Pursuant to the provisions of Sections 50020, and 50022.1 to 50022.10, inclusive of the Government Code of the state and subject to the particular additions, amendments, and deletions set forth in this chapter, the rules, regulations, provisions, and conditions set forth in those certain codes entitled "2022 California Electrical Code" ("CEC"), including the annexes and tables therein contained, promulgated and published by the National Fire Protection Association of Quincy, Massachusetts and the California Building Standards Commission, including the annexes and tables therein contained, one full printed copy of which, printed as a code in book form, was by the council ordered filed and which has been actually filed in the office of the city clerk, expressly incorporated herein and made a part hereof as fully and for all intents and purposes as though set forth herein at length, are hereby established and adopted as the rules, regulations, standards, provisions, and conditions to be observed and followed in the installation, arrangement, alteration, repair, use, and operation of electrical wire connections, fixtures, and other electrical appliances, and subject to the additions, amendments, and deletions set forth in this chapter, said code with its annexes and tables, containing said rules, regulations, standards, provisions, and conditions, is hereby established and adopted by reference, and the same shall be designated, known, and referred to as the "electrical code" of and for the city.
(Ord. 2239 § 8, 2023)
Section 230-30 (A) is amended by the addition of subsection (5) to read as follows:
(5)
Underground Utilities Required. All new buildings and structures in the City of Hawthorne shall provide underground electrical and communication service laterals on the premises to be served, as hereinafter required.
(a)
New Construction. All electrical, telephone, cable television system, and similar service wires and cables which provide direct service to new main buildings, new accessory buildings, and structures, shall be installed underground in compliance with all applicable building and electrical codes, safety regulations, and orders, rules of the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California, and specifications or standards of the Public Works Department.
(b)
Existing Buildings. Such service wires and cables shall also be placed underground when existing buildings, existing accessory buildings, and structures are repaired, remodeled, altered or expanded, except where the value, as determined for building permit fee purposes, by the Building Code of the City of Hawthorne, of such repairs or remodeling, or expansion does not exceed 50% of the value of the building or structure as determined by the California Building Code.
(c)
Wiring between the accessory buildings and the main buildings shall be in an underground system.
(d)
Responsibility for Compliance. The Contractor and Owner are jointly and severally responsible for complying with the requirements of this section and shall make the necessary arrangements with the utility companies servicing the structure for the installation of such facilities.
If a proposed building or structure would create a situation which would make unreasonable, impractical, or physically impossible the continuance of overhead utility service to an existing adjacent property (or properties), then the Contractor and owner of the proposed building or structure shall be responsible for relocating such utilities per utility company specifications, and shall be installed underground in compliance with all applicable codes, safety regulations, and orders, rules of the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California, and specifications or standards of the Public Works Department.
(e)
Appurtenances. For the purpose of this section, appurtenances and associated equipment such as, but not limited to, service mounted transformers, pedestal mounted terminal boxes and meter cabinets may be placed above ground if permitted by and in accordance with the rules of the State of Public Utilities Commission.
(f)
Waiver of Underground Requirements. If topographical, soil, or any other conditions make such underground installations unreasonable or impractical, a waiver of the requirements of this section may be granted by the Building Official (a written approval from Southern California Edison is required when necessary), subject to the installation of all necessary electrical conduits, terminal boxes and other appurtenances as may be required to provide underground service in the future.
If the utility pole(s) from which underground service would be provided are not situated on the same side of the public street as the permittee, or not within five feet of the area enclosed by the extension of the side property lines to said public street, the permittee may have the alternative of installing all conduit, wires, pullboxes, electrical panel and other appurtenances which may be required for future underground utility services from the structure to an approved location on the property line of the parcel which will facilitate future underground service; and that the property may continue to be served by overhead wires until said future underground utility conversion.
If a building or structure is served by the rear from utilities not located in the public right-of-way, the permittee may have the alternative of installing all conduit, wires, pull boxes, electrical panel, and other appurtenances which may be required for future underground utility services from the building or structure to an approved location on the property line of the parcel which will facilitate future underground service; and that the property may continue to be served by overhead wires until said future underground utility conversion.
Exceptions: This section shall not apply to:
(i)
Utility lines which do not provide service to the area being developed.
(ii)
Detached dwelling units with separate utility services which are not the subject of a common including permit.
(Ord. 2239 § 8, 2023)
Section 230-62 is amended by the addition of subsection (C) to read as follows:
(C)
Minimum size and material of overhead service equipment conduit. Service entry conduits shall be not less than 1-1/2″ in diameter and fabricated of rigid galvanized steel.
Exception: A service entry conduit not less than 1-1/2″ in diameter of rigid galvanized steel, except 100 amp service may be 1-1/4″ rigid galvanized steel.
(Ord. 2239 § 8, 2023)
Section 310.106(B) is amended to read as follows:
(B)
Conductor material. Conductors in this article shall be of copper unless otherwise approved by the Building Official.
(Ord. 2239 § 8, 2023)