No person shall make, cause or permit to be made any excavation in or trader the surface of any public street, alley, sidewalk or other public place for any purpose without first obtaining from the public works director a written permit to make such excavation. The permit shall contain a time limit within which the work shall be completed. Any contractor performing work under a contract with the city shall comply with the terms of his contract and specifications for that work, and shall not be subject to the provisions of this article.
(Code 1964 § 5-5.301)