The purpose of this article is to provide minimum standards for promoting the health, safety and general welfare of the city and to protect the lives, property and security of the city and its residents by regulating and controlling the design. Construction, installation, alteration, location, operation, inspection, and maintenance of electrical equipment used for light, heat, power, radio, television, signaling and for other purposes; and by regulating and licensing those persons who will install or maintain such electrical equipment.
(Code 1975, § 9-31)
All electrical equipment installed or used in the city and all installations of electrical equipment shall be reasonably safe to persons and property and in conformity with the standards provided by the National Fire Protection Association, and with the provisions of this chapter, applicable state statutes, and any rules or regulations issued under authority thereof. The National Electrical Code, 2023 edition, including Annex H (Article 80), as published by the National Fire Protection Association, a copy of which is on file in the office of the City Secretary, and the regional amendments and interpretations thereto recommended by the North Central Texas Council of Governments, as further amended by the City of North Richland Hills set out in section 98-233 hereof is hereby adopted by reference to the same extent as though set out here in full as the electrical code of the City of North Richland Hills.
(Code 1975, § 9-32; Ordinance 2804, § 1, adopted 9/13/2004; Ordinance 2998, § 1, adopted 6/23/2008; Ordinance 3405, § 1, adopted 4/25/2016; Ordinance 3611, § 2, adopted 10/14/2019; Ordinance 3947 adopted 2/9/2026)
The following amendments to the National Electrical Code, 2023 edition, as adopted pursuant to section 98-232, are hereby adopted:[1]
(Code 1975, § 9-47; Ordinance 2804, § 1(9-32, ex. A), adopted 9/13/2004; Ordinance 2998, § 1, adopted 6/23/2008; Ordinance 3405, § 2, adopted 4/25/2016; Ordinance 3611, § 3, adopted 10/14/2019; Ordinance 3947 adopted 2/9/2026)
[1]
Editor's note–The 2023 NEC Amendments are included as an attachment to this chapter.
The rules and regulations of the Texas Utilities Electric Company as contained in the document "Electric Service Guidelines," and being the most recent issue on file with the city secretary, are incorporated herein and made a part of this article. Electrical permits issued as herein required may proceed toward completion under the issue of "Electric Service Guidelines" on file with the city secretary at the time said permit is issued.
(Code 1975, § 9-33)
In the event that a provision of the National Electrical Code is in direct conflict with a provision contained in this article or the Electric Service Guidelines of the Texas Utilities Electric Company, the provision contained in this article, or the Electric Service Guidelines of the Texas Utilities Electric Company shall govern and take precedence.
(Code 1975, § 9-34)
The electricity supply agency shall disconnect the electrical service to any building or premises, except private residences, duplexes and apartments, each time such building or premises changes ownership, is leased, or changes occupants, and it shall not again supply electricity to such building or premises until authorized to do so by the building official. The owners, tenants or new occupants of such building or premises shall make application to the building official for an inspection. The building official shall make a temporary power inspection within 48 hours of filing such application exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, or as soon thereafter as practicable.
(Code 1975, § 9-35)
When electrical work requiring a permit is found to be in progress or completed and no permit has been issued for such work, the required permit fee shall be doubled and charged to the registered contractor doing all or part of the work. However, a double permit fee shall not be charged when the work is performed by a registered contractor at night, on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, so long as a permit for such work is obtained between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the first regular working day after such work has been done.
(Code 1975, § 9-37)
(a) 
As a prerequisite to obtaining electrical permits, any person, firm or business operating under the provisions of this code within the city shall register as an electrical contractor. The registration shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance.
(b) 
Each contractor shall maintain this registration with the city until the completion of work being performed under such permit. Each contractor applying for registration form as provided by the city.
(c) 
Each application for registration as an electrical contractor shall be accompanied by an affidavit signed by a master electrician, properly licensed by the city, stating that he is either the owner and/or full-time employee of such business and that he is authorized to supervise either directly or indirectly the work and that he is authorized to order the correction of any and all code deficiencies in work pursuant to any permits issued to the electrical contractor. The statement shall further establish that the qualifying master is qualifying no other electrical contractor within the city.
(d) 
Each application for registration as an electrical contractor shall be accompanied by an original certificate of insurance, issued to the city as certificate holder providing a ten-day notification period of insurance lapse or cancellation, in the amount of not less than $300,000.00 per occurrence for bodily injury, including death, and not less than $100,000.00 per occurrence for property damage.
(e) 
Renewal of this registration shall be the same as the original application.
(f) 
In the event that the qualifying master electrician leaves the employ of any electrical contractor, the registrant must notify the building official within ten days of such loss stating the date of the loss and the name of any temporary supervising master electrician. The electrical contractor must provide a new permanent qualifying master electrician submitting the affidavit described in subsection (c) of this section within 15 days of the date of the loss of the qualifying master of record; or, the electrical contractor shall surrender its electrical contractor's license.
(g) 
An electrical contractor's registration may be revoked for violating any part of this code or violation of other city ordinances or for any other acts deemed a detriment to the city or citizens. Contractors who feel aggrieved by the action shall have the right to appeal to the board of appeals as set forth in the North Richland Hills Development Regulations.
