[Amended 11-3-1965; 9-30-1974; 7-16-1984; 1-9-2006; 5-18-2009; 7-2-2012; 11-3-2014; at time
of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
For the purpose of establishing rules and regulations to safeguard
persons and buildings and the contents thereof from hazards arising
from the use of electricity for light, heat, power and other purposes,
and prescribing minimum standards considered necessary for the public
safety, the City of Westbrook hereby adopts the most current National
Electrical Code adopted by the State of Maine.
It is intended by this chapter that all buildings within the
boundaries of the City shall conform with the provisions and requirements
of the National Electrical Code, and the provisions and requirements
of said code shall be the minimum standards for the construction,
alteration, use and maintenance of all buildings and the electrical
fixtures and equipment therein contained within the limits of the
City.
Any person, being the owner of or having control of any building or structure or part thereof, which violates any of the provisions of the National Electrical Code or who fails to conform to any of the provisions thereof in making any electrical installation within the City, after having received a ten-day notice of such violation and has not corrected same within such period, shall be subject to the penalty provisions of §
1-8 of this Code. Each and every day such a violation continues after such ten-day notice period shall constitute a separate offense.
This chapter shall not be construed to relieve or lessen the
responsibility or liability of any party owning, operating, controlling
or installing any electric wiring devices or equipment for damages
to persons or property caused by any defect therein, nor shall the
City be held as assuming any such liability by reason of the inspection
authorized herein or by issuing a permit as herein provided for.
[Amended 1-9-2006; at
time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
A permit shall be obtained from the Department of Code Enforcement
before beginning any electrical installation work covered by the National
Electrical Code within the City by the person intending to do such
installation or by the owner of the premises in which it is to be
done, but no permit shall be required under any of the following exceptions:
A. For any electrical repair work done for normal maintenance purposes.
B. Any person under the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission
of this state or of the Federal Communications Commission.
C. Any electrical equipment and work, including construction, installation,
operation, maintenance and repair, in or about industrial or manufacturing
plants.
D. Any electrical installations or equipment involved in the manufacture,
test or repair of electrical equipment in the manufacturer's plant.
Applications for permits required by the previous section shall
be filed with the Department of Code Enforcement and shall set forth
the nature of the proposed electrical installation work and all other
information necessary to show whether or not the installation work
will conform with the provisions and requirements of the National
Electrical Code.
[Added 2-7-1967; amended 1-9-2006]
In the event a permit required by this chapter is denied or
any person is aggrieved by any order or decision of the Building Inspector
or the Electrical Inspector relative to the provisions or enforcement
of this chapter, the applicant or aggrieved person may file an appeal,
in writing, with the Council in accordance with the provisions of
30-A M.R.S.A. § 4103, which provisions shall apply to such
an appeal.
[Added 2-7-1967; amended 12-3-1977; 7-6-1982; 1-22-1991; 1-25-1999; 11-25-2005; 1-9-2006]
The schedule of fees is set forth in Chapter
A400, Master Fee Schedule. For fee purposes, outlets will be classed as lights, lighting and small appliance receptacles (plugs), and lighting switches. Unless otherwise stated, each permit issued will be valid to one year from the date of issue, except temporary permits, and may be renewed by the original contractor for a period of not more than one year, for 1/4 of the previous permit fee.
[Added 12-27-1973; amended 1-9-2006]
When an electrical permit is not applied for within two business
days after the work has been started, the fee for such a belated permit
shall be double the amount of the fee as per schedule.
[Amended 1-9-2006]
The Electrical Inspector and the Building Inspector shall have
the authority to make such inspections of all buildings and electrical
installations therein within the City as they may deem necessary to
see that the provisions of this chapter and the National Electric
Code are strictly enforced, and they shall have the authority to institute
any proceedings which may be necessary for enforcing or preventing
violations of this chapter and the National Electrical Code.
No person shall cover or conceal or cause to be so covered or
concealed any wiring for which a permit has been issued or is required
before such wiring has been inspected and approved without having
officially notified the Electrical Inspector at least 48 hours prior
to such covering or concealment.
When any electrical work or wiring is found to have been installed
without a proper permit having been secured, or not to be in accordance
with the provisions of this chapter, the Electrical Inspector, if
he deems such work or wiring to be a hazard to the safety of persons
or property, is hereby authorized and empowered to remove the fuses,
cut the wires or otherwise render the system inoperative until such
permit has been secured and the work of wiring reinspected and approved.
[Added 2-7-1967]
The Electrical Inspector shall make a quarterly report of his
activities to the Council.