In the event of a conflict between the provisions of the electrical code adopted by reference in section 3.03.001 and any provision of the city Code of Ordinances, the provisions of the Code of Ordinances shall prevail.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(B); 1993
Code, sec. 3.402)
The provisions of this division shall apply to all installations
of electrical conductors, fittings, devices, signs, fixtures, motors,
generators, starters, controls and raceways, hereinafter referred
to as “electrical equipment,” within or on public and
private buildings and premises within the city.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(C); 1993
Code, sec. 3.403)
(a)
This
division shall not be construed to affect the responsibility or liability
of any party owning, operating, controlling or installing any electrical
equipment for damages to persons or property which were caused by
any defect in such equipment or in the installation thereof, nor shall
the city be held as assuming any liability by reason of the inspection,
failure to inspect or reinspection authorized herein, or any certificates
of conformance or nonconformance issued by the city, or by reason
of the approval or disapproval of any equipment authorized herein.
(b)
This
code does not relieve from or lessen the responsibility or liability
of any person owning, operating, controlling or installing any electrical
equipment or appliances for damages to person or property caused by
any defect therein, nor shall the city be regarded as assuming any
such liability by reason of the inspection authorized herein or certificate
of approval issued as herein provided.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(D), (BB)); 1993 Code, secs. 3.404, 3.425)
Conformity of electrical equipment and installations with provisions
of this code, the National Electrical Safety Code and standards established
by Underwriters’ Laboratories, Inc., shall be prima facie evidence
that such equipment and installations are in safe condition.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(F), (Z); 1993 Code, secs. 3.406, 3.423)
Any person, either by himself, herself or agent, and any firm,
corporation or other entity who violates any of the provisions of
this code shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction
of any such violation, shall be fined, and each day during which such
violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.
In any case of a violation of any of the terms or provisions of this
code by any corporation, the officers and agents actively in charge
of the business and such corporation shall be subject to the penalty
herein provided. Any offense defined herein which has been defined
by laws of the state as an offense and for which a penalty has been
prescribed shall be punished as provided in said state law, and nothing
herein shall be held as fixing any penalty contrary to a penalty provided
by the laws of the state.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(AA); 1993
Code, sec. 3.424)
(a)
Office of electrical inspection created.
There is hereby
established an office of electrical inspection, which shall be under
the supervision of the building official/inspector.
(b)
Appointment of electrical inspectors.
The building official
may appoint electrical inspectors and may designate a chief electrical
inspector with such powers of supervision and control over the office
of electrical inspection as he may prescribe. Appointments shall be
confirmed by the city council. The building official retains the authority
to act in place of an electrical inspector in his or her absence.
(c)
Duties of electrical inspector.
It shall be the duty
of the electrical inspector to enforce the provisions of this code,
either individually or acting by and through duly authorized representatives.
He or she shall be responsible for making inspections, issuing licenses
and permits, administering examinations and performing all other functions
of the office as prescribed in this code or by administrative order.
He or she shall keep complete records of all permits issued, inspections
made and other official work performed in accordance with the provisions
of this code. He or she shall also keep on file in the office of electrical
inspection a list of electrical equipment inspected and certified
by Underwriters’ Laboratories, Inc., which shall be accessible
for public reference.
(d)
Authority of inspectors.
(1)
Right of entry; authority to disconnect equipment.
Electrical
inspectors shall have the right to enter any building or premises
at any reasonable time in the discharge of his or her official duties,
or for the purpose of making any inspection, reinspection or test
of the electrical equipment contained therein, or its installation.
When any electrical equipment is found by the electrical inspector
to be dangerous to persons or property, the person, firm or corporation
responsible for the electrical equipment shall be notified and shall
make any changes or repairs which are required to make such equipment
in safe condition, and if such work is not completed within fifteen
(15) days or any longer period than may be specified in said notice,
the building official shall have the authority to disconnect all electric
service to said electrical equipment and/or the premises in or upon
which the same is located.
(2)
Emergency disconnection of equipment.
In case of emergency,
where necessary for safety to persons or property, or where electrical
equipment may interfere with the work of the fire department, the
building official shall have the authority to disconnect immediately
and without notice to anyone, or to cause the immediate disconnection
of, any electrical equipment.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(G)–(J); 1993 Code, sec. 3.407)
(a)
No
electrical equipment shall be installed, nor shall any alteration
or addition be made to existing equipment in or on any building, structure
or premises in the city, whether such be publicly or privately owned,
unless a permit shall first be obtained from the office of electrical
inspection authorizing such installation, alteration or addition.
(b)
No
permit for constructing, installing, altering, extending, maintaining,
repairing or replacing any electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment
of any voltage in excess of twenty-four (24) volts shall be issued
to any person, firm or corporation other than a holder of a license
of the grade necessary to entitle such holder to lawfully do or supervise
the work to be done by virtue of said permit.
(c)
The
provisions of this section shall not apply to equipment owned and
used by an electricity supply company or communications agency in
the generation, transmission or distribution of electricity or for
the operation of signals or the transmission of intelligence.
(d)
A separate permit shall be required for each separate building, store space or apartment, whether such unit is metered separately or conjunctively, and a service permit shall be taken on all permits whether supplied from a central metering station or directly from an electricity supply agency, except that, in trailer courts, the individual trailer disconnect switches shall not be deemed services; fees for such service permits shall be charged as set out in section 3.03.209 of this chapter.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(K); 1993
Code, sec. 3.408)
(a)
Except as provided in section 3.03.207 hereof, application for such permits, with a description of the work to be done, shall be made in writing to the office of electrical inspection by the electrician properly licensed to perform the work. When required by the building official, the application shall be accompanied by such plans, specifications and schedules as may be necessary to determine whether the installation as described will conform to the requirements of this code. If it shall be found that the installation as described will conform with all legal requirements and if such electrician has complied with all provisions of this code, a permit for such installation shall be issued. Payment of all permit and inspection fees required in this code shall be made prior to the final inspection.
