city ordinance. (2) Proposed to be done at a time or in a place or in a manner dangerous to the public or inconsistent with the public convenience and general welfare. (3) In a location or at a depth which is inconsistent with the public safety, convenience and general welfare. (b) In any case where an application for a permit is denied by the public works director, the applicant may appeal in writing to the city council within 30 days from such denial. The city council shall then pass upon such application and grant or deny the same in accordance with the provisions of this division. (Code 1980, § 44-195)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-196 Same—Conditional issuance.

Sec. 44-196. - Same—Conditional issuance. The public works director may grant a permit to place wires underground subject to such conditions as will protect the public safety, convenience and general welfare. (Code 1980, § 44-196)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-197 Same—Records.

Sec. 44-197. - Same—Records. A record shall be kept of each permit to place wires underground issued under the provisions of this division. (Code 1980, § 44-197)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-198 Same—Possession; display.

Sec. 44-198. - Same—Possession; display. The permit to place wires underground issued under this division shall at all times be in the custody of some person present at the place where the work is being done. The permit or "permission to proceed" shall be exhibited upon demand to the electrical official, the police or any public works department official in charge of such work. (Code 1980, § 44-198)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-199 Same—Revocation.

Sec. 44-199. - Same—Revocation. (a) The public works director shall revoke any permit to place wires underground: (1) Where the work is not being performed in strict conformity with the provisions of this division; or (2) For the violation of any other applicable provision of this Code, state law, or city ordinance, rule or regulation. (b) Such revocation shall be immediately effective upon the entry of the same upon the city's records and with a notice to the permittee. (Code 1980, § 44-199)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-200 Underground districts—Telephone wires.

Sec. 44-200. - Underground districts—Telephone wires. No individual, firm or corporation owning, maintaining or operating a telephone business in the city shall hereafter erect or construct, except in emergencies as herein provided, through, along, upon or over the streets, alleys, and public grounds of the city, any poles or overhead wires for the purpose of telephonic communication within that part of the city bounded on the north by Cass Street, on the south by Howard Street, on the east by Tenth Street and on the west by 20th Street; and from Howard Street to Capitol Avenue, then east to 18th Street, then north to Cass Street. (Code 1980, § 44-200)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-201 Reserved.

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-202 Same—Electric supply wires.

Sec. 44-202. - Same—Electric supply wires. No person owning, maintaining or operating electric wires or other wires in the city for the transmission of electricity for electric supply purposes shall erect or construct, except for temporary use during emergencies as herein provided, through, along, upon or over the streets, alleys and public grounds of the city, any overhead cables or overhead wires for electric supply purposes within that part of the city described as follows: Beginning at the intersection of the centerlines of Eighth and Leavenworth Streets, being the point of beginning; Thence, along the centerline of Leavenworth Street, west to its intersection with 16th Street; Thence, along the centerline of 16th Street, north to its intersection with Jackson Street; Thence, along the centerline of Jackson Street, west to its intersection with 20th Street; Thence, along the centerline of 20th Street, north to its intersection with Capitol Avenue; Thence, along the centerline of Capitol Avenue, east to its intersection with Eighth Street; Thence, along the centerline of Eighth Street, south to the point of beginning. (Code 1980, § 44-202)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-203 Certain wires permitted overhead.

Sec. 44-203. - Certain wires permitted overhead. All wires used for clocks, burglar alarms, commercial printers, night watch or messenger call boxes are permitted to be run overhead, provided such wires be not attached to any poles or fixtures placed in streets and be so arranged that they will not interfere with, or hamper, the work of the fire division in access to any building for the purpose of fighting fires. The opinion of the public safety director shall, in all cases, be considered the final authority of the city as to whether any overhead wires are maintained in violation of above provision of this section. (Code 1980, § 44-203)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-204 Manholes, conduits and subways—Construction.

Sec. 44-204. - Manholes, conduits and subways—Construction. All manholes, conduits and subways shall be of durable construction. Where practicable, no manhole, conduit, or subway shall include within its construction any gas pipe, water pipe, sewer pipe or any other foreign construction, or be so constructed as to injure or interfere with any existing sewer, water pipe, gas pipe, or other lawful underground construction. (Code 1980, § 44-204)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-205 Same—Ventilation.

Sec. 44-205. - Same—Ventilation. Every manhole, conduit and subway shall, insofar as practicable, be provided with air vents or so constructed to prevent the accumulation of gas. When a manhole is opened it shall be carefully examined for the presence of gas before any flame is brought near. If gas is found, it shall be effectively ventilated before any work is begun or flame is used. (Code 1980, § 44-205)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-206 Same—Authorized access.

Sec. 44-206. - Same—Authorized access. No person shall be allowed access to manholes, conduits or other parts of any subway except authorized representatives of the owners of said subways or an electrical official accompanied by the authorized representative of the lessees or owners of said subways. (Code 1980, § 44-206)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-207 Protection of open manholes.

Sec. 44-207. - Protection of open manholes. No manhole cover shall be removed at any time without sufficient guards or barricades in the street, and, further, the requirements of chapter 34 of this Code shall be complied with as applicable thereto. (Code 1980, § 44-207)

Source: City of Omaha, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ne/omaha/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=OMMUCOCHGEORVOII_CH44EL_ARTVELCO_DIV3OVUNLIFetched: 10/28/2026