[Ord. 529, 7/20/1982; as amended by Ord. 572, 10/10/1990; and by Ord. 618, 9/11/1996, § 2]
The Township of Darby hereby adopts, for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the installation, renewal, extension, and reception of electric wiring and electric apparatus 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, the electrical code known as the "BOCA National Electrical Code, 1996," as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association, of which not fewer than three copies have been and now are filed in the office of the Township Secretary, and the same is hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set out at length herein. From the date by which this Part shall take effect, the provisions thereof shall be controlling for all existing and future electrical wiring and apparatus in buildings, structures, or outdoor electrical displays or signs within the corporate limits of the Township of Darby.
[Ord. 529, 7/20/1982; as amended by Ord. 572, 10/10/1990]
The National Electrical Code adopted in § 5-201 hereof shall be enforced by the Building Official. The Building Official shall, upon the installation, removal, extension and reception of any electrical wiring and electrical apparatus pursuant to this Part, cause an inspection or inspections to be made, by himself or his duly authorized agents, to determine that the electrical work conforms with the National Electrical Code, this Part and other ordinances of the Township of Darby and the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
[Ord. 529, 7/20/1982; as amended by Ord. 572, 10/10/1990]
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 electric 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 this Part.
1. 
All such applications for a permit shall be made to the Building Official in writing on forms supplied by said Building Official.
2. 
Any person making false answers to any questions or items set forth in such application form shall forfeit and surrender any permit issued pursuant thereto.
3. 
Such application form shall contain questions designed to elicit information to determine whether or not said proposed electric wiring and electric apparatus comply with the National Electrical Code, any other ordinances of the Township, and statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
4. 
Each such application form shall be accompanied by a fee prescribed by this Part.
5. 
Each applicant for a permit shall furnish to the Building Official proof in writing that an application for inspection of the proposed electric wiring and electric apparatus has been made to a local area inspection agency that specializes in such inspections, to determine that the electrical work conforms with the provisions of the National Electrical Code and this Part. The payment of all inspection fees and charges of the local area inspection agency shall be borne by the applicant.
6. 
Each applicant for a permit shall cause the premises covered by the application to be open for inspection or inspections by the Building Official and his agents and the representative or representatives of the local area inspection agency at all reasonable times.
7. 
Upon the Building Official's determination that the proposed electric wiring and electric apparatus comply with the National Electric Code, this Part and other ordinances of the Township of Darby and the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a permit shall be issued.
8. 
All permits shall expire one year from the date of issuance by the Building Official.
[Ord. 529, 7/20/1982; as amended by Ord. 572, 10/10/1990]
1. 
All inspections shall be made to ensure that the proposed electrical work complies with the National Electrical Code. No electric wiring shall be concealed unless inspected and approved by the Building Official and his agents and the representatives or representative of the local area inspection agency, but such inspection or reinspection shall be made within a reasonable time after notice of completion of the electrical work sought to be inspected for approval. A duplicate record of each written approval made by the local area inspection agency shall be filed with the Building Official.
2. 
All decisions made to determine whether or not the proposed electrical work complies with the provisions of the National Electrical Code shall be made by the Building Official.
3. 
The Building Official 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, this Part and other ordinances of the Township and the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
4. 
The Building Official may waive his inspection to determine compliance with the National Electrical Code and this Part of all or that portion of the proposed electrical work for which he shall have received a duplicate record of approval by the local area inspection agency. The Building Official shall give notice so that the approved work can be concealed.
[Ord. 529, 7/20/1982; as amended by Ord. 572, 10/10/1990]
In order to safeguard persons and property against the hazards and perils incident to defective electric wiring and apparatus that are or may now be in existence within the corporate limits of the Township of Darby, the Building Official is hereby given the duty to inspect, with his agents and the representative or representatives of the local area inspection agency, when requested by proper authority, or when public interest so requires, any premises within the Township of Darby at reasonable times to ensure that the existing electric wiring system and apparatus is not defective and unsafe.
1. 
All decisions that the existing electric wiring system and apparatus is defective shall be made by the Building Official in writing on notice to the owner of the premises served forthwith personally or by regular mail addressed to the address shown on the latest tax records, with reasons for his decision.
2. 
Upon the Building Official'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 they are corrected and made to comply with the provisions of the National Electrical Code in accordance with this Part.
[Ord. 529, 7/20/1982; as amended by Ord. 572, 10/10/1990]
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 Official 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 Official's decision or orders are contested and his, or her, or their interest in the premises.
1. 
The Building Official 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, the owner of the premises and other parties in interest.
2. 
The contestant, the 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. Rules of evidence prevailing in the courts shall not be controlling.
3. 
The Building Official, 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, the owner of the premises and other parties in interest.
4. 
An aggrieved party may file an appeal of this decision to the Board of Commissioners in accordance with the Local Agency Law.
[Ord. 529, 7/20/1982; as amended by Ord. 572, 10/10/1990]
Only the materials, fittings and devices 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 Part.
