Engineering standards.
Tulsa Revised Ordinances tit. 15, § 307
in effectSection 307. - Engineering standards.
A. Allocation of Space in the Rights-of-Way. The Director shall have the power to establish limitations on the placement of new or additional facilities within specific congested segments of the rights-of-way if there is insufficient space to accommodate all of the requests of entities to occupy the rights-of-way. In making such decisions, the Director shall strive, to the extent possible, to accommodate all existing and potential users of the rights-of-way, but shall be guided primarily by considerations of the public interest, the public's needs for the particular utility service, the width and physical condition of the rights-of-way, the protection of existing utilities and improvements in the rights-of-way, and future City plans for public improvements and development projects which have been determined to be in the public's interest.
B. Location Criteria.
1. Corridors. The Director shall assign specific corridors within the rights-of-way, or any particular segment thereof as may be necessary, for each type of facility that is now or as the Director concludes may in the future be located within the rights-of-way. The Director shall establish an ideal cross section identifying the lateral and vertical position of each class of potential user. All permits issued by the City involving the installation or replacement of facilities shall be reviewed as to the proper corridor for the facility.
2. Variance. Any Grantee facility which is located in the rights-of-way in a position at variance with the corridors established by the Director shall move the facility at its own expense to its assigned position within the rights-of-way no later than at the time of the next reconstruction of the facility or roadway reconstruction which requires utility relocation by the City of the area where the facility is located. This requirement may be waived by the Director for good cause shown, upon a written request giving due consideration of such factors as the remaining economic life of the facilities, public safety, customer service needs or hardship to the Grantee.
3. Interference. Grantee shall not place any fixtures or equipment where the same will interfere with any existing utility or improvement. Grantee shall locate its facilities in such a manner as not to interfere unnecessarily with the usual traffic patterns (vehicular or pedestrian) or with the rights or reasonable convenience of owners of property that abut any rights-of-way.
C. Construction Standards.
1. Depth.
a. After the operative date of this franchise, Grantee's facilities installed or replaced in rights-of-way shall be installed or replaced at depths which comply with all applicable state and federal rules and regulations establishing minimum safety standards for the design, construction, maintenance and operation of pipelines. Depth shall be measured from the lower of existing grade or proposed future grade as set forth on plans or other specifications existing at the time such lines are installed or replaced. In connection with such installation or replacement, fill and/or backfill materials and methods shall conform to the latest City standards.
b. Unless agreed to in writing in advance by the Director, the local requirements for depth of installed facilities shall be, at a minimum, as follows:
(1) Twenty-four (24) inches in green areas,
(2) Twenty-four (24) inches below a projected slope from the flowline of a ditch at a three (3) horizontal and one (1) vertical slope,
(3) Forty-eight (48) inches under a roadway measured from the surface of said roadway to the top of the installation,
(4) Forty-eight (48) inches under a stormwater or creek channel design flowline,
(5) Cross under all water lines at a minimum separation of twenty-four (24) inches,
(6) The City may require Grantee's facilities be placed at a greater depth than minimum depths as defined by local, state, or federal standards to facilitate known projects or to correct deficiencies, and
(7) Existing facilities shall be exempt from these depth requirements.
2. Backfilling/testing. Excavations shall be promptly backfilled according to standards on file with the Director and the earth shall be restored to original grade to assure no hazard to vehicular, animal, or pedestrian traffic. Upon request by the City, Grantee shall perform all necessary compaction tests in accordance with the latest design and construction specifications approved and disseminated by the Director setting forth requirements for backfill and paving cut repairs (e.g., standard concrete pavement cut and repair; standard asphalt pavement cut and repair, etc.). All test reports shall be submitted to the Director.
3. Pavement Cutting. Grantee shall comply with the latest pavement cut standards followed by the City.
4. Replacement. The replacement of any sidewalk, any driving surface, and the base of any roadway shall be the responsibility of the City's paving cut contractor, unless otherwise approved by the Director. In cases where the sidewalk needs to be opened to pedestrian traffic prior to the permanent sidewalk repair being completed, a temporary sidewalk patch may be made. Temporary sidewalk patches must be constructed in such a manner as to comply with current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and utilize asphalt or concrete to provide a smooth surface for travel. Aggregate base or clean rock will not be an acceptable surface for temporary sidewalk patches. All repairs and replacements shall comply with the City's Engineering Standards, pursuant to engineering plans on file with the City and may require additional removal to the nearest joint in all directions. Surface replacements shall be completed no later than ten (10) calendar days from completion of the underlying construction project. Specialty pavement sections must be constructed to restore the pavement to its original or an improved condition. The reasonable costs of repairs and replacements are the Grantee's responsibility.
