It shall be unlawful for any person to dig up, break, excavate, tunnel, jet, bore and jack, undermine or in any manner break up any street, highway, sidewalk or other public way or public grounds or to make or cause to be made any excavation in or under the surface of any street for any purpose or to place, deposit or leave upon any street any earth or other excavated material obstructing or tending to interfere with the free use of the street, unless such person shall first have obtained a permit from the city.