It shall be unlawful for any person to install or maintain any utility bypass or connection between the utility meter and the main source of supply, except as may be installed upon written permission from the city and the utility company, if any, furnishing such utility through a franchise granted by the city.
(Ordinance 2025-50 adopted 10/21/2025)
Any person who shall tap or connect, with any utility being furnished by the city or through a franchise granted by the city, or who shall turn on any utility meter valve without first having obtained a permit to do so or who shall turn on such utility meter valve after the same has been turned off by the city or its agents, without first having obtained a permit to do so, or who shall interfere with any water, electric, or gas meter or any other utility supplying equipment, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Ordinance 2025-50 adopted 10/21/2025)
It shall be unlawful to use any utility after the same has been cut off by the city, its agents, or the utility company furnishing such utility under a franchise granted by the city without first having secured a new permit therefor upon new application for such utility service.
(Ordinance 2025-50 adopted 10/21/2025)
The discovery of an unauthorized bypass shall be prima facie evidence that such bypass was installed by and maintained by the person to whom the utility service is received through such unauthorized bypass. Also, after a utility service has been turned off by the city, discovery that the utility meter valve has been turned on without authorization shall be prima facie evidence that the person to whom the utility service is being received turned on such utility meter valve.
(Ordinance 2025-50 adopted 10/21/2025)
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this article can be found guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $500 for each offense. Each day of violation constitutes a separate offense.
(Ordinance 2025-50 adopted 10/21/2025)