City of Crisfield, MD
Somerset County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Chapter 43 Electrical Standards
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the City of Crisfield 7-1-1968 as Ord. No. 286. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 30.
Unsafe buildings — See Ch. 33.
Fees — See Ch. 45.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 48.
Housing standards — See Ch. 64.
[Amended 8-8-1979 by Ord. No. 331]
The Mayor and City Council of the City of Crisfield does hereby adopt and incorporate as fully as if set out at length herein that certain Electrical Code known as the "National Electrical Code" recommended by the National Board of Fire Underwriters, being the latest edition promulgated.
[1]
Editor's Note: Ordinance No. 339, adopted 5-14-1986, provided that § 30-2 of the Code of the City of Crisfield shall supersede this section to the extent that it may be in conflict therewith.
The National Electrical Code adopted in § 43-1 shall be enforced by the office of Building Inspector of the City of Crisfield. The Building Inspector shall, upon the installation, renewal, extension and reception of any electric wiring and electric apparatus pursuant to this chapter, cause an inspection or inspections to be made by himself or his duly authorized agents to determine that the electrical work conforms with the provisions of the National Electrical Code and this chapter and the provisions of the ordinances of this city and statutes thereof.
No person, copartnership, firm, association, corporation or other legal entity shall hereafter install, receive, renew or extend electrical wire or conductors to be used for the transmission of electrical current for electric light, heat or power purposes in existing buildings, structures or outdoor electrical displays or signs or in the construction, reconstruction, alteration or repair of buildings, structures or outdoor electrical displays or signs without first applying for and obtaining a permit to do so pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
A. 
All such applications for a permit shall be made to the Permit Section of the City of Crisfield, in writing, on forms supplied by the Permit Section.
B. 
Any person making any false answers to any of the questions or items set forth in such application form shall forthwith forfeit and surrender any permit issued pursuant thereto.
C. 
Such application form shall contain questions designed to elicit information to determine whether or not said proposed electrical wiring and electric apparatus comply with the National Electrical Code and any other ordinance of the City of Crisfield.
D. 
Each applicant for a permit shall furnish to the Building Inspector proof in writing that an application for inspection of the proposed electric wiring and electric apparatus has been made to the Middle Department Association of Fire Underwriters, a nonprofit corporation, hereinafter referred to as "Underwriters," or a similar organization that specializes in such inspections to determine that the electrical work conforms. The payment of all inspection fees and charge of the Underwriters or a similar organization shall be borne by the applicant.
Each applicant for a permit shall cause the premises covered by the application to be opened for inspection or inspections by the Building Inspector or his duly authorized representatives and the representative or representatives of the Underwriters or similar organization at all reasonable times.
Upon the Building Inspector's or his duly authorized representative's determination that the proposed electrical wiring and electric apparatus comply with the National Electrical Code and the provisions of this chapter and the provisions of the ordinances of this city, a permit shall issue forthwith.
All permits shall expire at the expiration of two years from the date of issuance by the Building Inspector.
A. 
All inspections shall be made to ensure that the proposed electric work complies with the provisions of the National Electric Code. No electric wiring shall be concealed unless inspected and approved by the Building Inspector or his duly authorized representatives and the representative or representatives of the Underwriters or similar organization, but such inspection or inspections shall be made within a reasonable time after notice of the completion of the electric work sought to be inspected for approval. A duplicate record of each written approval made by the Underwriters or similar organization shall be filed with the Building Inspector.
B. 
All decisions made to determine whether or not the proposed electric work complies with the provisions of the National Electrical Code shall be made by the Building Inspector or his duly authorized representative. The Building Inspector or his duly authorized representative shall have the power to stop electrical work and order the removal thereof when he determines that such work is being installed not in conformity with the National Electrical Code and this chapter and the provisions of the ordinances of this city.
C. 
The Building Inspector may waive his inspection of all or that portion of the proposed electrical work for which he shall have received a duplicate record of approval by the Underwriters or similar organization that it complies with the provisions of the National Electrical Code and this chapter. Notice of the waiver of inspection shall be served on the applicant so that the approved work can be concealed.
