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Council advances changes to excavation rules to require bonds, penalties for unpermitted right‑of‑way work
Summary
Council placed Ordinance 2026-2 on second reading to update Chapter 901 (excavations): it would allow cash bonds for homeowners doing non-contractor work in the right-of-way, enable fines for unpermitted work such as drive aprons and sidewalks, and raise the application fee by $5.
Huron City Council on March 24 advanced Ordinance 2026-2 to its second reading, a package of amendments to Chapter 901 aimed at tightening permit and bonding requirements for excavation and work within the public right-of-way.
City staff explained the changes are intended to align homeowner projects with contractor registration standards so the city can require cash bonds when homeowners perform work themselves rather than hiring a registered contractor. "What the cash bond check does is it gives the city the ability to go after the fact if the project is not completed properly and the rightway is not restored," Mr. Hamilton said, explaining the city could use bond funds to carry out remediation if an owner fails to complete or correct work.
Staff also told council the changes would give the city new tools to identify and penalize residents who perform work in the right-of-way without permits — common examples cited were drive aprons and sidewalk work. The amendment would also increase the application fee by $5 to help cover administrative costs. Because this was the second reading, staff took questions but did not report additional substantive changes at the March 24 meeting.
Council did not record a final adoption vote for Ordinance 2026-2 on March 24; the measure will return as part of the regular legislative process.
