The purpose of this chapter is to provide for
the protection of life and property and to avoid the improper installation
of electric wiring in the City of Rochester. The provisions contained
herein shall constitute the rules regulating a person or persons engaged
in the work of electrical installation in the City of Rochester. This
chapter shall be known as the "Electrical Licensing Ordinance."
[Amended 9-26-1961; 1-23-1968 by Ord. No. 68-18; 12-26-1968 by Ord. No. 68-422; 8-14-1973 by Ord. No. 73-426; 12-23-1975 by Ord. No. 75-493; 1-24-1978 by Ord. No. 78-54]
For the purpose of this chapter, the following
terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, unless
different meanings are clearly indicated by the context.
BOARD
The Electrical Examining Board of the City as provided for in Article XII, §
12-39, of the Charter of the City of Rochester.
COMMISSIONER
The Commissioner of Neighborhood and Business Development
of the City of Rochester or his or her legally designated representative.
[Amended 2-10-1981 by Ord. No. 81-45; 2-24-1981 by Ord. No. 81-55; 2-14-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-22; 6-16-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-179]
COMPANY OFFICER
An individual, employed by the company, designated as the
licensed electrician of record.
[Added 10-11-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-325]
ELECTRICIAN
One who installs, alters or repairs electrical devices and
circuits.
EMPLOYEE
An individual who is on the company payroll and who receives
a W2 form as such.
[Added 10-11-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-325]
HONORARY ELECTRICIAN'S LICENSE
A license issued upon request and without charge for life
to a person retiring from active practice as an electrician after
having held an active electrician's license for at least 10 consecutive
years and having reached the age of 60. Such license shall not entitle
the holder to engage in the business of installing, altering or repairing
electrical wiring, services or equipment. Such license shall be issued
in the same category as the most recent active license held by the
individual and shall be identified by the prefix "Honorary" on the
license certificate and the addition of the letter "H" to the license
number. The Board shall be empowered to waive the above requirements
for the granting of this honorary license in cases of extenuating
circumstances, such as for an electrician who becomes permanently
disabled.
[Added 5-22-1984 by Ord. No. 84-170]
MASTER ELECTRICIAN
Any person who possesses or is qualified to possess a master
electrician's license in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
MASTER ELECTRICIAN'S LICENSE
A license which is issued to an electrician who has proven
his or her qualifications and ability and has been authorized by the
Board to possess this type of license. This license, while in an active
status, entitles the holder to engage in the business of installing,
altering and repairing electrical wiring, services and equipment in
all types of properties, including the specific occupancies described
in Chapter V of the National Electrical Code.
[Amended 2-14-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-22]
RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICIAN
Any person who possesses or is qualified to possess a residential
electrician's license in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
[Added 10-11-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-325]
RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICIAN'S LICENSE
A license which is issued to an electrician who has proven
his or her qualifications and ability and has been authorized by the
Board to possess this type of license. This license, while in an active
status, entitles the holder to engage in the business of installing,
altering and repairing electrical wiring, services and equipment in
all types of properties with the following limitations:
[Added 10-11-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-325]
A.
Incoming services and installed equipment shall be limited to
a single phase.
B.
The specific occupancies described in Chapter V of the National
Electrical Code are excluded.
SERVICE CONNECTION
The point in the electrical system where the wiring owned
by the utility servicing the premises connects to that which is owned
by the property owner.
[Added 10-11-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-325]
SUPERINTENDENT
An individual, employed by the company, designated as the
licensed electrician of record.
[Added 10-11-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-325]
TEMPORARY ELECTRICIAN'S LICENSE
A license which is issued to a person desiring to perform
electrical work for a limited period of time or which is issued, at
the discretion of the Board, to applicants for a master or single
phase electrician's license. A person who is issued a temporary electrician's
license must take the next available examination in order to determine
his or her qualifications for a master or single phase electrician's
license. A temporary electrician's license shall expire 30 days after
the Board meets to review and approve the results of the examinations.
A person issued a temporary electrician's license is subject to the
same regulations as a permanent master or single phase electrician.