A. 
In order to safeguard persons and property against the hazards and perils incident to defective electrical wiring and apparatus that are or may now be in existence within the corporate limits of the City of Crisfield, the Building Inspector or his duly authorized representative is hereby given the duty to inspect with his agents and the representative or representatives of the Underwriters or similar organization when requested by proper authorities or when public interest so requires any premises within the City of Crisfield at reasonable times to ensure that the existing electrical wiring system and apparatus is not defective and unsafe.
B. 
All decisions that the existing electric wiring system and apparatus are defective shall be made by the Building Inspector, in writing, on notice to the owner of the premises served forthwith personally or by regular mail, addressed to the address as shown on the latest tax records, with reasons for his decision.
C. 
Upon the Building Inspector's or his duly authorized representative's decision that the existing electric wiring system is defective and unsafe as aforesaid, the system or portions of the system which are defective and unsafe shall be discontinued until it is corrected and made to comply with the provisions of the National Electrical Code in accordance with this chapter.
A. 
Every applicant and owner of the premises and other parties in interest shall have the right to demand, in writing, a hearing before the Building Inspector to contest any decision or order made by him. Such demand for a hearing shall be signed by the contesting party, stating what portions of the Building Inspector's decision or orders are contested and his, her or their interest in the premises.
B. 
The Building Inspector shall fix a time and place for the hearing, not less than 10 days nor more than 30 days after receiving such demand for a hearing, and cause a notice of the hearing to be served personally or by regular mail on the contestant, owner of the premises and other parties in interest.
C. 
The contestant, owner of the premises and other parties in interest shall have the right to appear in person or otherwise and give testimony at the hearing.
D. 
The Building Inspector, within a reasonable time after such hearing, shall make his decision, in writing, with a finding of the facts and the reasons for his decision and serve a copy of his decision personally or by regular mail on the contestant, owner of the premises and other parties in interest.
E. 
After the Building Inspector makes his determination, in accordance with the provisions set forth in Subsection B, C or D of this section, and the applicant, owner of the premises or other party in interest wishes to appeal the decision of the Building Inspector, such person shall have the right to appeal to the Building and Housing Appeals Board heretofore established under the provisions of the Building Code of the City of Crisfield, and the procedure shall be as set forth in Section 107, Board of Appeal, of the National Building Code heretofore adopted by the City of Crisfield.
Only the materials, fittings and devises enumerated in the List of Inspected Appliances of Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., as revised from time to time, shall be used in the electrical work regulated by the National Electrical Code and this chapter.
The National Electrical Code herein adopted is supplemented by adding thereto the following which is made a part thereof.
"Whenever a permit is required under the terms of this chapter for electrical wiring and apparatus to be done in connection with a gas or oil burner installation in any existing building or structure or in the construction, reconstruction, alteration or repair of buildings or structures, there shall be installed an emergency shutoff switch, with a red plate thereon marked "oil burner" or "gas burner," as the case may be, at the entrance to the basement or heating room."
The Building Inspector shall have the power to modify any of the provisions of this chapter upon application, in writing, by the owner of a premise or his agent when there are practical difficulties in the way of carrying out the strict letter of this chapter, provided that the spirit of this chapter shall be observed, public safety secured and substantial justice done.
All records of the Building Inspector pursuant to this chapter shall be open to public inspection for good and sufficient reasons during office hours but shall not be removed from the office of the Building Inspector without his written consent.
No permit shall be required under this chapter for the following electrical work:
A. 
Minor repair work such as the replacement of lamps and fuses.
B. 
The connection of portable electrical appliances.
C. 
Repair manufacturing and maintenance work on premises occupied by a firm or corporation and installation work on existing buildings and performed by a regular employee, who is a qualified journeyman electrician.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Section 12, Fees, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 1-24-1979 by Ord. No. 320.
[Added 9-12-1979 by Ord. No. 333]
A violation of this chapter shall be declared to be an infraction. The penalty for violation shall be $25 for each initial offense and $50 for each repeat offense.