All electrical work installed within the city shall be installed in conformity with the provisions of this article, and it is hereby declared to be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to install any electrical work in violation of the provisions of this article.
(2000 Code, sec. 10-1)
The administration and enforcement of the provisions of this article shall be vested in the city electrical inspector, who will be under the administrative supervision of the building official of the city.
(2000 Code, sec. 10-2)
For the purposes of this article, the following words shall be defined as herein stated. In the event of a dispute as to the meaning on an application of any work, phrase, or descriptive term as used herein, a determination of meaning by the building trades and fire code board of appeals shall be conclusive on all parties. For the purpose of this article, the following words shall have the following meanings:
Board.
The term “board” shall mean the building trades and fire code board of appeals.
Building official.
The person charged with the administration of this article.
Direct supervision.
The continual oversight and control of electrical apprentices by a licensed journeyman electrician or a licensed master electrician, who shall be physically present at the jobsite or installation at all times any electrical work is in progress. The term shall also mean the continual oversight and control of all journeyman electricians and electrical apprentices by the master electrician, who shall personally direct day-to-day activities, work of the firm, prepare bids, enter into agreements or sign contracts and manage the firm’s financial affairs.
Electrical apprentice.
An individual licensed as an apprentice who works under the direct supervision and orders of a master electrician, a journeyman electrician, or a residential wireman, and who is registered with the city or state but who has not yet passed a journeyman electrician examination.
Electrical contractor.
A person or entity, licensed as an electrical contractor, that is in the business of performing “electrical contracting” as defined by Texas Occupations Code, section 1305.002(5).
Electrical inspector.
The duly appointed electrical inspector of the city and all duly appointed assistant electrical inspectors.
Electrical installation.
The installation of wiring devices or equipment for the distribution, transmission or utilization of electrical energy.
Electrical maintenance work.
The replacement or repair of existing electrical appurtenances, apparatus, equipment, machinery, or controls used in connection with the use of electrical energy in, on, outside, or attached to a building, residence, structure, property, or premises. All replacements or repairs must be of the same rating and type as the existing installation. Any replacement or repair that shall be made to bring such work in compliance with applicable codes under Texas Occupations Code, chapter 1305. Electrical maintenance work does not include the installation of any new electrical appurtenances, apparatus, equipment, machinery, or controls beyond the scope of any existing electrical installation.
Electrical trade.
A person shall be in the electrical trade if they install or contract to install, maintain, or repair, connect, reconnect, service or maintain any wiring, fixtures or equipment used for the conducting of electricity for which a permit may be required by this article.
Fixture.
A unit which supports a means of illumination.
General supervision.
Exercise of oversight by a master electrician on behalf of any electrical contractor, or electrical sign contractor, or by a master sign electrician on behalf of an electrical sign contractor of performance by all classes of electrical licensees of electrical work bearing responsibility for the work’s compliance with applicable codes under Texas Occupations Code, chapter 1305.
Journeyman electrician.
A person who works for or under the supervision of or by the direction of a master electrician in the electrical trade, has passed a journeyman electrician examination approved by the board or state, and is qualified as provided in this article. Said journeyman electrician shall be physically present on the jobsite at all times electrical work is in progress and shall maintain continual oversight and control of all electrical apprentices.
Master electrician.
Any person who holds himself/herself out to the public to do electrical work or to contract to do any or all kinds of electrical work stated in this article. A person who himself/herself or by the employment of journeyman electricians, restricted residential wiremen and/or apprentices performs the work of installing wires, conduits, apparatus, fixtures or other appliances for carrying or using electricity for light, heat, or other purposes whether the master electrician contracts to do the work personally or through others and is licensed as is provided in this article.
Master sign electrician.
Any person who holds himself/herself out to the public to contract for himself/herself or by the employment of registered sign technicians and/or registered sign trainees to perform the work of manufacturing, installing, connecting, reconnecting, or servicing of electric signs, or any cold cathode or neon gas tubing, inside or outside, of whatever description or for any purpose and is licensed as provided in this article. This work shall not include extension of or additions to an existing branch circuit.
Maintenance electrician.
One who is a full time employee of a company or business and whose duty is to maintain existing electrical installations, including all fixtures and appurtenances contained in a designated property building or buildings either: (1) owned by his employer; or (2) operated under a maintenance contract by his employer. A person holding this license shall not otherwise engage himself as a maintenance electrician on any buildings other than those designated on the maintenance license.
National Electrical Code.
The current edition of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) as approved by the National Fire Protection Association and adopted by the city council.
Offer to perform.
To make a written or oral proposal, to contract in writing or orally to perform electrical work or electrical sign work, or to advertise in any form through any medium that a person or business entity is an electrical contractor or electrical sign contractor, or that implies in any way that a person or business entity is available to contract for or perform electrical work or electrical sign work.
On-site supervision.
A licensed individual other than an electrical apprentice must exercise the supervision of electrical work or electrical sign work. Continuous supervision of an electrical apprentice is not required, though the on-site supervising licensee is responsible for review and inspection of the electrical apprentice’s work to ensure compliance with any applicable codes or standards.