(Code 1975, § 9-38; Ordinance 3947 adopted 2/9/2026)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to perform electrical work within the city limits of the city without a valid electrical license issued by the state unless:
(1) 
The person is an employee of an electrical supply company and is performing exempt work as described in the Electrical Code;
(2) 
The person is exempt from the license requirements or is engaged in exempt work as described in the Electrical Code;
(3) 
The person is an employee of an appliance sales business involved in the installation or repair of general purpose household appliances provided that no alteration, modification or extension is made to the electrical system; or
(4) 
The person is a maintenance employee of a public or semipublic school and performing electrical work at a public or semipublic school facility under the guidance and direction of a licensed master or journeyman electrician.
(b) 
This code 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 caused by any defect in such equipment or in the installation thereof, nor shall either any electrical inspector nor the city assume any liability by reason of the inspection or reinspection authorized in this chapter or by reason of the issuance of certificates of conformance or nonconformance, or by reason of the approval or disapproval of any equipment authorized in this chapter or by the issuance of any permits or licenses.
(c) 
Nothing in this code shall be construed to prevent maintenance of specialized equipment by a manufacturer of the equipment provided those persons that perform such maintenance work hold a valid maintenance electrician license.
(Code 1975, § 9-39; Ordinance 2804, § 1(9-39), adopted 9/13/2004)
Only the following licenses shall be permitted to do the electrical work specified as follows:
(1) 
Master electrician.
A master electrician may contract for and engage in the business of installing, repairing or replacing electrical wiring or equipment of any nature on or in buildings or structures, including signs. The master electrician may employ and supervise journeyman electricians, master sign electricians, journeyman sign electricians, residential wireman electricians and maintenance electricians, helpers and apprentice electricians.
(2) 
Journeyman electrician.
A journeyman electrician shall be able to perform any type of electrical work under the supervision of a master electrician, or perform any type of sign work under the supervision of a master electrician or a master sign electrician, but in no case shall a journeyman electrician contract for or engage in the business of electrical work of any nature, except under the supervision of either a master electrician or a master sign electrician. A journeyman electrician shall be able to lay out work for and to supervise helper or apprentice electricians.
(3) 
Master sign electrician.
A master sign electrician shall be able to contract for and engage in the business of manufacturing and installing electrical signs, luminous gas or electric discharge signs, and luminous gas or electric discharge outline lighting from the secondary wiring power source or transformer in the sign and to employ and supervise journeyman sign electricians in the performance of such work on such signs and/or outline lighting.
(4) 
Journeyman sign electrician.
A journeyman sign electrician shall be able to perform any type of sign and/or outline lighting work of a master electrician or master sign electrician, provided that such work must be performed under the supervision of a licensed master electrician or a master sign electrician.
(5) 
Residential wireman electrician.
The residential wireman electrician license restricts the holder of such licenses to do electrical work in one-family and two-family dwellings only. Electrical contractors working electricians with a residential wireman electrician license must work such electricians in one-family and two-family dwelling sites only. Electrical contractors working electricians in other types of construction will be subject to a citation as well as the electricians.
(6) 
Maintenance electrician.
A maintenance electrician shall be able to perform the keeping in safe repair of any and all electrical installations, apparatus, equipment and appliances and the keeping in safe repair of electrical equipment Within a building or in or on the premises where the maintenance electrician is regularly employed on a permanent basis, for which an electrical permit is not required under the terms and provisions of this article.
(7) 
Helper or apprentice electrician.
A helper or apprentice electrician may perform electrical work only when the work is laid out for him and supervised by a master electrician, a master sign electrician, a journeyman electrician, a journeyman sign electrician, a maintenance electrician, or a residential wireman electrician.
(8) 
Supervising electrician to be on job site.
The supervising master electrician, master sign electrician, journeyman electrician, or journeyman sign electrician shall be on the job site.
(Code 1975, § 9-44)
(a) 
If, after a permit is issued to a named licensee under the provisions hereof, and the building official or electrical inspector shall immediately have an inspection made of the work completed to that time, and he may revoke the outstanding permit and require that a new permit be obtained before the work is allowed to resume.
(b) 
A license or permit may be suspended, repealed or revoked by the building official by reason of occurrence of one or more of the following:
(1) 
Fraud or misrepresentation in obtaining a license or permit;
(2) 
Violation of a provision of this article, or any other regulating ordinance of the city applicable to the installation or alteration of appliances, equipment or systems as set forth in this chapter;
(3) 
Conviction of defrauding a person for whom he has rendered or contracted to render service;
(4) 
Failure to obtain a permit or the attempted assignment of a permit; or
(5) 
The sending of three notifications within a six-month period of complaints that the licensee or registration holder is in violation of this article.
(c) 
Upon suspension or revocation of said master electrician or master sign electrician license, it shall be null and void, and no work thereafter may be performed thereunder.
(d) 
Upon appeal to the board of appeals, said board may affirm, revise, or modify such suspension or revocation.
(Code 1975, § 9-45; Ordinance 2804, § 1(9-45), adopted 9/13/2004)