[Amended 2-14-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-22]
[Amended 4-23-1963; 1-23-1968 by Ord. No. 68-18; 2-10-1981 by Ord. No. 81-45; 4-14-1992 by Ord. No. 92-117; 2-15-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-48]
An applicant shall make application for a license by filling out either paper or digital forms as prescribed by the Board and presenting such forms either in person at the permit office of the Department of Neighborhood and Business Development or remotely by means of an online portal provided by said Department. The applicant shall specifically state the type of license for which he or she is applying. At the time of application for examination, the applicant shall pay the fee established in §
49-8B(1). The Commissioner shall forward to the Secretary of the Board all applications to be considered by the Board at a time prescribed by the Board. Upon presenting proof of the successful completion of an examination, the applicant shall pay the fee established in §
49-8B(2).
[Amended 1-24-1978 by Ord. No. 78-54; 5-22-1984 by Ord. No.
84-170; 4-14-1992 by Ord. No. 92-117; 9-13-1995 by Ord. No. 95-321; 2-14-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-22; 10-11-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-325; 2-15-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-48]
A. A license shall be granted to an applicant who shall prove to the satisfaction of the Board that he or she is a competent electrician qualified to do electrical contracting, construction, installation work and wiring and that he or she possesses a working knowledge of electricity and the natural laws and functions of electricity and of appliances, apparatuses and devices for electric light, heat and power purposes used and required in the scope of work for which he or she is making application, combined with a practical working knowledge of the City ordinances relating to electrical work and the provisions of the National Electrical Code. Said applicant shall either submit to an examination by the Board or submit the applicant's score on a prior examination administered elsewhere that is determined by the Board to be sufficient to demonstrate competence in accordance with §
49-5B. For an applicant seeking to quality by means of an examination administered by the Board, the Secretary of the Board, or his or her designee, shall send a notice of examination to an applicant, postmarked at least five days prior to the date of the examination, to the last known mailing address of the applicant on record. To qualify to take an examination administered by the Board, each applicant for a residential electrician's license must have at least two years of applicable experience, and each applicant for a master electrician's license shall have at least four years of applicable experience. The Board may specify these experience requirements in more detail in rules and regulations.
B. For each
applicant who seeks to qualify by presenting the result of a prior
examination not administered by the Board, the Board shall determine
whether the examination's subject matter, form (including whether
it was written or otherwise), origin (including its date, and the
licensing jurisdiction or expert third party that prepared it), date
administered, and passing score, are sufficient to qualify the applicant
for the license sought.
[Amended 12-26-1968 by Ord. No. 68-422; 1-24-1978 by Ord. No. 78-54]
A. All required fees shall be paid by the applicant when
filing an application for a license or for a change in type or status
or when renewing a license.
B. Fees for new permanent licenses and for temporary
licenses.
[Amended 5-22-1984 by Ord. No. 84-170; 5-22-1990 by Ord. No. 90-191; 6-18-1991 by Ord. No. 91-257; 4-14-1992 by Ord. No. 92-117]
(1) Examination fee (due with application): $60.
(2) License fee (due with certification):
[Amended 10-11-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-325]
|
Exam Date
|
Type
|
Even Year
|
Odd Year
|
---|
|
July/October
|
Residential
|
$120
|
$60
|
|
July/October
|
Master
|
$120
|
$60
|
|
January
|
Residential
|
$30
|
$90
|
|
January
|
Master
|
$30
|
$90
|
|
April
|
Residential
|
$120
|
$60
|
|
April
|
Master
|
$120
|
$60
|
(3) Temporary license: examination fee of $60 and license
fee of $60.
C. Fees for renewal of active licenses (full two-year
periods only).
[Amended 5-22-1990 by Ord. No. 90-191; 6-18-1991 by Ord. No. 91-257; 4-14-1992 by Ord. No. 92-17; 10-11-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-325]
|
Type
|
Fee
|
---|
|
Master
|
$120
|
|
Residential
|
$120
|
E. Fees for upgrading license category:
[Amended 5-22-1984 by Ord. No. 84-170; 4-14-1992 by Ord. No. 92-117; 10-11-2011 by Ord. No.
