[Adopted 5-12-1980 as Ch. 99, §§ 99-16
through 99-18 and 99-23, of the 1980 Code]
No passageway intended to be kept open leading
from any cellar or basement into any street in this city shall be
constructed or kept or suffered to remain so as to extend more than
six (6) feet into such street, nor unless the same have a secure and
convenient railing on the sides thereof. For a violation of the foregoing
provisions, the owner or occupant of the building to which such passageway
is appurtenant is and are subject to a fine as provided herein, and
for every week such passageway shall be suffered to remain after notice
given by the Department of Public Works to alter or amend such passageway
conformable to this Article, such owner or occupant shall be subject
to the same fine as provided herein. No such passageway shall be made
in any street whose width is less than fifty (50) feet. For a violation
of the last foregoing provision of this section, the owner or occupant
or occupants to which such passageway is appurtenant is and are guilty
of a misdemeanor.
No passageway or door leading from any cellar
or basement to a street in this city which is not intended to be constantly
open shall be unclosed or left open at any time, except when in actual
use. For a violation of this section, the owner or owners, occupant
or occupants of the building to which such passageway or doorway is
appurtenant shall be subject to a fine as provided herein.
All passageways, doorways and other openings
constructed in any sidewalk or street leading to the cellar, basement
or vault of any store, building or other structure shall hereafter
be securely protected and strongly safeguarded by the owner or owners
of any such store, building or other structure with strong metal (iron
or steel) doors or covers. All such doors and covers shall be constructed
and installed flush and even with the surface of the sidewalk and
street, and no hinge or part thereof shall project above the upper
surface of any such door or doors, cover or covers. The upper surface
of any such door or doors or cover or covers shall be adequately roughened
with suitable grooves, corrugations or indentations therein and thereon.
Whenever any door or doors or cover or covers of any such passageway,
doorway or other opening, now or hereafter installed in any sidewalk
or street, becomes or is insecure, unsafe or dangerous by reason of
wear, age or otherwise, the owner of any store, building or other
structure to which the same is appurtenant shall promptly repair and
restore the same to a safe and secure condition or, if necessary,
promptly replace the same with a new door or doors or cover or covers
constructed and installed in form and manner prescribed by this section.
For a violation of this section or any provision thereof, the owner
of any store, building or other structure having a passageway, doorway
or other opening leading from the sidewalk or street to the cellar,
basement or vault thereof shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject
to a fine as provided herein.
All vaults under sidewalks in this city shall
be constructed of brick or stone, and the outside of the grating or
opening into the street shall be within one (1) foot of the outside
of the curbstone of the sidewalk, and all such vaults shall be completed,
and the ground and sidewalk replaced over them within two (2) weeks
after they are respectively commenced. Every person violating any
of the provisions of this section, whether the owner or builder of
such vault, shall be subject to a fine as provided herein.