(b)
The
building official may make and issue in writing such regulations in
connection with the filing of applications for permits by telephone
as he may deem necessary for the collection of fees and the proper
enforcement of this code.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(L); 1993
Code, sec. 3.409)
(a)
Commencing work prior to obtaining permit.
In any case
where an electrician commences work requiring any permit at a time
when the office of electrical inspection is open for business and
said electrician does not first make application for such permits
as may be necessary, the fees therefor shall be doubled.
(b)
Fee schedule.
The permit fee for electrical work shall
be as established and as approved by the city council from time to
time.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(M); 1993
Code, sec. 3.410)
Upon the completion of any installation of electrical equipment
for which a permit has been obtained and upon the payment to the building
official of the fees required for such installation as prescribed
above, it shall be the duty of the licensed electrician making the
installation to notify the office of electrical inspection of said
completion. The building official shall inspect the installation within
forty-eight (48) hours after such notification, exclusive of Saturdays,
Sundays and holidays, or as soon thereafter as practicable.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(N); 1993
Code, sec. 3.411)
Where the installation is found to be in conformity with the
provisions of this code and all permit and inspection fees have been
paid, the licensed electrician making the installation shall be issued
a notice of conformance or certificate of approval, which shall be
placed on the equipment or premises, authorizing the use of the installation.
The building official shall thereupon authorize the electricity supply
agency to connect the installation to the supply of electricity.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(O); 1993
Code, sec. 3.412)
When a certificate of approval or notice of conformance is issued
authorizing the connection and use of a temporary installation, such
certificate shall be issued to expire at a time to be stated therein,
and shall be revocable by the building official for good cause.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(P); 1993
Code, sec. 3.413)
When any electrical equipment is to be hidden from view by the
permanent placement of parts of the building and/or equipment, the
licensed electrician installing the equipment shall notify the office
of electrical inspection, and such equipment shall not be concealed
until it has been inspected and approved by the electrical inspector,
or until forty-eight (48) hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and
holidays, shall have elapsed from the time of such notification; provided
that, on large installations where the concealment of equipment proceeds
continuously, the licensed electrician installing the electrical equipment
shall give the electrical inspector due notice, and inspection shall
be made periodically during the progress of the work.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(Q); 1993
Code, sec. 3.414)
If, upon inspection, the installation is not found to be fully
in conformity with the provisions of this code, the electrical inspector
shall issue a notice of nonconformance, and the licensed electrician
making the installation shall be notified of the defects which have
been found to exist. All defective work shall be corrected and brought
into conformity with the provisions of this code before any further
electrical work will be permitted within or on the building or premises
and before the licensed electrician making the installation shall
be issued any other permits to perform any other electrical work.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(R); 1993
Code, sec. 3.415)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to
conceal or place in operation any electrical equipment which has been
disapproved or condemned by the building official unless and until
the same has been so repaired or altered that it complies with all
provisions of this code and has thereafter been approved by said building
official.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(S); 1993
Code, sec. 3.416)
The building official shall have the authority to require any
person, firm or corporation to uncover any wiring or electrical equipment
which has been concealed without the knowledge or permission of the
building official.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(T); 1993
Code, sec. 3.417)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to
make connection from a supply of electricity or to supply electricity
to any electrical equipment for the installation of which a permit
is required or which has been disconnected or ordered to be disconnected
by the building official, or, except for private residences, which
has been disconnected for any reason whatsoever, until such connection
has been authorized by the building official. In the event, however,
that electricity to a private residence has been disconnected by reason
of a fire on the premises, the electrical service shall not be reconnected
until the electrical installations on the premises have been inspected
and approved by the building official.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(U); 1993
Code, sec. 3.418)
The electricity supply agency shall disconnect the electrical
service to any building and/or premises except private residences
and duplex apartments each time such building or premises changes
occupants, and it shall not again supply electricity to such buildings
or premises until authorized to do so by the building official. The
owners and/or the new occupants of such buildings and/or premises
shall make application to the office of electrical inspection for
an inspection, which shall be made within forty-eight (48) hours,
exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, of the time such application
is made or as soon thereafter as practicable. No charge shall be made
nor fee collected for such inspections.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(V); 1993
Code, sec. 3.419)
Any electricity supply agency, operating under a franchise granted
by the city, shall have the right to install and connect, or disconnect
and remove, its meters and protective devices without a permit, but
it shall not connect any electrical equipment to a source of supply
without first having been authorized in writing to do so by the building
official.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(W); 1993
Code, sec. 3.420)
Any electricity supply agency, operating under a franchise granted
by the city, shall supply all three (3) wire single phase services
with three (3) wire single phase service drops to premises whereon
electricity furnished by such organization is used, and shall when
practicable furnish the type and size of service needed and requested,
except that it shall not be required to furnish three (3) phase service
unless such service is available in the vicinity and unless in addition
there is a power demand of at least seven (7) horsepower, at least
five (5) horsepower of which is three (3) phase.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(X); 1993
Code, sec. 3.421)
Where meters originally installed in accessible places satisfactory
to the electricity supply agency are rendered inaccessible thereafter
by virtue of alterations or new construction by the owner of the premises
or his agent, such meters shall be reinstalled in accordance with
the provisions of this code at the expense of the owner.
(1986 Code, ch. 3, sec. 3(Y); 1993
Code, sec. 3.422)