To ensure that the foregoing replacements of sidewalks, driving surfaces and such other work is completed, if Grantee or any of Grantee's contractors or subcontractors fail to maintain an accessible work area or complete any repairs or other work contemplated by this Section C.4. within the specified 10-day period, or less where an unsuitable interim condition exists, City shall have the right to perform and complete any and all such repair or replacement work in accordance with this Agreement, City's Engineering Standards, and all applicable laws ("City Work"). All City Work shall be funded and paid by the Grantee. The foregoing are ongoing obligations of Grantee during and throughout the term of this franchise. In no event shall City's performance of City Work limit or otherwise excuse Grantee's failure to perform its repair and replacement obligations hereunder.
5. Trenching. Grantee shall not proceed with additional trench work exceeding a maximum of five hundred (500) feet of open trench without the approval of a City inspector.
6. Crossings. All underground crossings of paved roadways and stormwater and creek channels shall be made by a bore method approved by the Director. Any alternate method shall be approved by the Director, and then submitted to the ROW Administrator and Traffic Operations. Voids and all holes shall be properly grouted. Crossings shall be at approximately right angles, when possible, to the roadway and in no case shall any facility be placed in any culvert or drainage pipe.
7. Erosion. Erosion prevention measures shall be incorporated into all work within the rights-of-way as described in the City's Stormwater Criteria Manual. All gutters, ditches, and other drainage features shall be maintained free and unobstructed of sediment, dirt, and debris. The handling, grading, excavating, or moving of excess construction materials or the movement or cleaning of construction vehicles or equipment shall be conducted in such a manner that materials and washout will not be deposited into catch basins, gutters, ditches, or areas where runoff may carry materials into any public or private stormwater system.
8. Obsolete or Abandoned Facilities. Whenever Grantee's facilities are no longer used by Grantee and Grantee has no plans for any future use of those Facilities, then Grantee shall remove those facilities that are at or above grade and restore the area in accordance with City standards.
D. Dimension and Location Criteria. Maximum dimensions and location of associated, above ground Facilities, including but not limited to junction boxes, duct banks, electric generators, repeaters, antennas, satellite dishes, or equipment cabinets, shall meet the following criteria:
1. The "Elevation View" shall not exceed thirty (30) square feet without written approval of the Director.
2. Associated equipment shall not be installed in such a manner so as to obstruct the view of drivers upon or entering a public street. Equipment, excluding poles, exceeding a height of twenty-four (24) inches shall not be placed within any intersection "sight-distance triangle" as defined in Title 24, Section 103, Tulsa Revised Ordinances.
3. No Facilities shall be placed so as to obstruct the flow of pedestrian traffic, and in no case result in less than four (4) feet of clear sidewalk, without the approval of the Director.
4. Grantee's Facilities shall comply with the latest design guidelines and regulations associated with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Grantee's non-compliant Facilities shall be relocated in accordance with the terms of this franchise.
E. Miscellaneous Standards.
1. Construction Zone Identification. Whenever the Grantee or Grantee's agent excavates or obstructs any portion of the rights-of-way, Grantee shall erect a temporary sign displaying either:
a. The name of the Grantee or Grantee's agent involved in the project, and the City permit number authorizing the activity; or
b. The name of the Grantee and a local telephone number or toll free number manned during regular business hours by a person who is knowledgeable about the construction project.
The sign shall be visible from any adjacent traffic lane and shall be maintained throughout the duration of the project.
2. Vehicle Identification. All vehicles used, parked, or stored by or on behalf of Grantee within a permitted construction zone shall be clearly marked, providing the name of the Grantee or Grantee's agent. Any unmarked vehicles shall be subject to all moving and parking ordinances. Private vehicles shall not be allowed to be parked or stored within any permitted work zone at any time.
3. Due Care. All Facilities and connections in, over, under, and upon the streets of the City, wherever situated or located, shall at all times be kept and maintained in a safe, suitable, and substantial condition, and in good order and repair. No facilities or portions of plants or systems shall be located within the ADA accessible path. Every effort must be made to ensure the public is protected from encroachments, tripping hazards, and any obstructions regarding the design and construction of all components of Grantee's facilities, plants, and systems.
(Ord. No. 25782, § 1, 5-13-2026)
Source: City of Tulsa, Revised Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ok/tulsa/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT15FRGR_CH32026OKNAGACOFR_S307ENSTFetched: 10/28/2026