2006 Code of Virginia § 56-466 - Location of posts, poles, cables and conduits; height of wires, etc

56-466. Location of posts, poles, cables and conduits; height of wires, etc.

All posts, poles, wires, cables and conduits which shall be erected by anyauthority in the preceding sections of this chapter conferred shall be solocated as in no way to obstruct or interfere with public travel or theordinary use of, or the safety and convenience of persons traveling through,on, or over, the public parks, roads, turnpikes, streets, avenues, alleys,railroads, or waters in or upon which the same may be erected, and all wiresfastened upon posts or poles erected as aforesaid shall be placed at a heightof not less than eighteen feet above all road crossings, and twenty-threefeet above railroad crossings, and no conduits shall be laid nor posts orpoles erected upon the soil or property of any person without first obtainingthe consent of the owner thereof, nor shall any such wires or cables bestrung across the soil, property, or premises of any person, or attached toor connected with any shade or ornamental tree, or any private building,without the consent of the owner thereof.

Such poles, wires, cables and conduits shall not in anywise damage privateproperty without compensation therefor, nor in any way obstruct thenavigation of any stream, or impair or endanger the use thereof by thepublic, or by any person or corporation entitled to the use of the same. Suchconduits shall be laid at such distance below the surface of any public park,road, turnpike, street, avenue, or alley, and at such distance from theoutside of any gas or water main or other conduit already laid under suchpublic park, road, turnpike, street, avenue, or alley, as may be prescribedby the proper municipal, county, or state authorities.

(Code 1919, 4035, 4038; 1926, pp. 908, 909; 1976, c. 268.)