[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Owego 12-1-1969
as Ch. 7 of the 1969 Code of Ordinances. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 92.
Since there is danger to life and property inherent in the use of electrical
energy, this chapter is enacted to provide for the inspection and reinspection
of electrical wiring and electrical equipment installations and alterations
for all electric light, heat, power and signal systems operating on 50 volts
or more in or on all real property within the village to ensure compliance
with the standards set forth in the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention
and Building Code, which code has been adopted by the village, and any local
laws, ordinances and regulations hereafter adopted pertaining to electrical
installations and alterations.
The Board of Trustees may by resolution designate a representative of
the Board of Trustees whose duty it shall be to enforce the provisions of
this chapter.
[Added 11-21-1983 by L.L. No. 5-1983]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any corporation or agency recognized by New York State Electric and
Gas Corporation as qualified to do electrical inspections and approved by
the Board of Trustees of the Village of Owego.
A.
No person shall install or cause to be installed or alter
or cause to be altered electrical wiring for light, heat or power in or on
properties within the village until an application for electrical inspection
has been filed with an authorized electrical inspection agency. Applications
may be obtained at the Village Clerk-Treasurer's office.
[Amended 11-21-1983 by L.L. No. 5-1983]
B.
No person shall connect or cause to be connected electrical
wiring for light, heat or power, in or on properties within the village, to
any source of electrical energy external to the property prior to the issuance
of a temporary certificate or a certificate of compliance by an authorized
electrical inspection agency.
[Amended 11-21-1983 by L.L. No. 5-1983]
C.
No person shall connect or cause to be connected or,
having connected or caused to be connected, shall leave connected electrical
wiring for light, heat or power in or on properties within the village to
any source of electrical energy if, upon an inspection by an electrical inspector,
a certificate of compliance is denied until or unless rewiring is done to
bring the electrical wiring into compliance with the New York State Uniform
Fire Prevention and Building Code and any local laws, ordinances and regulations
hereafter adopted pertaining to electrical installations and alterations.
[Amended 11-21-1983 by L.L. No. 5-1983]
A.
A certificate of compliance shall be issued by an authorized
electrical inspection agency upon receipt of the written report of an inspection
stating that electrical installations and alterations are in conformity with
the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and all local
laws, ordinances and regulations of the village pertaining to electrical installations
and alterations.
B.
A temporary certificate shall be issued by an authorized
electrical inspection agency upon receipt of the written report of an inspector
stating that in his opinion electrical wiring may be connected to a source
of electrical energy without danger to life or property prior to the completion
of work on an electrical installation or alteration.
[Amended 11-21-1983 by L.L. No. 5-1983]
The chief inspector and each of the duly appointed inspectors of an
authorized electrical inspection agency are hereby authorized and deputized
as agents of the village to make inspections and reinspections of all electrical
installations and alterations heretofore and hereafter described and to approve
or disapprove the same as complying or not complying with the standards set
forth in the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and
any local laws, ordinances and regulations hereafter adopted. In no event,
however, shall the cost or expense of such inspections and reinspections be
a charge against the village.
A.
The electrical inspector shall make inspections and reinspections
of electrical installations and alterations in and on properties in the village
upon the written request of the owner of any property or his agent and upon
the written request of the Board of Trustees or its duly appointed representative.
B.
The electrical inspector is authorized during daylight
hours to make inspections and reinspections of electrical wiring installations
and alterations, devices, appliances and equipment in and on properties within
the village, except private dwellings occupied by the owner thereof, where
he deems it necessary for the protection of life and property.
In the event of an emergency, it is the duty of the electrical inspector
to make electrical inspections upon the oral request of an official or elective
officer of the village.
[Amended 11-21-1983 by L.L. No. 5-1983]
It shall be the duty of the electrical inspector to furnish written
reports of all inspections to the chief inspector who shall receive such reports
on behalf of an authorized electrical inspection agency. It shall also be
the duty of the inspector to furnish written reports to the Board of Trustees
or its duly appointed representative and to owners and/or lessees of property
where defective electrical installations and alterations are found upon inspection.
The electrical inspector shall authorize the issuing of a certificate
of compliance when electrical installations and alterations are in conformity
with the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and all
local laws, ordinances and regulations of the village pertaining to electrical
installations and alterations. He shall direct that a copy of the certificate
of compliance be sent to the village to the attention of the Village Clerk-Treasurer.
The electrical inspector shall authorize the issuance of a temporary
certificate when in his opinion electrical wiring may be connected to a source
of electrical energy without danger of life or property prior to the completion
of work on an electrical installation or alteration.
A.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the
electrical installations in mines, ships, railway cars, automotive equipment
or the installations or equipment employed by a railway, electrical or communication
utility in the exercise of its function as a utility and located outdoors
or in buildings used exclusively for that purpose.
B.
This chapter shall not apply to any work involved in
the manufacture, assembly, test or repair of electrical machinery, apparatus,
materials and equipment by a person engaged in electrical manufacturing as
his principal business.
C.
This chapter shall not apply to any buildings which are
owned or leased in the entirety by the government of the United States of
America or the State of New York.
D.
This chapter shall not apply to any person, engaged in
business in or on properties in the village, who hires or employs on a full-time
basis one or more journeymen electricians whose principal duties are installation,
maintenance and repair of electrical machinery, appliances or electrical distribution
(hereinafter called "electrical work"), provided that by January 1 of each
year a list of such journeymen electricians shall be filed with the Board
of Trustees or its duly appointed representative. The term "journeyman electrician"
shall mean a person who has completed an apprentice course or received equivalent
training or had equivalent experience of at least three years in electrical
work and is deemed qualified by the official of the facility by reason that
his work has been and is in compliance with the New York State Uniform Fire
Prevention and Building Code and any local laws, ordinances and regulations
hereafter adopted pertaining to electrical installations and alterations.
No charge shall be made for filing of such list of journeymen electricians.
[Amended 11-21-1983 by L.L. No. 5-1983]
This chapter shall not be construed to relieve from or lessen the responsibility
of any person owning, operating, controlling, altering or installing any electrical
wiring, devices, appliances or equipment for loss of life or damage to person
or property caused by any defect therein, nor shall the village or an authorized
electrical inspection agency be deemed to have assumed any such liability
by reason of any inspection made pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
