This chapter shall be known as the "Electrical
Code of the City of Norwich, New York."
Since there is danger to life and property inherent
in the use of electrical energy, this chapter is enacted to regulate
the installation, alteration or repair of wiring for electric lights,
heat or power, and signal systems operating on 75 volts or more, including
all fire alarm systems, in or on all real property within the City
of Norwich, New York, and the licensing of those individuals wishing
to perform this line of work. Property owners may do their own repair
work.
All electrical installations heretofore mentioned
shall be made in conformity with the requirements of the National
Electrical Code (NEC) and applicable sections of the New York State
Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code except where provisions
of this chapter or any other local law, ordinance, or building code
of the City of Norwich shall be more stringent and shall differently
prescribe, in which event compliance with the provisions of such local
law, ordinance or building code shall be recognized as proper compliance
with this chapter. The requirements of the National Electrical Code
shall be those known as "National Fire Protection Association Pamphlet
No. 70," as adopted by the American Standards Association, and as
amended from time to time.
The Code Enforcement Officer of the City of
Norwich is hereby authorized to establish an electrical permit system
in the City for the issuance of permits to allow electrical installations
and to promulgate rules and regulations concerning such issuance in
accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The Common Council
of the City of Norwich, by resolution, may establish whatever fees
it shall deem necessary and proper for the issuance of such permits.
Any duly appointed inspector of any inspection
agency at all times authorized to perform inspections on behalf of
the New York State Electric and Gas Corporation, or its successors,
are hereby authorized and deputized as agents of the City of Norwich
to make inspections and reinspections of all electrical installations
heretofore and hereafter described, and to approve or disapprove the
same. These inspections are to be made under the auspices of the Code
Enforcement Officer of the City of Norwich. In no event, however,
will the cost or expense of such inspections and reinspections be
a charge against the City of Norwich.
It shall be the duty of the inspector to report,
in writing, to the Code Enforcement Officer, whose duty it shall be
to enforce all the provisions of this code, all violations of or deviations
from or omissions of the electrical provisions of the National Electrical
Code (NEC), and of all local laws, ordinances and the Building Code
as referred to in this chapter, insofar as any of the same apply to
electrical wiring. The inspector shall make inspections and reinspections
of the electrical installations in and on properties in the City of
Norwich upon the written request of an authorized official of the
City of Norwich or as herein provided. The inspector is authorized
to make inspections and reinspections of electrical wiring installations,
devices, appliances, and equipment in and on properties within the
City of Norwich where he deems it necessary for the protection of
life and property. In the event of an emergency, it is the duty of
the inspector to make electrical inspections upon the oral request
of an official or officer of the City of Norwich. It shall be the
duty of the inspector to furnish written reports to the proper official
of the City of Norwich and owners and/or lessees of property where
defective electrical installations and equipment are found upon inspection.
He shall authorize the issuing of a certificate of compliance when
electrical installations and equipment are in conformity with this
chapter. He shall direct that a copy of the certificate of compliance
be sent to the City of Norwich to the attention of Code Enforcement
Officer.
A. It shall
be a violation of this chapter for any person, firm or corporation
to install or cause to be installed, or to alter or repair electrical
wiring for light, heat or power, in or on properties in the City of
Norwich, until an application for inspection has been filed with an
inspection agency authorized to perform inspections on behalf of the
New York State Electric and Gas Corporation, or its successors.
B. It shall
be a violation of this chapter for a person, firm or corporation to
connect or cause to be connected electrical wiring in or on properties
for light, heat or power to any source of electrical energy supply
without the issuance of a temporary certificate or a certificate of
compliance by an authorized inspection agency.
C. It shall
be a violation of this chapter for any person, firm or corporation
to permit to remain connected defective electrical wiring, installations
or equipment for light, heat or power after inspection and written
notice of such defect.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate
any of the provisions of this chapter or any rule or regulation made
pursuant thereto shall be guilty of a violation and, upon conviction
thereof, may be punished by a fine not less than $250, imprisonment
not to exceed 15 days, or both, and each day on which such violations
continue shall constitute a separate offense.
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 communications utility in the exercise of its function
as a utility and located outdoors or in the buildings used exclusively
for that purpose. 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, firm or corporation
engaged in electrical manufacturing as their principal business. This
chapter shall not apply to manufacturing units which have regular
electrical maintenance personnel. It shall not apply to any building
which is owned or leased in its entirety by the government of the
United States or the State of New York.
A. This chapter
shall not be construed to relieve from or lessen the responsibility
of any person owning, operating, controlling or installing any electrical
wiring, devices, appliances or equipment for loss of life or damage
to person or property caused by a defect therein, nor shall the City
of Norwich or any authorized inspection agency be deemed to have assumed
any such liability by reason of any inspection made pursuant to this
chapter.
B. Any firm
or person engaged commercially in electrical wiring shall carry a
minimum insurance policy within limits of $500,000 general liability,
$300,000 bodily injury, $300,000 property damage and workers' compensation
as required by the State of New York. This requirement shall be satisfied
immediately, by those contractors not on file with the City of Norwich
Code Enforcement Office, upon enactment of this chapter.
Any agency authorized to perform inspections
on behalf of the New York State Electric and Gas Corporation shall
register with the City of Norwich and shall agree to furnish within
10 days reports to the City of Norwich. No such agency shall be permitted
to inspect prior to registration.
For willful misconduct, failure to submit reports
as provided by this chapter, lack of performance, or for other just
cause the Code Enforcement Officer may recommend to the Common Council,
or the Common Council upon its own motion may move, that one or more
agency or agencies be suspended or removed. Within 30 days of such
action, the Common Council shall hold a hearing to determine whether
such action should be taken. The agency shall be given written notice
of the hearing, personally served or by certified mail, at least eight
days prior to such hearing and shall have the opportunity to be heard.
The Common Council may suspend an agency found to be in violation
for a period of not less than three months or more than five years,
or remove an agency for at least five years. The decision of the Council
shall be rendered within 30 days after the conclusion of a hearing.
No agency shall inspect any work and furnish
an interim or final report for any job which has previously been inspected
by another authorized agency. An agency that performs the initial
inspection shall perform all subsequent inspections through the final
inspection.
All ordinances and parts of ordinances inconsistent
with this chapter are hereby repealed. This chapter shall repeal the
Electrical Code for the City of Norwich, New York, adopted on March
1, 1964.
A. From time to time, it is anticipated that, in the opinion of the Code Enforcement Officer, a violation of the code exists, at which time he shall issue a written notice to the alleged violator. The notice shall specify the sections of the code of which the individual is in violation and shall require that the individual comply within 14 days of the date of the notice or file an appeal to the Board of Appeals as established by the City of Norwich Common Council. The penalties for failure to comply are as noted under §
227-8.
B. In such instances in which the State Code shall create
such difficulties or hardship, an appeal or variance may be applied
for in accordance with Section 112 of the Building Code of New York
State.
C. An appeal shall stay all proceedings in furtherance
of the action unless the Code Enforcement Officer, from whom the appeal
is taken, certifies that the stay would cause imminent peril to life
and property.
This chapter shall take effect as of the 22nd
day of July 2009, as approved by the Mayor and Common Council of the
City of Norwich, New York.
This chapter constitutes a revision of the electrical
licensing ordinances of the City of Norwich, New York; the Director
of Finance is hereby directed to publish this chapter in pamphlet
form for general distribution to the public at a price per pamphlet
of $5.