HomeMy WebLinkAboutD-2724-24 Cable Burial Depth min 6 inches SPONSOR(S): Councilor Joshi
This Ordinance was prepared by Sergey Grechukhin, Transactions Chief, on 8/2/24. It may have been subsequently revised.
ORDINANCE NO. D-2724-24
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA,
ADDING CHAPTER 9, ARTICLE 5 SECTION 9-193 TO THE CARMEL CITY CODE.
Synopsis: Ordinance requiring that telecommunication cables be
buried at a minimum depth of six inches.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Indiana Code Section 36-8-2-4 and its general police powers, the City of
Carmel, Indiana (“City”) has the power and authority to address and restrict conduct and the use of property
in a manner that may endanger the public health, safety, or welfare; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Indiana Code Section 36-8-2-5, the City has the power and authority to
address and restrict persons that might cause other persons to be injured or contract diseases; and
WHEREAS, The City of Carmel, Indiana (the “City”) has been notified of numerous instances where
telecommunications cables have not been buried at a proper depth or not buried at all creating a tripping and
general safety hazard, and occasionally leading to said cables being accidentally cut or damaged by animals,
grass mowing or landscaping equipment creating an obstruction and interfering with the comfortable
enjoyment of property; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the citizens of Carmel to ensure that telecommunication cables
are buried at a proper depth to reduce safety and welfare hazards as well as instances of accidental cable
damage or cutting; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana,
as follows:
Section 1. The foregoing Recitals are fully incorporated herein by this reference.
Section 2. Chapter 9, Article 5, Section 9-193 should be and the same is hereby added to the Carmel
City Code, and shall read as follows:
“§ 9-193 Telecommunication Cable Minimum Burial Depth.
(a) Definitions.
(1) “Telecommunication cable” means an underground telephone, coaxial, ethernet, or fiber optics
cable providing any video delivery service, cable television service, or internet service to consumers. This
definition does not include above ground transmission or distribution cables, cables laid along or within public
rights-of-way or private streets, or cables laid within utility easements or property owned by any utility.
(2) “Telecommunication Service” means any video delivery service, cable television service, or
internet service provided by a utility to consumers.
(3) “Utility” means (1) a public, municipally-owned, or cooperatively-owned utility; or (2) a joint
agency created under Indiana Code Section 8-1-2.2.
Ordinance D-2724-24
Page One of Three Pages
Docusign Envelope ID: 194BAF4B-25A5-4111-BB84-D169206271CE
SPONSOR(S): Councilor Joshi
This Ordinance was prepared by Sergey Grechukhin, Transactions Chief, on 8/2/24. It may have been subsequently revised.
(a) Within the City of Carmel, contractors, subcontractors, or any other installers of
telecommunication cables (collectively “installers”) shall bury said cables at a minimum depth
of six inches. If an industry or utility-established standard requires a greater burial depth, the
telecommunication cables shall be buried according to such standard instead.
(b) City of Carmel Engineering Department may require installers of telecommunication cables to
provide the Engineering Department a certification form that the telecommunication cable was
buried at minimum depth according to this section.
(c) If, due to topography, soil composition, or any other condition present at the premises, it is
impossible or impractical to bury telecommunication cables according to this section, an
installer must submit a written explanation to the consumer or their representative with stated
reasons for failure to comply with this section and identify area(s) where telecommunication
cables are buried at depths less when six (6) inches.
(d) This section does not apply to telecommunication cables laid along, under or above public
rights-of-way or private streets, within utility easements, or property owned by any utility.
(e) This section does not apply to installation of cables, conduits or wires that are regulated by
Federal Telecommunication Commission, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission or any other
federal or state entity having jurisdiction over such installation. This section is considered
supplementary and in addition to the federal laws or laws of the State of Indiana and is to be
fully enforced where not inconsistent with those laws. Any violation that is a violation of the
state law shall be enforced under the state statute.
(f) Except as otherwise stated in this section, an installer violating this section may be fined up
to $250.00 per occurrence.
Section 3. The remaining provisions of Carmel City Code Article 5 are not affected by this
Ordinance and shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 4. All prior ordinances or parts thereof inconsistent with any provision of this Ordinance
are hereby repealed, to the extent of such inconsistency only, as of the effective date of this Ordinance, such
repeal to have prospective effect only.
Section 5. If any portion of this Ordinance is for any reason declared to be invalid by a court of
competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance
so long as enforcement of same can be given the same effect.
Section 6. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after the date of its passage
and signing by the Mayor and such publication as required by law.
Ordinance D-2724-24
Page Two of Three Pages
Docusign Envelope ID: 194BAF4B-25A5-4111-BB84-D169206271CE
SPONSOR(S): Councilor Joshi
This Ordinance was prepared by Sergey Grechukhin, Transactions Chief, on 8/2/24. It may have been subsequently revised.
PASSED by the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, this ____ day of ________, 2024,
by a vote of _____ ayes and ____ nays.
COMMON COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF CARMEL
___________________________________
Anthony Green, President Adam Aasen, Vice-President
___________________________________ ______________________________
Jeff Worrell Teresa Ayers
___________________________________ ______________________________
Anita Joshi Shannon Minnaar
___________________________________ ______________________________
Ryan Locke Matt Snyder
___________________________________
Rich Taylor
ATTEST:
__________________________________
Jacob Quinn, Clerk
Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of Carmel, Indiana this ____ day of ____________ 2024,
at _______ __.M.
____________________________________
Jacob Quinn, Clerk
Approved by me, Mayor of the City of Carmel, Indiana, this _____ day of ______________ 2024,
at _______ __.M.
____________________________________
Sue Finkam, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Jacob Quinn, Clerk
Ordinance No. D-2724-24
Page Three of Three Pages
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