Excavation Moratorium Waivers
San Diego Municipal Code § 62.1207
in effect§62.1207 Excavation Moratorium Waivers
The City Engineer may upon written request grant an excavation moratorium waiver. The City Engineer may place additional conditions on a Public Right-of-Way Permit as a condition of granting a waiver under Municipal Code section 62.1207. Any excavation performed on a moratorium street as part of a moratorium waiver shall follow the applicable restoration process in Municipal Code sections 62.1209 or
62.1210. The City Engineer may grant an excavation moratorium waiver only upon making a written finding that the excavation is necessary because of one or more of the following reasons:
(a) An emergency exists that requires excavation to remediate the emergency.
(b) The public utility has demonstrated to the City Engineer’s satisfaction that New Service to a specific location does not require excavation exceeding 500 linear feet from the existing main, except as authorized or required by applicable federal or state law, decisions, orders, and regulations, and cannot be provided:
(1) through existing conduit;
(2) through trenchless technology because of:
(A) soil conditions;
(B) proximity of facilities; or
(C) the use of trenchless technology is impractical due to costs when compared to trenching and resurfacing performed in accordance with approved standards; or
(3) from another location.
(c) The installation or relocation of facilities by a non-government owned public utility is required by the City or county, state or federal government for a reason other than the establishment of an underground utility district established under Municipal Code section 61.0501.
(d) Only a non-linear excavation or exploratory excavation will be conducted. The City Engineer may authorize a larger exploratory excavation. Such authorization is at the City Engineer’s sole discretion, and must be made in writing signed by the City Engineer.
(e) The excavation is part of construction of new surface features that results in the permanent removal of existing pavement, where the impact to surrounding pavement is limited to the area required for temporary installation of materials needed for construction of median, sidewalk, curb and gutter, and similar surface improvements.
(f) The work is to repair or correct defects that occur within the warranty period after the street has been asphalt overlayed or slurry sealed.
(g) The work involves trenching through an intersection of a moratorium street where such work is necessary to complete a project on a cross street.
(h) The excavation is part of a funded and planned project scheduled in the City’s digital coordination system that was waiting for a moratorium street to be out of the moratorium period, but the moratorium period was extended because a moratorium waiver was granted to another excavator for one of the reasons listed in (a) through (g).
(“Excavation Warranty” added 9–22–2003 by O–19215 N.S.)
(Retitled to “Excavation Moratorium Waivers” and amended 1-2-2013 by O-20231 N.S.; effective 2-1-2013.)
(Amended 8-8-2023 by O-21701 N.S.; effective 1-1-2024.)
Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter06/Ch06Art02Division12.pdf#page=6Fetched: 10/28/2026