License requirements for all electricians operating in the city are governed by V.T.C.A., Occupations Code, chapter 1305. (Ordinance adopting Code) and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (T.D.L.R.)
(Ordinance 5341 adopted 10/3/05)
(a) 
Definition.
The term "residential electrician" as used in this article is defined to mean and include any person engaged in the business of, or holding themselves out to the public as being, engaged in the business of installing and repairing, or contracting to install or repair, any electrical wiring, conduits, fixtures, devices, apparatus and equipment for carrying, using or consuming electrical energy for which a permit is required by the provisions of this article for residential applications, and in all cases shall include a person with a current residential electrician's license issued by the city.
(b) 
License required.
Before any person shall engage in the business of residential electrician as defined herein, application shall be made to the director of the department for a residential electrician's license.
(c) 
Examination.
The applicant shall be required to be examined as provided in V.T.C.A., Occupations Code, chapter 1305, before being entitled to receive a license.
(d) 
Fee.
Before a license shall be granted to an applicant as a residential electrician, a fee in the amount established by resolution for license shall be paid to the city for the first years’ license or any portion of a year's license.
(e) 
License duration, renewal.
All licenses granted hereunder shall expire at midnight of December thirty-first following the date of issuance of the license, and thereafter each year on December thirty-first, as long as such license is in force and effect. Such license shall expire at 12:00 midnight of the next succeeding December thirty-first after issuance, unless sooner revoked as herein provided, and annually thereafter the same may be renewed and extended for an additional period of one (1) year by such license upon payment to the city of an annual renewal fee in the amount established by resolution at any time within thirty (30) days after the expiration date.
(f) 
Bond.
Each residential electrician operating as an electrical contractor shall execute and deliver to the city clerk for approval a bond in the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00), having as surety thereon a recognized surety company authorized to do business in this state, such bond to be conditioned for the faithful work for all work entered upon or contracted for in strict accordance with the terms and requirements of this article or insurance as required by the state.
(g) 
Authority granted by license.
Such license when issued shall entitle the holder thereof to engage in the business of residential electrician for the period of time from the date of issuance to the next January first thereafter, providing the surety bond herein required remains and continues in full force and effect.
(h) 
License nontransferable.
No license issued in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be transferable. Any holder of a license, who shall permit or allow same to be used by any other party to obtain a permit to do electrical work as specified in this article, shall be subject to having such license revoked by the electrical board.
(Ordinance 5341 adopted 10/3/05)
(a) 
Definition.
The term "electrical contractor" as used in this article is defined to mean and include any person engaged in the business of, or holding themselves out to the public as being engaged in the business of installing and repairing, or contracting to install or repair any electrical wiring, conduits, fixtures, devices, apparatus and equipment for carrying, using or consuming electrical energy for which a permit is required by the provisions of this article, and in all cases shall include a person with a current master/contractor electrician's license issued by the city.
(b) 
License required.
Before any person shall engage in the business of electrical contractor as defined herein, application shall be made to the director of the department for a master/contractor electrician's license.
(c) 
Examination.
The applicant shall be required to be examined as provided in V.T.C.A., Occupations Code, chapter 1305, before being entitled to receive a license.
(d) 
License fee.
Before a license shall be granted to an applicant as a master electrician, a fee in the amount established by resolution for license shall be paid to the city for the first year's license, or any portion of a year's license.
(e) 
License duration, renewal.
All licenses granted hereunder shall expire at midnight of December thirty-first following the date of issuance of the license, and thereafter each year on December thirty-first, as long as such license is in force and effect. Such license shall expire at 12:00 midnight of the next succeeding December thirty-first after issuance, unless sooner revoked as herein provided, and annually thereafter the same may be renewed and extended for an additional period of one (1) year by such license upon payment to the city of an annual renewal fee in the amount established by resolution at any time within thirty (30) days after the expiration date.
(f) 
Bond.
Each master electrician operating as an electrical contractor shall execute and deliver to the city clerk for approval a bond in the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00), having a surety thereon a recognized surety company authorized to do business in this state, such bond to be conditioned for the faithful work for all work entered upon or contracted for in strict accordance with the terms and requirements of this article or insurance as required by the state.
(g) 
Authority granted by license.