2011-325]
|
|
Examination Fee
|
Examination Fee
|
---|
|
Type
|
(due with renewal)
|
(due with application)
|
|
Residential to master
|
$15
|
$60
|
F. Suspension and revocation.
[Amended 5-22-1984 by Ord. No. 84-170; 4-14-1992 by Ord. No. 92-117]
(1) For reinstating a suspended license: $50.
(2) For reinstating/renewing a revoked license, the same
fees as for new licenses apply. If renewed without examination, the
total fee paid must not be less than if the license had been kept
valid by regular renewals.
G. For late renewal (June 1 - June 30) of a license there is a fee of $50 in addition to the normal renewal fees set forth in §
49-8C.
[Amended 5-22-1984 by Ord. No. 84-170; 4-14-1992 by Ord. No. 91-117]
H. Other fees. Any fees not set forth in this section
shall be prescribed by the Commissioner and shall be consistent with
the fees set forth herein.
I. Refund.
(1) There shall be no refund of fees for the period during
which a license has been suspended.
(2) There shall be no refund of fees when a license is
revoked.
(3) There shall be no refund of fees to an applicant who
fails to acquire a license.
[Amended 4-14-1992 by Ord. No. 92-117]
[Amended 1-24-1978 by Ord. No. 78-54; 2-15-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-48]
Payments of any fee required by this chapter
and any other sums shall be made payable to the order of the City
Treasurer and shall be paid either in person at the permitting office
of the Department of Neighborhood and Business Development or remotely
by means of a digital portal prescribed by the Department.
[Amended 1-23-1968 by Ord. No. 68-18; 2-10-1981 by Ord. No. 81-45; 2-14-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-22]
A. No individual shall falsely represent himself or herself
as a master electrician or employing electrician by the use of the
words "master electrician," "special electrician," "licensed electrical
contractor" or words of similar import or meaning on signs, cards,
stationery, telephone directories or in any other manner whatsoever.
B. No individual shall sell, lend, rent or in any manner
transfer or assign his or her license, name and/or license number
to any other individual; nor shall any individual make use of a license,
name or license number which is not actually his or her own. Every
such license may, after due notice to the holder thereof and opportunity
to be heard, be suspended or revoked by the Board for failure or refusal
of the licensee to comply with the City ordinances and National Electrical
Code requirements or for other cause deemed sufficient by the Board,
including the selling, lending, renting, transferring or assignment
of any license, contrary to the provisions of this chapter.
C. The Commissioner or his or her duly authorized representative
is authorized to suspend temporarily a license which has been issued
under the provisions of this chapter when the holder of the license
has, in the opinion of the Commissioner, violated the provisions of
this section, until such time as a hearing shall be held by the Board
for the purpose of reviewing such suspension. The Commissioner shall
notify the Secretary of the Board of said suspension within six days
thereafter. A hearing on such charge shall be held by the Board at
such time and place as designated in the rules and regulations relating
to suspension of licenses.
[Amended 2-14-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-22]
Persons desiring to prefer charges against any
holder of a license granted hereunder shall conform to and comply
with all rules and regulations of the Board regarding the preferring
and hearing of such charges. The defendant shall present himself or
herself for a hearing of such charges at such time and place as the
Board shall determine. Upon failure to appear, his or her license
shall be suspended until such time as it is restored by the Board.
[Amended 12-26-1968 by Ord. No. 68-422; 7-22-1969 by Ord. No. 69329; 10-13-1992 by Ord. No.
92-372]
A. Violations of this chapter may be referred to the Municipal Code Violations Bureau, wherein violators shall be subject to the penalties for high violations set forth in §
13A-11D(1) of the Municipal Code.
[Amended 10-11-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-325]
B. Violations of this chapter may also be enforced pursuant to Chapter
52 of the Municipal Code, and violators shall be subject to the penalties set forth in said chapter.
C. Violations of the licensing provisions of this chapter may be enforced pursuant to Chapter
68 of the Municipal Code, and violators shall be subject to the penalties set forth in said chapter.
Should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause
or phrase in this chapter be declared unconstitutional or invalid
for any reason, the remainder of the chapter shall not be affected
thereby and shall remain in full force and effect, and to this end
the provisions of this chapter are declared to be severable.
This chapter shall take effect January 1, 1961.