How complicated moving street light pole is?

Question

Hello everyone,

Anybody has any experience with moving street light pole ? I need to move the pole 15 ft south on the property to make the garage a front load.

Is it a costly and time consuming adventure ?

How far the new driveway should be from street light ? What is the easement around street lights ?

(The property is in Houston, Harris County)

Thanks for the input

Brandon Sturgill · Answer

@Hadi Babaei Is it a power pole...or just a stand alone pole?...assuming this is a power pole and you're probably out of luck. Utility providers are not in the business of relocating power lines to accommodate a garage entrance. And I'm assuming you'll have miles of red tape with local municipalities on this as well. Have you start investigating with the city?

Brandon Sturgill · Answer

@Hadi Babaei 3 weeks..ouch. Nothing quick with this.

I think it's a stretch to say moving the pole in the middle of the night will work...and without permitting you'll be looking at penalties...

Sounds like you're on the right path..lots of red tape, but hopefully you have a pleasant experience working with everyone involved.

Hadi Babaei · Answer

@Brandon Sturgill

Yes. This is a private (single family) development.

I need to submit an application HOA, I guess this is the first step.

I believe the light pole belongs to “street lighting department” of “city of Houston”. And it’s power is supplied by Center Point Energy. I talked to someone, apparently it is possible to move it. they are going to give a cost estimate in 3 weeks.

After HOA, I guess I need to submit application to get permit from city for new garage door and new driveway. Correct ?

I do not know how complicated and costly this process would be ?

How I can ask for forgiveness ? I move the pole myself, move the garage door and create the driveway first and then go and ask for permission?

Thank you for the help and input

Brandon Sturgill · Answer

@Hadi Babaei Is this a private development...with HOA?...The local municipality likely has jurisdiction over the issue....who supplies power to the pole?

If you are looking at approved plans, you will have more than 10-days to get drawings, and receive plan approval.

The other option is to ask for forgiveness rather than permission...but that has the likelihood of backfiring.

Hadi Babaei · Answer

Thanks for sharing the story.

Here is the image of my situation. I am on 10-day option period and trying to resolve the issue (to make it a normal looking house).

Blue is current access to garage. Basically, the backyard is garage entrance (previous owner has made it all concrete).

Red is my solution to put the garage entrance on the side. It will be a tight turn, do not know if there is any restriction. I personally do not mind. I can open-up the garage door to give me more room to turn.

Purple is my other solution in need of moving stand alone street light further south.

Any thought is appreciated

Eric Teran · Answer

@Hadi Babaei I have a funny story for you but it is illegal. About 15 years ago the architecture firm I worked at had the driveway in the middle of a street pole location. The GC did not want to go through the hassle of getting all the paper work. When the time came the GC built a new base for the light 10’ to the left, removed the pole and the the existing base. Then they made it look like it was accidentally knocked down. The next day they called the city and electric company to inspect it as an emergency. They came out and the GC said that he could put it back on the base but wanted to make sure it was okay with them. Of course they said yes and the GC moved the street light to the new base. No one ever found out.

Illegally and risky yes.

Good luck

Hadi Babaei · Answer

@Brandon Sturgill

Thanks Brandon, it is a stand alone street light pole.

What is your thought in this situation ? Any hope I can move it with minimal cost and time ?

How the process works ? should I put together an architect plan drawing and submit it to HOA ?

Are you aware of any minimum turn around requirement for garage entrance ? So I can move garage entrance on the side ?

How complicated moving street light pole is?

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