Such license when issued shall entitle the holder thereof to engage in the business of electrical contractor for the period of time from the date of issuance to the next January first thereafter, providing the surety bond herein required remains and continues in full force and effect.
(h) 
License nontransferable.
No license issued in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be transferable. Any holder of a license, who shall permit or allow same to be used by any other party to obtain a permit to do electrical work as specified in this article, shall be subject to having such license revoked by the electrical board.
(Ordinance 5341 adopted 10/3/05)
(a) 
Definition.
The term "journeyman electrician" as used in this article is defined to mean and include any person who works for or under the supervision of a master/contractor electrician in installing or repairing electrical wiring, devices and equipment.
(b) 
Registration required.
All journeyman electricians before being permitted to do any electrical work in the city shall make application in the office of code enforcement for registration as journeyman electrician.
(c) 
Examination.
An applicant for journeyman registration, to qualify, must be licensed by the state as provided in V.T.C.A., Occupations Code chapter 1305.
(d) 
Registration fee.
The building department shall issue to every applicant that passes the state examination a certificate of registration as a journeyman electrician upon payment of a registration fee in the amount established by resolution.
(e) 
Registration duration, renewal.
Such certificate of registration, when issued shall entitle the holder thereof to do electrical work in the city as a journeyman electrician from the date of the issuance of the same to 12:00 midnight of the next succeeding December thirty-first, unless sooner revoked as herein provided, and annually thereafter the same may be renewed and extended for an additional period of one (1) year by such license upon payment to the city of an annual renewal fee in the amount established by resolution at any time within thirty (30) days after the expiration date.
(f) 
Apprentices, helpers.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the employment of apprentices or helpers working under the supervision of licensed electricians. A licensed electrician must be on the job site at all times while apprentices or helpers are working.
(Ordinance 5341 adopted 10/3/05)
Any current licenses held by an electrical contractor or certificate of registration held by a journeyman electrician under the provisions of existing ordinances shall remain valid until the expiration of the same under such existing ordinance, but any application for renewal or renewal thereof shall be subject to all terms and provisions of this article.
(Ordinance 5341 adopted 10/3/05)
Upon presentation to the director of the department of charges that the holder of any license or certificate of registration issued under this article has willfully or consistently violated any provision of this article or is incompetent to comply with such provisions, or that such holder has been found guilty of violating this article, the director of the department shall fix a time and place of a meeting of the construction appeals board to consider such charges and shall notify such holder of such certificate or license to be present at such meeting. Such notification shall be in writing and shall be delivered to such holder at least five (5) days prior to such meeting. Upon hearing such charges are justified, and in the event of an affirmative finding the certificate of registration or license of such holder, as the case may be, shall by the board be revoked or suspended for a period of not less than thirty (30) days and not more than two (2) years.
(Ordinance 5341 adopted 10/3/05)
In the event that any holder of a certificate of registration or license issued pursuant to this article allows the same to lapse for a period of more than thirty (30) days for any cause, any attempted renewal of such license shall require the applicant for renewal to pay for all periods not already paid for plus an additional late fee in the amount established by resolution.
(Ordinance 5341 adopted 10/3/05)
The electrical board may negotiate and authorize a written reciprocal electrical licensing agreement with any city in this state, provided that such agreement shall be signed by the chairman or president of each consenting electrical board and a copy shall be filed in the office of the director of the department of the city. There shall be collected by the city a reciprocal licensing fee from a journeyman applicant in the amount established by resolution and a reciprocal licensing fee from a master/contractor applicant in the amount established by resolution plus, and in addition to, the regular fees required by the city for electrical licenses. A fee in the amount established by resolution shall be collected from any electrician for a reciprocal letter to another city.
(Ordinance 5341 adopted 10/3/05)
(a) 
Nothing contained in this article shall prohibit any bona fide homeowner from personally installing electrical conductors or equipment within his own home provided that the owner shall file with the office of code enforcement approved plans and specifications; satisfy the electrical inspector as to his ability to install electrical wiring; apply for and secure a permit; pay required fee; do work in accordance with this article; apply for an inspection; and receive certificate of approval.
(b) 
Personal installation by an owner under these homeowners’ rights shall be by himself, for himself, on his own homestead premises in which he resides.
(Ordinance 5341 adopted 10/3/05)