Any person violating this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in accordance with the general penalty provision set forth in section 1.01.009 of this code, and each act done in violation hereof and each day that such violation or violations continue shall constitute a separate offense and be punishable as such.
(Ordinance 548, sec. VII, adopted 3/17/03; 2004 Code, sec. 3.258)
Installations contracted for before the effective date of this article shall not be governed by this article; all other installations shall comply with the provisions of this article.
(Ordinance 548, sec. VI, pt. 2, adopted 3/17/03; 2004 Code, sec. 3.257)
It shall be unlawful for any owner, contractor, or workman to interfere with, in any manner, any electric wiring being installed in or on any building. If, in the course of construction of the building, the wiring is in such a position that interference is necessary to expedite its erection or completion as called for by plans, notice shall immediately be given the person installing the wiring, and the needed change shall be made by such person. The general contractor or owner shall be held responsible for any violation of this article.
(Ordinance 548, sec. IV, pt. 5, adopted 3/17/03; 2004 Code, sec. 3.239; Ordinance adopting 2016 Code)
No person shall molest in any way or tamper with wires installed in any building; no person shall place any material except incombustible insulation material within one inch of said wire.
(Ordinance 548, sec. IV, pt. 6, adopted 3/17/03; 2004 Code, sec. 3.240(b); Ordinance adopting 2016 Code)
The electrical installation in any building, structure or residence which is moved onto a location within the city limits shall conform to the requirements of this article as though the building, structure or residence had been newly constructed on the location.
(Ordinance 548, sec. IV, pt. 7, adopted 3/17/03; 2004 Code, sec. 3.241; Ordinance adopting 2016 Code)
(a) 
From and after the effective date of this section, the National Electrical Code (“NEC”), 2017 edition, published by the International Code Council, regulating the electrical construction of all buildings or structures in the city (residential and commercial), is hereby adopted by reference as though set out completely in detail. A copy of said NEC shall be kept in the city secretary’s office, and such copy will be open for public inspection during normal business hours.
(b) 
Nonmetallic sheathed cable may be used in any electrical installations of residential one-or two-story dwellings only in zones where wood frame construction is permitted. In zones where wood frame construction is prohibited by ordinance, nonmetallic sheathed cable may not be used in any installation.
(c) 
All lights in bathrooms, toilets, kitchens and laundry rooms shall be controlled by wall switches located so they are not readily accessible from a tub or shower.
(d) 
All metal fixtures installed in bathrooms and kitchens, except in ceilings thereof, shall be grounded.
(e) 
Service-entrance shall mean that portion of the service between the terminals of service equipment and a point outside the building, clear of the building walls, where the service-entrance conductor is joined by tap or splice to the service drop. The service-entrance conductors shall be in rigid conduit or EMT. If the service-entrance conductor extends through the roof, it must be in rigid conduit of a minimum size of two inches (2"). Entry of said service-entrance conductors into the rigid conduit shall be through a service-entrance fitting. Where service-entrance equipment (usually consisting of circuit breakers, or switch and fuses) is located outside the building walls, such shall be in a “Raintight” enclosure and shall be installed five feet (5') above the ground level. Where service-entrance equipment (usually consisting of circuit breakers, or switch and fuses) is located inside the building walls, such shall be located on the inside wall at a readily accessible point nearest to the entrance of the conductors.
(f) 
The service-entrance grounded conductor and enclosure shall have a connection to an underground 5/8" x 8' ground rod. Minimum size for a ground conductor is no. 6 AWG copper conductor.
(g) 
To be “accessible,” as that term is used in the National Electrical Code, an attic shall measure not less than three feet (3') from the top of the ceiling joist to the bottom of the rafter at the highest point.
(h) 
When crossing ceiling joists with nonmetallic sheathed cable wiring, it shall be protected by substantial guard strips which are at least as high as the cable. If the attic is not accessible by permanent stairs or ladders, protections will only be required within six feet (6') of the nearest edge of the scuttle hole or attic entrance, or alternate when crossing ceiling joists shall be bored, with cable fed through bored openings or approved fastener to side of ceiling joist.
(i) 
Service-entrance conductors shall not be smaller than a no. 4 AWG gauge, copper. There shall be a three-wire 120/240 volt service on all residential installations but may not be required on any residences of 500 square feet or less of floor space in which no more than two circuits will be required. Electric dryers of 120/240 volts shall be wired with three [wire] no. 10 AWG cable, complete with approved type dryer receptacles. Each automatic clothes washing machine shall be on a circuit supplying no other load.
(j) 
All wiring in any building must be in rigid metallic conduit, metal tubing, or other raceway, except wiring in one-and two-family dwellings in zones where wood frame construction is permitted.
(Ordinance 548, sec. V, pt. 1, adopted 3/17/03; Ordinance 552 adopted 7/21/03; 2004 Code, sec. 3.242; Ordinance adopting 2016 Code; Ordinance 715, sec. 1.4, adopted 10/21/19)
Fuse panels or circuit breakers, etc., shall not be placed in water heating closets, bathrooms, or clothes closets. Fuse panels or circuit breakers may not be located in closets of other types if storage of articles or materials will hinder their accessibility, but shall be located where they are readily accessible to the tenant.
(Ordinance 548, sec. V, pt. 2, adopted 3/17/03; 2004 Code, sec. 3.243)
(a) 
In residential installations, not more than eight (8) current-consuming outlets per circuit shall be installed. Number 14 AWG shall only be used in lighting circuits.
(b) 
In commercial installations, the conductors shall not be smaller than no. 12 AWG. Total voltage load for each of these circuits shall not exceed 80% of the rated current-carrying capacity of the conductor used. Number 14 AWG can be used in control circuits only.
(Ordinance 548, sec. V, pt. 3, adopted 3/17/03; 2004 Code, sec. 3.244)
Receptacle outlets in kitchens, breakfast rooms, dining rooms and laundry rooms shall be on a separate circuit from the light fixture outlets and no more than four (4) duplex outlets shall be on one circuit, provided further that the wires forming such circuit shall not be smaller than no. 12.
(Ordinance 548, sec. V, pt. 4, adopted 3/17/03; 2004 Code, sec. 3.245)
The provisions of this article shall not apply to electric light, heat and power companies, or telephone and telegraph companies, normally operating or operating under franchise or state laws in the installation, maintenance, removal or repair of wires or other equipment used in connection with their business as producers to supply consumer service, and/or street lighting, illumination of public ways, alleys, or parks, or communications.
(Ordinance 548, sec. V, pt. 5, adopted 3/17/03; 2004 Code, sec. 3.246)
Where joints are found to be taped but not soldered, or spliced without an approved mechanical device all joints may be required to be untapped and left untapped until soldered or spliced with an approved mechanical device. It is further provided that such splices and tapes shall be made in an approved UL junction box.
(Ordinance 548, sec. V, pt. 7, adopted 3/17/03; 2004 Code, sec. 3.248; Ordinance adopting 2016 Code)
All wiring materials, wiring devices, such as switches, fuses, panels, lighting fixtures, ballast, transformers, conductors, appliances, and circuit breakers, and signal devices must bear the stamp of approval of the National Board of Fire Underwriters or “UL” label.
(Ordinance 548, sec. V, pt. 8, adopted 3/17/03; 2004 Code, sec. 3.249)