[Ord. 529, 7/20/1982; as amended by Ord. 572, 10/10/1990]
The National Electrical Code herein adopted is supplemented by adding thereto the following, which is made a part hereof:
§ 208. Supplements. The National Electrical Code herein adopted is supplemented by adding thereto the following, which is made a part hereof:
1.
Whenever a permit is required under the terms of this Part 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.
[Ord. 529, 7/20/1982; as amended by Ord. 572, 10/10/1990]
The Building Official shall have the power to modify any of the provisions of this Part, upon application, in writing, by the owner of a premises or his agent, when there are practical difficulties in the way of carrying out the strict letter of this Part, provided that the spirit of this Part shall be observed, public safety secured, and substantial justice done.
[Ord. 529, 7/20/1982; as amended by Ord. 572, 10/10/1990]
All records of the Building Official pursuant to this Part 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 Official without his written consent.
[Ord. 529, 7/20/1982; Ord. 572, 10/10/1990]
No permit shall be required under this Part for the following electrical work:
1. 
Minor repair work such as the replacement of lamps and fuses.
2. 
The connection of portable electrical appliances to suitable permanently installed appliances.
3. 
Equipment installed or work performed by or for a public utility operating under authority granted by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
4. 
Equipment installed or work performed by a railway utility in the exercise of its function as a utility and located in or on its right-of-way.
5. 
Equipment used in connection with commercial radio and television transmission.
6. 
Repair, manufacturing and maintenance work on premises occupied by a firm or corporation and performed by a regular employee who is a qualified journeyman electrician.
[Ord. 529, 7/20/1982; Ord. 572, 10/10/1990; Ord. 573, 11/26/1990; Ord. 577, 10/9/1991; Ord. 601, 3/9/1994; Ord. 630, 12/9/1998; Ord. 689, 12/8/2010; Ord. 711, 12/4/2013; Ord. No. 746, 2/10/2021]
1. 
The applicant for any permit for new building or an addition to or alteration of an existing building shall, at the time of his application, pay to the Township Treasurer, for the use of the Township, for each and every building as a functional unit, and to be applicable to each functional unit in multiple-unit construction, a fee which shall be based on the actual contract price of any such work or, if no contract price has been agreed upon, then the applicant's estimated cost; provided, however, that upon review by the Electrical Inspector with the assistance of the Township Engineer, if required, such contract price or estimated cost shall be subject to revision. If it is determined that the contract price or estimated cost is unrealistic, then the Building Inspector shall make the estimate of cost, which shall be final.
A. 
The fees for new construction shall be as follows:
(1) 
Residential: application fee of $100, plus $100 for the first $1,000 and $50 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof.
(2) 
Commercial: application fee of $250, plus:
(a) 
$150 per $1,000 of cost or fraction thereof for the first $50,000.
(b) 
$100 per $1,000 of cost or fraction thereof for $51,000 and above.
B. 
The fees for alterations, additions and repairs shall be as follows:
(1) 
Residential: application fee of $100, plus $75 per $1,000 of cost or fraction thereof.
(2) 
Commercial, industrial, public utility, amusement, recreational, motel, hotel, multifamily, radio tower, food service or other structures:
(a) 
Application fee of $250, plus $150 per $1,000 of cost or fraction thereof for the first $50,000.
(b) 
$100 per $1,000 of cost or fraction thereof for $51,000 and above.
C. 
The fees for licenses shall be as follows:
(1) 
$40 for new registration.
(2) 
$30 if the applicant was registered the previous year.
2. 
Double Fees. In case any work for which a permit required by this Code is started or proceeded with prior to obtaining said permit, the fee specified in this section of this Code shall be doubled, but the payment of such double fee shall not relieve any person from fully complying with the requirements of this Code in the execution of the work, nor from any other penalties prescribed herein.
[Ord. 572, 10/10/1990]
Any person who shall violate any provision of this Part shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $1,000 and costs, or in default of payment thereof, shall be subject to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues shall constitute a separate offense.
[Ord. 529, 7/20/1982; Ord. 572, 10/10/1990]
In all matters that are regulated by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or by regulations of departments or agencies of the commonwealth promulgated by authority of law, such laws or regulations, as the case may be, shall control where the requirements thereof are the same as or in excess of the provisions of this Part. The code shall control in all cases where the state requirements are not as strict as those contained in this Part.
[Ord. 529, 7/20/1982; as amended by Ord. 572, 10/10/1990]
The invalidity of any section or part of this Part shall not affect the remaining sections.
[Ord. 529, 7/20/1982; as amended by Ord. 572, 10/10/1990]
The provisions of this Part, so far as they are the same as those of ordinances and/or codes in force immediately prior to the enactment of this Part, are intended as a continuation of such ordinances and codes and not as new enactments. The provisions of this Part shall not affect any act done or liability incurred, nor shall they affect any suit or prosecution pending or to be instituted to enforce any right or penalty or to punish any offense under authority of any of the repealed ordinances.