Earlier editions: 2026-09
Title 8 — BUILDING REGULATIONS
Fowler Municipal Code Ch. 2 Electrical Code
Fowler Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Fowler
Cite as: Fowler Municipal Code Chapter 2 · Text as of 2026-10-04
8-2.01 - Adoption of the National Electrical Code.¶
For the purpose of regulating electrical systems, the 2022 California Electrical Code (CEC) promulgated by the California Building Standards Commission, which incorporates the adoption of the 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code, is hereby adopted by reference thereto as if fully set forth in this Chapter, save and except such portions as are deleted, modified, or amended by the provisions of this Chapter. Copies of the 2022 California Electrical Code are on file in the office of the City Clerk and Building Official. Any changes made by the California Building Standards Commission applicable to the City, including new editions, shall be deemed incorporated herein. If any conflicts between this Code and any other City, State or Federal Code should arise, the most restrictive Code providing the highest level of safety as determined by the Building Official shall prevail.
(Ord. 79-12 § 1, 1-3-80; Ord. 81-6 § 2, 7-2-81; Ord. 93-5 § 7, 9-2-93; Ord. 94-8 § 6, 2-2-95; Ord. No. 2023-06, § 5, 4-18-2023)
8-2.02 - Definitions.¶
(a) For the purposes of this chapter, unless otherwise apparent from the context, certain words and phrases used in this chapter and in said Electrical Code are defined as set forth in this section.
(b) "Building Official" shall mean the City Superintendent and any assistant or any employee of his office designated by him as a Building Official.
(c) "Construction" shall mean and include construction, erection, enlargement, alteration, conversion, or movement.
(d) "Municipality" shall mean the City of Fowler.
(e) "Premises wiring." See the definition set forth in Article 100 of said Electrical Code.
(Ord. 79-10 § 1, 1-3-80)
8-2.03 - Administration—Scope and application.¶
(a) Administration and Enforcement. The provisions of this chapter shall be administered and enforced by the Building Official.
(b) Scope. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to and govern all electrical equipment and wiring installed, used, maintained, or rented, offered for sale, or distributed for use in the City, including electrical equipment owned and controlled by the City.
(c) Exceptions. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to:
(1) Electrical equipment and wiring installed in buildings or on premises owned by a school district, the County, the State and its agencies, or the United States and its agencies to the extent that such governmental entities are exempted by federal law from compliance with local building laws;
(2) Electrical equipment and wiring controlled and regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of the State; and
(3) Fire alarm systems, traffic control devices, and street lighting owned, controlled, and maintained by the City.
(§ 1, Ord. 79-12, eff. January 3, 1980)
8-2.04 - Existing premises wiring: Alterations and additions.¶
Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to curtail the use of or to require any person to reinstall, reconstruct, alter, change, or remove premises wiring in existence on January 3, 1980, which was legal on January 3, 1980, provided such continued use is not dangerous as defined in this chapter.
(§ 1, Ord. 79-12, eff. January 3, 1980)
8-2.05 - Dangerous electrical equipment.¶
For the purposes of this chapter, any electrical equipment existing in any type occupancy which has any or all of the conditions or defects described as follows shall be deemed dangerous, and such equipment shall be repaired, reinstalled, reconstructed, or removed:
(a) The service panels show visual evidence of an excessive number of overloads.
(b) The working area in front of any service panel is insufficient for the safe maintenance and repair of the equipment.
(c) Live front panels are being maintained or used.
(d) The fuses are rated higher than those permitted by the Electrical Code.
(e) The electrical conductor is in an unapproved raceway.
(f) The electrical conductors from different classes of service are in a common raceway.
(g) Drop cords greater than six (6) feet in length are used to connect electrical appliances.
(h) The electrical equipment is not properly grounded for the protection of the electrical equipment as determined by the use being made thereof.
(i) The electrical equipment is broken, cracked, or not properly maintained to meet the standards existing at the time the equipment was approved.
(j) The electrical equipment is unsafe for the use intended.
(§ 1, Ord. 79-12, eff. January 3, 1980)
8-2.06 - Utility connections.¶
(a) General. Permanent utility (electricity supply system) connections shall not be made to any premises wiring or electrical equipment unless all of the requirements of the Electrical Code have been met.
(b) Connections for construction. The Building Official may permit temporary utility connections for construction purposes where no hazard to life or property exists or may be created. The Building Official may specify such restrictions on such temporary uses as are necessary to secure compliance with all the provisions of this title.
