§ 88-265-04. STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS

Underground space in the US district is subject to the following standards and requirements:

88-265-04-A. BUILDING PERMITS

Underground space must have a valid building permit to develop a habitable underground building and to qualify for a certificate of occupancy.

88-265-04-B. ACCESS

The entrances to all US district must be through property owned or controlled by the owners or operators of the underground space. Such entrance property must connect immediately to the major thoroughfare system, without first proceeding through or by other properties; or such entrances must be on property properly zoned to contain the uses developed within the underground space.

88-265-04-C. SAFETY

In order to qualify for building permits or certificates of occupancy, the owners or operators of underground space must have on file with the city plan commission a certificate by a registered professional engineer regarding the structural integrity of the underground space. Such certificate may provide for exceptions or conditions that must be adhered to as a condition of building permit approval. Certificates will be valid for newly added or mined-out areas if so indicated on the certificate. Such certificate must be dated within the past 10 years to be valid for its application to new areas.

88-265-04-D. SURFACE ZONING EXCLUSION

With the exceptions as noted in this section, all US districts are separate from the provisions of the surface zoning districts even though they may underlie them.

88-265-04-E. SURFACE AND SPECIAL EASEMENTS

Penetrations from US districts to the surface property above it are permitted without regard to conforming to the provisions of such surface zoning district, provided that such penetrations are for the purpose of connecting utilities or to contain safety, relief, or life-support systems to the underground. All penetrations must be contained within a special easement to the underground development owner or operator to ensure its perpetuity or continued service to the safety and convenience of the underground development, or, if appropriate, to the city.

88-265-04-F. BUILDING REGULATIONS

Building regulations relating to underground space can be found in §18-261 et seq.