§ 27-317. Underground wiring.

(a)

Required. Electrical power, telephone service, and cable television shall be provided by underground wiring for all new wiring provided except:

(1)

Traffic-control equipment installed at the recommendations of the unified government traffic engineer and with the approval of the unified government board of commissioners.

(2)

Equipment used to supply temporary service to new construction or for maintaining service during periods of remodeling.

(3)

Electric and television transmission lines, feeder lines, and substations.

(4)

Riser facilities for distribution lines.

(5)

Transformers and switching stations in the electrical and telephone distribution line system where it can be determined that an underground transformer is not economically feasible.

(6)

Service equipment and connections mounted against walls of buildings being served, electrical risers and meters, and communications or television risers, terminals, and antennas.

(7)

Overhead electrical service for one-family and two-family structures provided they are in subdivisions, additions or replats thereto platted prior to January 1, 1973, where more than 75 percent of the structures have overhead electrical service entrances.

(8)

Overhead electrical service for agriculture structures.

(9)

Streetlight circuits on collector or major streets and supplemental lights added to existing overhead street lighting.

Nothing in this section shall be construed as to require underground installation of lines beyond the boundaries of the area contained in the preliminary plat.

(b)

Variances. This section shall not prohibit the placement of utility equipment above grade, if the unified government board of commissioners makes a finding based upon supporting evidence reviewed by the unified government engineer that construction of underground utility equipment will not be economically feasible due to the following conditions:

(1)

Nature of the service to be rendered or required;

(2)

The soil or rock formations present at the site; and

(3)

The presence of existing or proposed underground drainage ditches or open sewers.

(Code 1988, § 27-708; Ord. No. 64690, § 1(27-97.6), 8-30-1984)