(c) Temporary occupancies. The Building Official may approve temporary utility connections for the temporary occupancy of a building or structure for the purpose of repair or rehabilitation provided (1) there is, in the opinion of the Building Official, no hazard to life or property, and (2) the owner specifies, to the satisfaction of the Building Official, a time within which the required work will be completed. If the required repair or rehabilitation is not completed within the time specified or any extension allowed by the Building Official, the Building Official shall order the serving utility company to disconnect the service.
(d) Temporary occupancies: Fees for inspections. Inspections and permits shall be required for connections for temporary occupancies as set forth to subsection (c) of this section. The fee for such inspections and permits shall be as provided in Item 30 of subsection (d) of Section 8-2.17 of this chapter.
(e) No connection without approval. No person shall connect any utility without the prior approval of the Building Official.
(§ 1, Ord. 79-12, eff. January 3, 1980)
8-2.07 - Authority to condemn installations.¶
(a) When the Building Official shall determine that an electrical installation is in violation of this chapter, he shall order the owner or person in responsible charge of the installation to remove, replace, or otherwise correct the installation. The order shall be in writing and shall be mailed or personally delivered to such owner or person. The order shall specify the particulars in which the installation is in violation and shall fix a reasonable time for compliance with the order. In cases of extreme danger to life or property, as determined by the Building Official, the order shall further require that all persons immediately cease using electric current through the installation and that it be immediately disconnected. No person shall use or maintain in operation any such installation after the receipt of such order or written notice thereof.
(b) If any violation continues to exist beyond the expiration of the time fixed by the order, or should the Building Official find that persons are using an installation that has been ordered disconnected, the Building Official is authorized to order the serving agency to disconnect electric service to the consumer's wiring system.
(§ 1, Ord. 79-12, eff. January 3, 1980)
8-2.08 - Right of entry: Inspections.¶
No person shall hinder or prevent any authorized representative of the Building Official from entering and making an inspection, at a reasonable hour, of any building or premises whenever necessary to secure or determine compliance with, or prevent a violation of, any provision of this chapter. No such representative shall enter any dwelling, apartment, or guest room after the same is occupied without the consent of the occupants, except upon a court order.
(§ 1, Ord. 79-12, eff. January 3, 1980)
8-2.09 - Stop work orders.¶
(a) Whenever any electrical work is being done contrary to the provisions of this chapter, the Building Official may order the work stopped by a written notice mailed or personally served on any person engaged in doing or causing such work to be done, and such persons shall forthwith stop such work until authorized by the Building Official to proceed with the work.
(b) It shall be the responsibility of the permittee to submit any required plans proposed to correct violations noted on the stop work order.
(§ 1, Ord. 79-12, eff. January 3, 1980)
8-2.10 - Maintenance electricians.¶
In lieu of an individual permit for each installation or alteration, an annual permit may be issued to any person, firm, or corporation regularly employing one or more electricians for the installation and maintenance of electrical wiring or equipment exclusively on premises owned or occupied by the applicant for the permit. The application for such annual permit shall be made in writing to the Building Official and shall contain a description of the premises upon which work is to be done under the permit. Within fifteen (15) days following the end of each calendar month, the permittee shall transmit to the Building Official a report of all electrical work which has been done under the annual permit during the preceding month. A fee as provided in the fee schedule set forth in Section 8-2.17 of this chapter shall be paid for each annual maintenance electrician's permit at the time such permit is issued. In addition, fees shall be paid for all work done under such a permit, in accordance with the fee schedule, at the time such work is inspected.
(§ 1, Ord. 79-12, eff. January 3, 1980)
8-2.11 - Engineered plans.¶
Where the service is over 400 ampere rating or 600 volts, or the area of the building is in excess of 15,000 square feet, the plans shall be prepared by an electrical engineer licensed by the State, except as provided in Section 6737.4 of the Business and Professions Code of the State.
(§ 1, Ord. 79-12, eff. January 3, 1980)
8-2.12 - Permits required: Exceptions.¶
(a) Permits required. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, no person shall do, install, alter, reconstruct, or repair any electric wiring regulated by this chapter, or cause or permit the same to be done without a permit therefor from the City.
(b) Exceptions. The following exceptions to subsection (a) of this section shall apply:
(1) Electrical equipment and wiring expressly declared to be exempt from the provisions of this chapter by other sections of this chapter or other provisions of this Code;
(2) The repair on replacement of the current-carrying parts of any switch, contactor, or control device;
(3) The reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles, but not the outlets therefor;
(4) The repair or replacement of any over-current device of the required capacity and in the same location;
(5) The repair or replacement of electrodes or transformers of the same size and capacity for signs or gas tube systems;
(6) Christmas or other temporary decorative lighting maintained for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days; and
(7) The repair or replacement of fixed motors or fixed approved appliances of the same type and rating in the same location.
