17.60.110 Exemptions.

City Code Section

(Amended by Ordinances 155775, 173627, 182389, 184957, 189629 and 191464, effective September 27, 2023.) 

  1. The provisions of this Chapter with respect to underground construction or installation shall not apply to the following:
  2. A.  Wires, poles, and appliances for lighting the streets of the City under contract with the City, or under private contract, connected with wires or cables in underground conduits or subways of a public utility; but all wires for street lighting above the surface of the streets shall be placed inside or on the outside of poles used in connection with such street lighting as directed by the City and shall be connected underground from the foot or base of the respective poles directly with the nearest wires or cables placed in such conduits or subways; provided that wires for street lighting if put on the outside of poles shall be placed in proper enclosures so as not to be dangerous to life or property, excepting, however, wires above the ground connecting the poles and the wires thereof with the light fixture on the pole.
  3. B.  Traffic signal installations made and maintained by the City.  When deemed appropriate by the City Traffic Engineer agreements may be made with private property owners permitting attachment of traffic signal installations to privately owned buildings, and the Commissioner In Charge of the Bureau of Transportation is authorized to enter into or to approve agreements relating thereto, such agreements having first been approved as to form by the City Attorney.  The agreements made prior to passage hereof are hereby ratified and confirmed.
  4. C.  Wires, cables, and appliances for electric signs, advertisements, and decorative lighting, connected with wires or cables in underground conduits or subways of a public utility; provided that all such wires for electric signs, advertisements, and decorative lighting shall be carried from or connected with the building, and if such wires are placed on the sides or front of any such building, they shall be placed in proper enclosures so as not to be dangerous to life or property, and the wires shall be connected underground from the foundations or basement of the respective buildings directly with the nearest wires or cables placed in such conduits or subways.  No wire for electric signs, advertisements, or decorative lighting shall cross any street above ground.
  5. D.  Wires, cables, and appliances for telegraph, telephone, district telegraph, and fire alarm systems connected with wires or cables in underground conduits or subways of a public utility or a City system; provided that all wires for telegraph, telephone, district telegraph, and fire alarm systems above the surface of streets shall be placed on the sides or front of buildings in proper enclosures as the Director of the Bureau of Transportation may find necessary to prevent danger to life or property, and these wires shall be connected underground from the foundations or basement of the buildings directly with the nearest wires or cables in conduits or subways.
  6. E.  Wires, poles and attachment hardware for transit electrification systems; provided that all wires or hardware for transit electrification systems above the surface streets shall be placed as the Director of the Bureau of Transportation may find necessary to prevent danger to life or property within the requirements of the National Electrical Safety Code (ANSI C 2), and that if required, these wires shall be connected to underground wires from the foot or base of the respective poles.
  7. F.  Appliances or appurtenances on, through or by means of which telecommunications data is wirelessly collected or transmitted, as defined by City of Portland Transportation Administrative Rules. Attachments to infrastructure not owned and maintained by the City must adhere to 3rd party attachment rules as laid out in City of Portland Transportation Administrative Rules.
  8. G.  Wires, cables, and appliances for decorative lighting, electric heating devices, and other approved electrical uses associated with permitted outdoor dining installations, being in compliance with the requirements described in Administrative Rule TRN-10.04, provided that all such wires shall be carried from or connected with an adjacent building, and if such wires are placed on the sides or front of any such building, they shall be placed in proper enclosures so as not to be dangerous to life or property. No wire shall cross or impede any travel lane unless approved by the City Traffic Engineer.

Upcoming and Recent Changes

Ordinance 191464

Effective Date