Opening or outlet.
The location where a ceiling light, bracket light, wall light, porch light, or a floodlight is to be mounted: also, any electrical consuming opening or outlet.
Residential appliance.
A unit of electrical equipment that is designed and installed in a dwelling by direct connection to any existing electrical circuit to perform a specific function, such as a water heater, for example. The term does not include general use equipment, such as an electric motor, for example, that is not designed for a specific function.
Residential appliance installer.
An individual, licensed as a residential appliance installer, who on behalf of a residential appliance installation contractor, performs electrical work that is limited to residential appliance installation as defined by Texas Occupations Code, section 1305.002(12-e).
Residential appliance installation contractor.
A person or entity licensed as a residential appliance installation contractor, that is in the business of residential appliance installation as defined by Texas Occupations Code section 1305.002(12-d).
Residential wireman.
An individual licensed as a residential wireman, who works under the general supervision of a master electrician on behalf of an electrical contractor, or employing governmental entity, while performing electrical work that is limited to electrical installations in single-family and multifamily dwellings not exceeding four stories, as defined by Texas Occupations Code, section 1305.02(13).
Sign electrician journeyman.
One skilled and experienced in the physical labor involved in electrical installations of signs and who does or holds himself out as intending to do electrical installation and/or maintenance under the supervision of a master sign electrician and who holds a license issued under the provisions of this article. This definition does not include running lines or circuits from sign location to or into the building or load center.
Signs.
Any physical device, panel, or installation attached to or located on a building or structure, used to display any message or communicate any thought or idea and which uses electricity for its intended operation.
Window sign.
Any tubing containing neon gas located or installed on the inside of a building to display any message or communicate any thought or idea and which uses electrical current for its operation.
(Ordinance 11-3541, sec. I (10-3), adopted 1/20/11)
It shall be unlawful for any person to make any electrical installation or to make any alteration, repair or addition to an existing electrical installation except as provided in this article.
(2000 Code, sec. 10-4)
(a) 
Traffic/signal work.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to the fire, police or public safety installation, or other similar installations installed and maintained by the city or installed under contract by a private installer for a government agency.
(b) 
Franchises.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to electric light, heat and power companies, telephone and telegraph companies and cable television or other communication companies, operating under a city franchise or state or federal laws in the installation, maintenance, removal or repair of wires or other equipment used in connection with their business or plants.
(c) 
Manufacturers of electrical equipment.
Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit manufacturers of electrical apparatus or equipment from carrying on reasonable electrical experiments with materials and products within the confines of their own premises and all installations therein, provided further that the electrical inspector may require the manufacturer to make whatever changes the inspector believes necessary for the protection of public life, welfare and property.
(d) 
Street lighting.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to installations in connection with the illumination of public streets, alleys or parkways by the city, the state highway department, the public electric utility company or federal highway agencies.
(e) 
Homeowner.
Work not specifically regulated by a municipal ordinance that is performed in or on a dwelling by a person who owns and resides in the dwelling.
(Ordinance 11-3541, sec. I (10-5), adopted 1/20/11)
(a) 
Penalty.
Any person or persons, who installs, or causes to be installed, maintains or causes to be maintained, electrical wiring, devices, or equipment used in connection with the installation of any/or maintenance of electrical wiring, devices, and equipment in violation of the provisions of this article, or who fails to do any act required hereby, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1.01.009 of this code, “general penalty; continuing violations.”
(b) 
Liability of corporations, associations, officers, and agents.
Violation of any of the terms or provisions of this article by any corporation or association shall be subject to the penalty provided in this section.
(c) 
Revocation of licenses or certification.
Conviction under the provisions of this article shall be deemed just cause for the revocation of any certification, registration, or license which such person may have or hold under the provisions of this article and examinations for reissue of such certification or license shall be at the discretion of the board.
(d) 
Enforcement.
The building official, the electrical inspector, and their assistants shall be empowered to cause criminal charges to be filed in a court of competent jurisdiction consistent with the enforcement of this article.
(Ordinance 11-3541, sec. I (10-6), adopted 1/20/11)
(a) 
Where work for which a permit is required by this article is started or proceeded with, prior to applying for and receiving a valid permit, the fee for the work as specified shall be doubled. The payment of such double fee shall not relieve any persons from fully complying with the requirements of this article and in the execution of the work, nor from any other penalties prescribed herein.
(b) 
Any work so started or proceeded with shall forthwith cease until such time as said double fee has been paid and a permit granted except that for good cause shown the electrical inspector of the board may permit such work to continue.
(Ordinance 11-3541, sec. I (10-7), adopted 1/20/11)
The building official, electrical inspector, and their designated representative shall be empowered to compel the suspension of any electrical sign work and/or electrical wiring being done in violation of this article.
(Ordinance 11-3541, sec. I (10-8), adopted 1/20/11)
All permits lawfully held at the time this article goes into effect shall continue until their date of expiration as if they had been secured under the terms of this article. Such shall be governed by the terms of this article from and after the date it becomes effective.
(Ordinance 11-3541, sec. I (10-181), adopted 1/20/11)