(§ 1, Ord. 79-12, eff. January 3, 1980)
8-2.13 - Limits of authorization of permits.¶
(a) The issuance of a permit shall be an authorization to do only that work which is described on the application for the permit.
(b) Neither the issuance of a permit nor the approval by the City of any document shall constitute an approval of any violation of any provision of this chapter or of any other law or ordinance, and a permit or other document purporting to give authority to violate any law shall not be valid with respect thereto.
(c) No permit shall be transferable, except to a person authorized to obtain a permit and with the written approval of the original permittee.
(§ 1, Ord. 79-12, eff. January 3, 1980)
8-2.14 - Who may obtain permits.¶
The permits required by this chapter may be issued only to:
(a) Owners of single-family dwellings when the work for which the permit is sought is to be on a dwelling occupied by the permittee;
(b) Electrical contractors holding a valid State Electrical Contractor's license;
(c) Governmental agencies;
(d) State licensed general contractors; and
(e) Persons employing maintenance electricians pursuant to Section 8-2.10 of this chapter.
(§ 1, Ord. 79-12, eff. January 3, 1980)
8-2.15 - Permits and inspections.¶
(a) A person proposing to do any work shall first file an application with the Building Official. Such application shall set forth the work proposed to be done and shall recite the correct street number of the place where the work is proposed to be done.
(b) The application shall be accompanied by such plans, specifications, or schedules as may be necessary to determine whether the installation as proposed will be in conformity with the provisions of this chapter and in all cases shall show services and sub-feed sizes.
(c) The application shall be considered by the Building Official, and, if in order and in conformity with the regulations of the City and the laws of the State applicable thereto, the permit shall be issued.
(d) The Building Official shall be notified promptly when any work is ready for inspection and also as soon as corrections pointed out by an inspector have been made. Accessibility for inspections shall be provided by the permittee.
(e) The failure on the part of any permittee to comply with any provision of this chapter or to correct any defect, error, or deficiency in the work within ten (10) days after notification thereof, or within such further reasonable time as, upon request, may be prescribed, shall be sufficient cause for refusal to issue any further permits to such permittee until such corrections have been made, inspected, and approved.
(§ 1, Ord. 79-12, eff. January 3, 1980)
8-2.16 - Suspension and revocation of permits.¶
The Building Official may suspend or revoke, in writing, any permit which was issued in error, or on the basis of incorrect information furnished, or in violation of any ordinance or regulation or any provision of this Code.
(§ 1, Ord. 79-12, eff. January 3, 1980)
8-2.17 - Fee schedule for permits and inspections.¶
(a) All electrical work proposed by the applicant shall be shown on the application for the first electrical permit. For any additional work beyond that stated in the original application, a supplementary permit shall be obtained. A permit to do electrical work shall be issued by the Building Official upon the completion of the application form and upon the payment to the City of the applicable permit and inspection fees set forth in this section.
(b) For single-family dwellings on new construction work, the following flat rate table shall be the fee for all electrical work within the structure and all other electric work connected thereto:
| Area Of Construction | Fee |
|---|---|
| 0 to 750 square feet | $18.50 |
| 751 to 1,000 square feet | 25.00 |
| 1,001 to 1,500 square feet | 34.00 |
| 1,501 to 2,000 square feet | 44.00 |
| 2,001 to 2,500 square feet | 54.00 |
| 2,501 to 3,000 square feet | 64.00 |
For each additional 500 square feet or fraction thereof, add Two and 50/100ths ($2.50) Dollars to the above fee schedule. In tract construction, the fee rate set forth in this subsection shall be reduced by ten (10) percent for five (5) or more similar dwelling units in the same tract when taken simultaneously with the building, plumbing, and heating and comfort cooling permits.
(c) For multi-family buildings (two (2) or more units) on new construction work, the following flat rates shall apply (such fee shall include issuing the permit, service and subpanels, all outlets, and range, dryer, and other miscellaneous or motor circuits):
| Area Of Construction | Fee |
|---|---|
| 0 to 750 square feet | $15.00 each unit |
| 751 to 1,000 square feet | 20.00 each unit |
| 1,001 to 1,500 square feet | 25.00 each unit |
| Over 1,500 square feet | 32.00 each unit |
In motel units without kitchen facilities, one-fourth of the above fee schedule shall apply. If kitchen facilities are included, the regular fee shall apply.
