Fresno County Municipal Code Ch. 15.16 Electrical Code

The 2022 Edition of the California Electrical Code, including Informative Annex A through Informative Annex G, is adopted by reference.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 13-024, § 1(Exh. B), 11-12-2013; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

Sections and/or Articles of the California Electrical Code are deleted, amended, or superseded as indicated:

A. Section 116, Unsafe Structures and Equipment, of the 2022 California Building Code, is amended by adding the following paragraph:

For the purpose of this Chapter, any electrical equipment existing in any type occupancy which has any of the following conditions or defects shall be deemed dangerous and said equipment shall be repaired, reinstalled, reconstructed or removed if:

1. The service panels show visual evidence of an excessive number of overloads.

2. The working area in front of any service panel is insufficient for safe maintenance and repair of the equipment.

3. Live front panels are being maintained or used.

4. The fuses are rated higher than those permitted by said California Electrical Code.

5. The electrical conductor is in an unapproved raceway.

6. The electrical conductors from different classes of service are in a common raceway, common junction box, or common electrical panel.

7. Drop cords greater than six feet (6') in length are used to connect electrical appliances.

8. The electrical equipment is not properly grounded for the protection of the electrical equipment as determined by the use being made thereof.

9. The electrical equipment is broken, cracked or not properly maintained to meet the standards existing at the time the equipment was approved.

10. The electrical equipment is unsafe for the use intended.

B. Section 116.3, Notice, of the 2022 California Building Code, is amended to include as follows: Authority to Condemn Installations.

1. When the Building Official determines that an electrical installation is in violation of this Chapter, an order shall be given to the owner/permittee or person in responsible charge of the installation to either remove or replace the installation. The order shall be in writing and mailed or personally delivered; it shall specify the particulars in which the installation is in violation and a reasonable time for compliance with the order. In cases of extreme danger to life or property, the order shall further require that all persons immediately cease using electric current through the installation and cause its disconnection at once.

2. 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.

C. Article 90.1, Purpose, (A) Practical Safeguarding of the 2022 California Electrical Code, is amended by adding the following paragraph:

Where the service exceeds four hundred (400) amperes and/or six hundred (600) volts, or the area of the building is in excess of fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet, the plans shall be prepared by an electrical engineer licensed by the State of California, except as defined in the State of California Business and Professions Code, Section 6737.3.

D. Article 90.2, Scope, (A) Covered of the 2022 California Electrical Code, is amended to include the following subsections:

1. For all existing commercial and industrial establishments and places of assembly, when the electrical service has been disconnected for one hundred-eighty (180) days or more, the service may not be reconnected without inspection and approval from the Building Official. If any unsafe electrical system or equipment is present, approval will not be granted. A permit is required for this inspection.

2. For all existing residential buildings and agricultural service poles where service has been disconnected for one (1) year or more, the service may not be reconnected without inspection and approval from the Building Official. A permit is required for the inspection.

E. Article 230.2, Number of Services, is amended by adding Special Condition No. 7 to read as follows:

Special Condition No. 7: For tenant spaces when one (1) occupant expands operations into an adjacent tenant space and demising walls are removed or openings in such walls are created, wiring systems for each service shall be completely segregated from the wiring systems of other services and shall not cross over a defined demarcation line which shall be described at each service.

F. Permits for new electrical service installations will be limited to installations that serve a connected load or approved use as allowed by the property's zoning.

G. Approved temporary electrical service installations shall comply with section 15.04.090.C of this chapter.

H. Reserved.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 13-024, § 1(Exh. B), 11-12-2013; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

A. When an addition is made to, or an alteration is made in an existing building, all new electrical work and all existing electrical work repaired, changed or connected shall be made to comply with the provisions of this article.

B. The amount of existing wiring that is not to be repaired or replaced shall be at the discretion of the Building Official.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

All signs shall conform to the standards as set up by the Underwriters' Laboratory (UL) or by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The inspection label of the Underwriters' Laboratories or an approved testing laboratory shall be required on all new signs. Exceptions may be made to these requirements in the case of signs which must be fabricated on the job, but such exceptions require that signs bear evidence of approval by the Building Official. A label of approval by the Building Official will be required on all existing signs requiring any alteration to the electrical circuits except for changes or replacement of tubing and other normal repairs. Any sign found not to be in conformance with these regulations shall be deemed a violation of these regulations and the same shall be removed from the place of erection. When an inspection is required by the Building Official on signs not bearing an Underwriters' or approved testing laboratory label, a fee will be charged for each inspection as set forth in the master fee schedule.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

All services over six hundred (600) volts shall have high potential tests made before being energized. Such tests shall be performed by an approved testing agency and a written test report shall be submitted to the Building Official for review and approval.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

A. All unused electrical wiring shall be removed from structures.

B. Article 89.108.4.4 Inspections is amended as follows:

1. Rough electrical inspection shall be made after all electrical conductors, cables, or wiring methods are sufficiently protected from physical damage and the weather.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

A. Article 680.26(B)(7) is amended to provide a definition for the word "fixed." Securely placed or fastened, stationary - Merriam-Webster.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019)