La Quinta Municipal Code Ch. 8.03 Electrical Code

Certain documents marked and designated as the "2025 California Electrical Code," published by the California Building Standards Commission, are adopted for safeguarding persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity.

Each and all of the regulations, provisions, conditions and terms therein, on file with the building official, are referenced and made a part hereof as if fully set out in this chapter, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

(Ord. 627 § 6(Exh. A), 12-16-2025; Ord. 604 § 4, Exh. A(7), 2022; Ord. 581 § 4, 2019; Ord. 551 § 4, 2016; Ord. 517 § 4, 2013; Ord. 483 § 2, 2010; Ord. 447 § 2, 2007; Ord. 417 Exh. A(3), (4), (5), 2005; Ord. 376 Exh. A(6), 2002; Ord. 330 Exh. A(8), 1999; Ord. 276 § 2, 1995; Ord. 208 § 2, 1992; Ord. 114 § 1, 1987; Ord. 68 § 1, 1985)

Article 120 of the 2025 California Electrical Code is added to read as follows:

ARTICLE 120 Underground Wiring Required

120.1 Scope. This article covers the general requirements for restricting the installation of above-ground electrical and other utility components in new construction, and phasing out their use in existing installations.

120.2 Definitions. See Article 100. For the purposes of this article, the following additional definitions apply.

Community Antenna Television System (or CATV). A system of antennas, coaxial cables, wires, wave guides, or other conductors, equipment, or facilities designed, constructed, or used for the purpose of providing television or FM radio service by cable or through its facilities.

Cost of Replacing. Those costs as computed by the Building Official or his or her designee. In making said computation, said City Official shall use those tables and figures provided in that publication entitled "Building Standards," as published by International Code Council, Whittier, California, and which is current at the time of such computations. Said tables and figures shall apply to a building which would conform to all City and State Regulations, including the City's Building, Plumbing, Wiring, Mechanical, Fire Codes and Zoning Regulations, which are effective at the time of the computation.

Poles, Wires, and Associated Structures. Poles, towers, supports, wires, crossarms, braces, transformers, insulators, cutouts, switches, communication circuits, appliances, attachments, and appurtenances used in whole or in part for supplying, distributing or transmitting electric energy, radio signals, television signals, telegraphic signals, CATV services, or any similar associated services to a building or structure and the occupants thereof, if any. Also referred to collectively in this article as "utility facilities."

Utility. All persons or entities supplying, transmitting, or distributing electrical energy and service, radio signals, television signals, telegraphic signals, and providing telephone, electrical, light, radio, television, telegraphic, and CATV services or any similar associated services by means of poles, wires, and associated structures.

120.3 Prohibition. Except as provided in Article 120.4, no person shall construct, install, or place above the surface of the ground any poles, wires, and associated structures, regardless of the use or proposed use of the structure or building to be served thereby.

120.4 Exceptions. The provisions of this article shall not apply to the following poles, wires, and associated structures under the circumstances described herein:

(A) Termination Point for Overhead Utility Facilities. Utility facilities constructed, placed, or installed (referred to herein collectively as "constructed"), or proposed to be constructed within six feet of the lot line of any real property for which service is being or intended to be provided by said utility facilities, if the sole purpose of the construction of utility facilities is to terminate overhead utility facilities. Such utility facilities may be placed at a distance further than six feet from said lot line to enable a maximum underground run of two hundred feet.

(B) Ground-mounted Equipment. Ground-mounted transformers, pedestal-mounted terminal boxes, meter cabinets, concealed ducts, and other appurtenances and associated equipment, which are part of and necessary for the operation of an underground electrical, communication, CATV, radio, or telegraphic system.

(C) Temporary Facilities. Utility facilities installed by a utility for temporary purposes, including, but not limited to, servicing building construction projects for which valid building permits have been issued by the City, and which uses are being or proposed to be conducted in compliance with all requirements of this code, the remainder of the California Building Standards Code, and the La Quinta Municipal Code.

(D) High Voltage Installations. Utility facilities distributing, supplying, and transmitting electrical energy at 34,000 Volts or greater.

