There is hereby adopted by the Mayor and Commissioners, for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the installation, renewal, extension and reception of electrical wiring and electric apparatus in existing buildings and structures and reconstruction, alteration or repair of buildings and structures or outdoor electrical displays or signs, that certain code known as the "National Electrical Code" as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association, 2014 edition, of which not fewer than three copies are filed in the office of the Town Clerk, provided that three copies of all amendments thereto, unless specifically deleted from the National Electrical Code by ordinance of the Mayor and Commissioners, shall be filed in the office of the Town Clerk, and such code and amendments thereto are hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set out at length in this article, and 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 Town.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
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 electrical code adopted by this article.
The imposition of one penalty for any violation under this article shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue, and all such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations or defects within 30 days' time unless an appeal is taken to the Circuit Court for the county, in which case such person shall be required to correct or remedy such violations or defects within 30 days after a final decision by the Circuit Court for the county. When not otherwise specified, each 10 days that a prohibited condition exists shall constitute a separate offense. The application of any penalty for a violation of this article shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions.
The electrical code adopted by this article shall be enforced by the Building Official. The Building Official shall, upon the installation, renewal, extension and reception of any electric wiring and electric apparatus pursuant to this article, cause an inspection to be made by himself or his duly authorized agents to determine that the electrical work conforms to the provisions of such electrical code and to this article.
The Building Official shall have the power to modify any of the provisions of this article, 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 article, provided that the spirit of this article shall be observed, public safety secured and substantial justice done.
A. 
Every applicant and owner of any premises and any other parties aggrieved by a decision of the Building Official under this article shall have the right to demand, in writing, a hearing before the Mayor and Commissioners to contest any decision or order made by the Building Official. Such demand for a hearing shall be signed by the contesting party, stating what portions of the Building Official's decision or order are contested and his interest in the premises.
B. 
The Mayor and Commissioners shall fix a time and place for the hearing not 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, and the rules of evidence prevailing in the courts shall not be controlling.
D. 
The Mayor and Commissioners, within a reasonable time after such hearing, shall make their decision, in writing, and serve a copy of their decision personally or by regular mail on the contestant, owner of the premises and other parties in interest.
E. 
Any applicant and owner of the premises and any other parties aggrieved by the decision of the Mayor and Commissioners may appeal such decision to the Circuit Court for the county within 30 days after the decision of the Mayor and Commissioners.
All records of the Building Official relating to the subject matter of this article 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.
A. 
Required. No person shall make any installation or renewal or extension of 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 the provisions of this section.
B. 
Exceptions. No electrical permit shall be required under this section 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 for a public utility.
(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 installation work on existing buildings occupied by a firm or corporation and performed by a regular employee who is a qualified journeyman electrician.
C. 
Application.
(1) 
All applications for electrical permits shall be made to the Building Official, in writing, on forms supplied by the Building Official.
(2) 
Such application form shall contain questions designed to elicit information to determine whether or not the proposed electric wiring and electric apparatus comply with the electrical code adopted by this article and any other provisions of this Code or any other ordinances of the Town.
(3) 
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.
D. 
Payment of fees. No permit required by this section shall be issued until all fees required by the Town for the permit are paid.
E. 
Application for inspection required prior to issuance. Each applicant for an electrical 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 Middle Department Inspection Agency, a nonprofit organization, or a similar organization that specializes in such inspections, to determine that the electrical work conforms to the provisions of the electrical code adopted by this article and with this article. The payment of all inspection fees and charges of the underwriters or a similar organization shall be borne by the applicant.
F. 
Issuance; expiration.
(1) 
Upon determination by the Building Official that the proposed electric wiring and electric apparatus comply with the electrical code adopted by this article and with the provisions of this article and the laws of the state, an electrical permit shall issue forthwith.
(2) 
All electrical permits shall expire at the expiration of one year from the date of issuance.
A. 
Inspection of proposed work.
(1) 
Required. All inspections of work done pursuant to an electrical permit shall be made to ensure that the proposed electrical work complies with the provisions of the electrical code adopted by this article. No electric wiring shall be concealed unless inspected and approved by the Building Official and his agents and the representative of the Middle Department Inspection Agency or other similar organization, but such inspections or reinspection shall be made within a reasonable time after notice of the completion of the electrical work sought to be inspected for approval. A duplicate record of each written approval made by the inspectors shall be filed with the Building Official.
(2) 
Access to premises. Each applicant for an electrical permit shall cause the premises covered by the application to be open for inspection to the Building Official and his agents and the representatives of the Middle Department Inspection Agency or similar organization at all reasonable times.
(3) 
Determination of compliance. All decisions made to determine whether or not proposed electrical work complies with the provisions of the electrical code adopted by this article shall be made by the Building Official or his duly authorized agents.
(4) 
Authority to stop work and order removal of work. The Building Official shall have the power to stop electrical work and order the removal thereof when he determines that such work is not being installed in conformity with the electrical code adopted by this article and in accordance with this article.
(5) 
Waiver of inspection. The Building Official may waive his inspection of all or that portion of any proposed electrical work for which he shall have received a duplicate record of approval by the Middle Department Inspection Agency or other similar organization that it complies with the provisions of the electrical code adopted by this article and with this article. Notice of the waiver of inspection shall be served on the applicant so that the approved work can be concealed.
B. 
Inspection of existing installations.
(1) 
In order to safeguard persons and property against the hazards and perils incident to defective electric wiring and apparatus in existence within the Town, the Building Official is hereby given the authority to inspect, with his agents and the representatives of the Middle Department Inspection Agency or other similar organization, when requested by proper authority or when public interest so requires, any premises within the Town, at reasonable times, to ensure that the existing electric wiring system and apparatus are not defective and unsafe.
(2) 
All decisions that the existing electric wiring system and apparatus are 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 as shown on the latest tax records, with the reasons for his decision.
(3) 
Upon the Building Official's decision that the existing electric wiring system is defective and unsafe, the system or portion of the system which is defective and unsafe shall be discontinued until it is corrected and made to comply with the provisions of the electrical code adopted by this article and in accordance with this article.