(a)
Position established; appointment and removal; qualifications.
The position of chief electrical inspector and deputy electrical
inspectors in and for the city is hereby created, and said positions
or so many as he deems necessary shall be filled by appointment by
the mayor and council. Any person so appointed may be removed at any
time, with cause, by the mayor and council. Said electrical inspectors
shall be well versed in all the ordinances, rules and requirements
of the city governing electrical matters.
(b)
Powers and duties.
(1)
Enforcement of regulations.
It shall be the duty of
the chief electrical inspector and the deputy electrical inspector
to enforce the provisions of this division or any ordinance or regulations
now in force or which may hereafter be adopted concerning electric
wiring or apparatus.
(2)
Right of entry.
The chief electrical inspector and/or
any deputy electrical inspector shall have the right during reasonable
hours to enter any building, manhole, or subway in the discharge of
his official duties and/or for the purpose of inspecting the electrical
apparatus or appliances therein contained, and for that purpose he
shall be given prompt access to all buildings, private or public,
and to all manholes and subways, on application to the company, firm,
or individual owning or in charge or control of same.
(3)
Notification to violators.
Where wires or apparatus
are found in a dangerous or unsafe condition, or are deemed to be
an interference with the work of the fire department, inspectors shall
notify the person, firm or company owning, using, or operating them
to place them in a safe, secure and non-interfering condition. Any
corporation, copartnership, association, or individual or agent thereof
failing, neglecting, or refusing within a reasonable time to make
the necessary repairs or changes, and have the necessary work completed
within a reasonable time after the receipt of said notice, shall be
deemed guilty of violation of this division.
(4)
Authority of deputy inspectors.
Each deputy electrical
inspector shall in every case be known to be competent to discharge
the duties of the chief electrical inspector, and the rights and privileges
conferred upon the chief electrical inspector are hereby conferred
upon each deputy electrical inspector when properly appointed.
(5)
Concealment of work.
The chief electrical inspector
and/or any deputy electrical inspector is hereby authorized and directed
to remove any flooring, lathing or plaster, sheetmetal or any other
material which may conceal any electrical wiring or apparatus contrary
to the provisions of this division. On completion of the inspection
of any electric wiring or apparatus designed to be concealed and found
to be in full compliance with the provisions of this division, it
shall be the duty of an electrical inspector to post a notice to that
effect at the main disconnecting means, or other conspicuous place,
and said notice shall be considered as an express permission to conceal
said electric wiring and apparatus, but no concealment shall take
place until such notice has been posted by an electrical inspector.
(6)
Authority to remove wires or turn off current.
The fire
marshal or an electrical inspector or a competent person delegated
by them or either of them shall have the power to at once cause the
removal of all wires, or the turning off of all electric current,
where the circuits interfere with the work of the fire department
during the progress of a fire. An electrical inspector is hereby authorized
and empowered to cause the turning off of electric current from all
conductors or apparatus which are deemed by him/her to be in an unsafe
condition, or which have not been installed in conformity with the
provisions of this division.
(7)
Decisions on questions.
The chief electrical inspector
shall decide all questions not provided for in this division pertaining
to the installation, operation, or maintenance of electric wiring
and apparatus.
(Ordinance 2874 adopted 10/22/18)
No alteration or change shall be made in the electric wiring
or apparatus nor shall any such electric wiring or apparatus be installed
in any building without first securing from an electrical inspector
a permit, nor shall any change be made in any wiring or apparatus
after inspection without notifying an electrical inspector and securing
a new permit.
(Ordinance 2874 adopted 10/22/18)
Before issuing a permit for the installation of any electric
wiring or apparatus, or for the alteration of or change in any electric
wiring or apparatus, as provided in the preceding section, an application
shall be filed with the chief electrical inspector describing such
installation, alteration or change to be made, including the apparatus
and material to be used. No permit shall be issued until such application
shall have been paid [made] to the permit clerk of the city. Permits
shall be issued only when the application bears the true signature
of the master electrician, except, when the applicant is physically
incapacitated or expects to be absent from the county and the application
so states under oath, special permission may be granted by the building
and standards commission. No deviation shall be made in the details
for wiring of apparatus as shown on any application unless a new application
is filed and a new permit granted, for which a permit fee shall be
charged and collected as though it were a new permit.
(Ordinance 2874 adopted 10/22/18)
Upon completion of the installation or of any alteration or
change of electric wires and apparatus in any building, it shall be
the duty of the corporation, copartnership, association or individual
doing the same to notify an electrical inspector, who shall inspect
the same within a reasonable time, and if in accordance with the ordinances,
rules and regulations of the city shall issue a certificate of satisfactory
inspection which shall contain the date of inspection and an outline
of the results [and no certificate shall be issued] unless all apparatus,
wires, etc., connected therewith are in strict conformity with the
rules and regulations herein set forth; nor shall current be turned
on any wiring apparatus until a certificate of satisfactory inspection
is issued. All electrical construction, all material and all apparatus
used in connection with electric work and the operation of all electrical
apparatus shall be in conformity with this division.
(Ordinance 2874 adopted 10/22/18)
No permit shall be required for the installation, maintenance,
or alteration of wiring, apparatus, devices, appliances or equipment
for telegraph, telephone, signal service or central stations protective
service used in conveying signals or intelligence, except where electrical
work is done on the primary side of the source of power at a voltage
over 50 volts and of more than 500 watts. No permit shall be required
for poles and guy anchors for the installation, maintenance, or alteration
of electric wiring, apparatus, devices, appliances, or equipment to
be installed by an electric public service company for the use of
such company in the generation, transmission, distribution, sale or
utilization of electrical energy. However, an electric public service
company shall not do any wiring on a customer's premises other than
wiring which is a part of the company's distribution system, including
metering equipment wherever located and transformer vaults in which
company's transformers are located, nor shall any of its employees
do any work other than that done for said company as hereinbefore
provided for by virtue of this exemption.
(Ordinance 2874 adopted 10/22/18)
Electrical permit fees shall be collected by the city as provided for in the fee schedule found in appendix A of this code.
(Ordinance 2874 adopted 10/22/18)
No corporation, copartnership, association, or individual or
agent thereof shall interfere with the chief electrical inspector
or any person or persons deputized to assist him/her as hereinbefore
provided while in the performance of duty, and each such interference
shall be deemed to constitute a separate offense within the intent
and meaning of this division.
(Ordinance 2874 adopted 10/22/18)
No corporation, copartnership, association, or individual or
agent thereof shall hereafter conceal or cause to be concealed any
electric wiring or apparatus mentioned in this division except with
the express permission of an electrical inspector.
(Ordinance 2874 adopted 10/22/18)
This division shall not be construed to relieve or loosen the
responsibility of any party owning, operating or controlling any electric
wiring, apparatus, devices, appliances, fixtures or equipment for
damages to person or property caused by any defect therein, nor shall
the city be held as assuming by this division any such liability by
reason of the inspection authorized herein, or the certificates of
approval issued as herein provided, or otherwise.
(Ordinance 2874 adopted 10/22/18)