120.5 Initial Obligation. The owner, lessee, tenant, or occupant of a building or structure or the owner of property proposed to be developed by a building or structure has the initial obligation to comply with all the requirements of this article, and in performance of said obligation shall make the necessary arrangements with the appropriate utility for the installation and construction of utility facilities so that they will be in compliance with the provisions of this article. This section is not intended to eliminate or limit the obligation of any person, including a utility, to comply at all times with all provisions of this article, but expresses the intent of the La Quinta City Council as to who has the primary obligation of compliance.

120.6 Waiver. If any person believes that the application of any provision of this article is impractical and will cause practical difficulties and unnecessary hardship to him or her or the public in general due to certain topographical conditions, street configurations, underground obstacle, soil, water or other natural conditions which would make the underground installation of utility facilities unreasonable, said person may apply in writing to the Design & Development Department for a waiver of such provision of this article. Said application shall be filed with the Design & Development Department and the City Council shall consider said application no later than thirty (30) days thereafter, at which time it shall hear the Applicant's evidence in support of the application, the comments and recommendations of the City's employees and officials thereon. It may hear other parties. The City Council may grant a waiver from all or any provisions of this article after considering a specific application therefor and after making a finding that the application of the specific provision in question would be unreasonable, impractical and cause undue hardship to the Applicant or the general public. If the City Council does grant a waiver, it may impose reasonable conditions on said grant in the interest of protecting and preserving the public health, safety and general welfare. The City Council shall make its decision on the application no later than thirty (30) days after it has concluded its consideration thereof. The decision of the City Council shall be final.

120.7 Nonconformance: Continuance and Termination.

(A) Nonconformance. Any legally established utility facility not in conformity with the provision of this article as of the effective date of this ordinance shall be considered nonconforming.

(B) Nonconforming Utility Facilities Not Relocated. Any nonconforming utility facility may continue to be used and may be renewed, altered, enlarged, or have additions thereto in its existing location without any provisions of this article being applicable thereto. However, when any building or structure to which any nonconforming utility facility provides any service is enlarged or an addition is made thereto where the cost of replacing said building or structure including its addition or enlargement exceeds by 50 percent the cost of replacing said building or structure prior to its enlargement or the addition thereto, all utility facilities that provide service to such building or structure, as described in the aforesaid clause, shall be caused to comply with all provisions of this article.

(C) Nonconforming Utility Facilities Relocated. Whenever an existing service is relocated on nonconforming property, or a new service is established on nonconforming property, any such relocated or new service shall be caused to comply with all the provisions of this article.

(Ord. 627 § 7(Exh. A), 12-16-2025; Ord. 604 § 4, Exh. A(8), 2022; Ord. 581 § 4, 2019; Ord. 577 § 1, 2019; Ord. 562 § 1, 2017; Ord. 551 § 4, 2016; Ord. 517 § 4, 2013; Ord. 483 § 2, 2010)

Section 310.10 of the 2025 California Electrical Code is amended to read as follows:

310.10 Uses Permitted.

The conductors described in 310.104 shall be permitted for use in any of the wiring methods covered in Chapter 3 and as specified in their respective tables or as permitted elsewhere in this Code. However, aluminum conductors shall only be permitted for use to feed main electrical panels or sub-panels. Such aluminum conductors shall not be smaller than size 1/0 AWG.

(Ord. 627 § 8(Exh. A), 12-16-2025; Ord. 604 § 4, Exh. A(9), 2022; Ord. 581 § 4, 2019; Ord. 551 § 4, 2016; Ord. 517 § 4, 2013)

Editor's note— Ord. 604 § 4, Exh. A(10), adopted Nov. 15, 2022, repealed § 8.03.040, which pertained to telephone jacks and television cable outlets and derived from Ord. 68 § 1, adopted 1985; Ord. 417 Exh. A(8), adopted 2005; Ord. 483 § 2, adopted 2010; Ord. 517 § 4, adopted 2013; Ord. 551 § 4, adopted 2016; and Ord. 581 § 4, adopted 2019.