(d) For all other electrical work, the following individual fee schedule shall apply:
| 1. | For issuing permits, each | $ 3.00 |
|---|---|---|
| 2. | Where additional outlets or equipment have not been included in the original permit, a supplementary fee of | 1.50 |
| 3. | For wiring outlets, at which current is used or controlled: | |
| Over ten outlets (each) | 15 | |
| (Each 24 inches of plug-in strip will be counted as one outlet) | ||
| 4. | For fixtures, sockets, or other lampholding devices located more than eighteen inches apart, first ten devices | 4.00 |
| Over ten devices (each) | .15 | |
| 5. | For any combination of items (3) and (4) above not exceeding ten devices | 4.00 |
| 6. | For each motor of not more than one-half H.P. | .75 |
| 7. | For each air-conditioning outlet of one-half H.P. or less | .75 |
| 8. | For each motor of more than one-half H.P. but not more than two H.P. | 1.50 |
| 9. | For each air-conditioning outlet of more than one-half H.P. but not more than two H.P. | 1.50 |
| 10. | For each motor of more than two H.P. but not more than five H.P. | 2.50 |
| 11. | For each motor of more than five H.P. but not more than fifteen H.P. | 3.00 |
| 12. | For each motor of more than fifteen H.P. but not more than fifty H.P. | 6.50 |
| 13. | For each motor of more than fifty H.P. | 17.00 |
| 14. | For each generator or transformer, each kva capacity shall be considered as one H.P. in a motor. | |
| 15. | For each motor-generator set or frequency changer, the fee charged shall be seventy-five percent greater than for the motor alone. | |
| 16. | For each temporary motor, the same fee as for moving. | |
| 17. | For each moving of motors, generators, transformers, or welders upon which a final certificate has already been issued by the Building Official, a fee equal to seventy-five percent of the fee required for new equipment. | |
| 18. | For each exterior lighting standard (excluding residential use) | |
| First four standards (each) | $ 4.00 | |
| Over four standards (each) | 2.50 | |
| 19. | For each range, dishwasher, waste disposal, heater, dryer, or welder installation | 1.50 |
| 20. | For temporary lights in buildings in the course of construction or undergoing repairs or similar use | 6.00 |
| 21. | For each incandescent electric sign or outline lighting of a luminous gas type, with one to four transformers | 5.00 |
| 22. | With five or more transformers, each transformer | 1.00 |
| 23. | For each rectifier and synchronous converter, per K.W. | .50 |
| 24. | For each x-ray unit and its appurtenances | 6.50 |
| SERVICE AND/ |
||
| 25. | For No. 8 or No. 6 wire services | 2.50 |
| 26. | For No. 4, No. 2, or No. 1 wire services | 4.00 |
| 27. | For No. 1/0, No. 2/0, No. 3/0, or No. 4/0 wire services | 6.00 |
| 28. | For 250,000 C.M. to 350,00 C.M. wire services | 8.00 |
| 29. | Over 350,00 C.M. wire services | 12.00 |
| 30. | For the inspection of any electrical equipment for which no fee is herein prescribed, for the time consumed, per hour | 10.00 |
| 31. | For annual maintenance electricians' permits | 15.00 |
When electrical permits are not obtained in conjunction with other types of permits, the minimum fee shall be Five and no/100ths ($5.00) Dollars.
(e) The minimum electrical permit fee for all structures which are to be relocated shall be a minimum of ten dollars ($10.00), except for F-2 and J Occupancies less than 500 square feet in area.
(Ord. 79-12 § 1, 1-3-80)
8-2.18 - Nonresponsibility of City.¶
Neither the City, nor any officer or employee thereof, shall be held liable or responsible for any damages or injuries caused by, or resulting from, any inspection or approval made pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 79-12 § 1, 1-3-80)
8-2.19 - Violations—Penalties.¶
(a) Any person who shall violate or fail to comply with any provisions of this chapter, or who shall construct any building or structure, or cause the same to be done, contrary to or in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or the National Electric Code incorporated by reference shall be punishable as set forth in Chapter 2 of Title 1 of this Code.
(b) Each such person shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day, or portion thereof, during which any violation of any provision of this chapter is committed, continued, or permitted.
(c) The provisions of this chapter may also be enforced by an injunction issued by the Superior Court upon a suit by the City or by the owner or person in possession of any real property affected by such violation or prospective violation. Such method of enforcement shall be cumulative and shall in no way affect the penal provisions of this section.
(Ord. 79-12 § 1, 1-3-80; Ord. 95-1 § 1, 3-23-95)
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