This division shall be known and may be cited as the electrical ordinance of the city.
(1995 Code, sec. 150.030; Ordinance 3712 adopted 8/17/2004)
The 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), in its totality, is hereby adopted by reference, including all appendices, as the rules and regulations to govern and to be observed and followed in all electrical wiring and in all constitution [construction], installation, repairs, alterations, operation and maintenance of electrical wiring systems, apparatus and fixtures.
(1995 Code, sec. 150.031; Ordinance 3712 adopted 8/17/2004; Ordinance 3803 adopted 11/15/2005; Ordinance 4702 adopted 10/3/2017; Ordinance 4911 adopted 10/19/2021; Ordinance 5011 adopted 7/18/2023)
(a) 
A person shall not perform electrical work, as defined by the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act, within the city unless the person holds an appropriate license issued by the state.
(b) 
A person or company may not apply for or be granted an electrical permit by the city unless that person or company holds an appropriate electrical contractor’s license issued by the state. All such permits will be granted upon proper application for permit and proof of the required state license and state-mandated insurance coverage.
(1995 Code, sec. 150.032; Ordinance 3712 adopted 8/17/2004; Ordinance 4702 adopted 10/3/2017)
(a) 
No electric light or power company shall connect to any electrical installation of any kind whatsoever until furnished with a certificate of inspection or permit for such connection duly executed by the electrical inspector.
(b) 
Provided that all electrical and power companies shall, upon written notice from the city electrical inspector, and after written notice to the owner, disconnect from any circuit or service designated by said notice and shall not reconnect to said circuit or service except upon written notice from the city building official.
(1995 Code, sec. 150.033; Ordinance 3712 adopted 8/17/2004)
It shall be unlawful for any public service company serving the city to hook up to any building, tent, or outdoor wiring of any nature, kind or description without first obtaining clearance from the building official. Whenever service is discontinued to any commercial building for any cause whatsoever, except nonpayment of bill, clearance will be necessary before reconnecting. The building official must satisfy himself or herself that there have not been any changes or additions made to the wiring of such building that might create a fire hazard by the overloading of circuits [or] from any other cause.
(1995 Code, sec. 150.034; Ordinance 3712 adopted 8/17/2004)
(a) 
All electric wiring within the fire district shall be encased and contained in noncombustible raceways. The smallest to be used shall be one-half inch in diameter.
(b) 
In all new commercial structures outside of the fire district with less than 1,200 square feet of floor area, raceways shall be used in all accessible areas. All new commercial structures of more than 1,200 square feet of floor area shall be wired in raceways.
(c) 
All portable commercial structures over 400 square feet of floor area shall be wired in raceways.
(d) 
An empty one-inch conduit riser shall be run from the main panel to an accessible place in the attic, in new one- or two-family residential dwellings.
(e) 
A service feeder shall not extend more than six feet inside a building without overcurrent protection at the outer end.
(f) 
All new lighting and appliance panel boards shall have two spare poles for future use.
(g) 
Aluminum conductors #4 AWG and smaller shall not be used in the city.
(h) 
For residential structures, the minimum wire used is to be #12.
(1995 Code, sec. 150.036; Ordinance 3712 adopted 8/17/2004; Ordinance 3803 adopted 11/15/2005; Ordinance 3931 adopted 12/5/2006; Ordinance 4678 adopted 9/20/2016)