City of Brady, TX In General

Scope.

This section establishes charges for electrical permits, inspections, and reinspections.

Permit required.

No installation, alteration, or removal shall be made in or of the wiring of any building or structure for light, heat, or power or to increase the load of energy carried by such wires or equipment, nor shall any building or structure be wired for electric lights, appliances, motors, apparatus, or heating devices nor alterations made thereto, without a written permit being first obtained from the city building official or his or her designee by the person, firm, or corporation having direct charge of such installation.

(c)

Inspection.

Upon completion of the wiring, installation or alteration of any building or structure for light, heat, power, appliance or apparatus, it shall be the duty of the person, firm or corporation having direct charge of such installation to notify the electrical inspector, who shall, within 24 hours excluding weekends and holidays, inspect such wiring, installation, appliance, and apparatus and, if installed, altered, and constructed in accordance with the requirements as set forth by the National Electrical Code, the electrical inspector or his designee shall sign and date the issued permit card to demonstrate acceptance of said installation, alteration, or wiring. In the event said installation, alteration, apparatus, or appliance does not meet the requirements of the adopted code, no electric current shall be allowed to be turned on to said wiring, installation, apparatus, or equipment until all such requirements are met.

(d)

Fees.

The amount of fees or charges to be made for such permits, inspections, service connections and related matters shall be as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.

(e)

State license required.

Any person, firm, or corporation that engages in the business of electrical contracting, electrical construction, or the installation or alteration of wiring and apparatus for electrical lights, appliances, heating, or power in the city shall, before doing so, submit to the city a valid electrical contractor’s license issued from the state department of licensing and regulation, and a certificate of insurance as required by section 73.40 of the administrative rules of the state department of licensing and regulation, 16 Texas Administrative Code, chapter 73.

(f)

Licensed individual to be on jobsite.

Any person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of electrical contracting in the city shall have, at a minimum, one licensed electrician, journeyman level or higher, on the jobsite at all times and the responsible electrical contractor shall have a thorough knowledge of the work being performed and permits issued to his or her license.

(g)

Failure to comply.

Any person, firm, or corporation who shall fail to correct any defect or defects in his or her work or to meet the required standards after having been given notice of the unfit condition by the electrical inspector or his or her designee, within a reasonable time, shall be refused any other permit until such defect or defects have been corrected and shall be subject to recommendation by the city for suspension or revocation of license(s) to the state department of licensing and regulation.

(h)

Notice of violation; stop work order.

Upon discovering a contractor’s failure to comply with this division, the electrical inspector shall issue due notice or a stop work order, as appropriate, and shall have the authority to order a cessation of any supply of electric current to the applicable location.

(i)

Work by homeowner.

Any individual desiring to perform his or her own electrical work at his or her place of residence shall not be required to be licensed nor submit the proper insurance documentation. However, he or she shall be required to obtain the proper permit and shall be subject to all other requirements as set forth by this division. Such work shall be completed by said homeowner personally on his or her residence.

(j)

Work performed on commercial properties.

Any electrical installation, alteration, or wiring of any building or structure used for any commercial, industrial, or institutional purpose shall be performed by a licensed master electrician with a valid electrical contractor’s license, with the exception of minor electrical repairs, which may be completed by a full-time maintenance employee. Such installations shall meet the standards set forth by the National Electrical Code.

(k)

Unlawful use of license.

No licensed electrical contractor shall allow another person to permit work under his or her license unless said person is in the full-time employment of the responsible licensed electrical contractor.

(l)

Existing city licenses.

Except to the extent that licenses heretofore issued by the city are licenses for a project pursuant to chapter 245, Texas Local Government Code, all city-issued master and journeyman licenses heretofore issued shall become null and void on December 31, 2004, and no electrical installation, alteration or wiring shall be performed unless by a state licensed electrical contractor or authorized designee pursuant to this division.

(m)

Oversight does not excuse violation.

No oversight of any city official, manager, employee or representative shall excuse a violation of this division.

(n)

Enforcement generally.

The city council, through the city manager or other designated agent or representative, is responsible for the enforcement of this division.

(o)

Penalty.

Any person, firm or corporation found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this division shall be subject to a fine in an amount in accordance with the general penalty provided in section 1.01.009, enforceable in municipal court, and a complaint being filed with the state department of licensing and regulation.

(Ordinance 964 adopted 11/17/04; 2004 Code, art. 3.600, div. 6; Ordinance adopting 2019 Code)

(a)

Office created.

There is hereby created the office of electrical inspector in and for the city.

(b)

Appointment.

The electrical inspector shall be appointed by the mayor, subject to the confirmation of the city council.

(c)

Qualifications.

The person appointed as electrical inspector shall be of good moral character and shall be versed in the approved methods of electrical construction for safety of life and property and the National Electrical Code.

(d)

Duties generally.

The electrical inspector shall have the duty and is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to regulate and determine the placing of electric wires or other appliances for electric lights, heat or power in the city, and to cause all such wires, appliances or apparatus to be placed, constructed and guarded so as not to cause fires or accidents endangering life or property, and to cooperate with the fire marshal.

(e)

Enforcement.

It shall be the duty of the electrical inspector to enforce all provisions of this division.

(f)

Inspections.

It shall be the duty of the electrical inspector to inspect and test all electrical work, equipment or apparatus for compliance with this division. Whenever any electric wiring, appliance or apparatus is defective or hazardous through improper manufacture or improper or insufficient insulation or for any other reason, he shall at once cause the removal of such defect at the expense of the owner of such wiring, appliance or apparatus.

(g)

Right of entry.

The electrical inspector shall have the authority to enter all buildings in the city in the performance of his duties between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily, except that in an emergency and within the limits of reason he may enter buildings for such purposes at other than the designated hours.

(1975 Code, secs. 13-16–13-22; 2004 Code, secs. 3.606–3.612)