Manhattan Beach Municipal Code Ch. 9.12 Electrical Code

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 19-0015, § 6, eff. January 1, 2020, in effect repealed ch. 9.12, §§ 9.12.010—9.12.100 and enacted new ch. 9.12 as set out herein. Former ch. 9.12 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from § 3 (part), Ord. 2109, eff. January 18, 2008; § 4, Ord. 2136, eff. December 16, 2010; § 4, Ord. 13-0027, eff. January 1, 2014; and § 4, Ord. 16-0032, eff. January 7, 2017)

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 50022.1 to 50022.10, inclusive of the Government Code of the State and subject to the particular additions, amendments, and deletions set forth in this chapter, the rules, regulations, provisions, and conditions set forth in those certain Codes entitled "2022 California Electrical Code",("CEC"), including the Annexes and Tables therein contained, promulgated and published by the National Fire Protection Association of Quincy, Massachusetts and the California Building Standards Commission, including the annexes and tables therein contained, one (1) full printed copy of which, printed as a Code in book form, was by the Council ordered filed and which has been actually filed in the office of the City Clerk, expressly incorporated herein and made a part hereof as fully and for all intents and purposes as though set forth herein at length, are hereby established and adopted as the rules, regulations, standards, provisions, and conditions to be observed and followed in the installation, arrangement, alteration, repair, use, and operation of electrical wire connections, fixtures, and other electrical appliances, and subject to the additions, amendments, and deletions set forth in this chapter, said Code with its annexes and tables, containing said rules, regulations, standards, provisions, and conditions, is hereby established and adopted by reference, and the same shall be designated, known, and referred to as the "Electrical Code" of and for the City.

(§ 6, Ord. 19-0015, eff. January 1, 2020; § 6, Ord. 22-0008, eff. January 1, 2023)

Section 89.108.4.2 is amended as follows:

89.108.4.2 Fees. The fees shall be determined by the most current City Resolution of Fees.

Plan Review Fees. When submittal documents are required by the Building Official, a plan review fee shall be paid at the time of submitting the submittal documents for plan review. Said plan review fee shall be determined by the most current City Resolution of Fees.

The plan review fees specified in this section are separate and in addition to any permit fees required.

When submittal documents are incomplete or changed so as to require additional plan review or when the project involves deferred submittal items, an additional plan review fee shall be charged as determined by the most current City Resolution of Fees.

Work commencing before permit issuance. Any person who commences any work on a building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system before obtaining the necessary permits shall be subject to a fee established by the Building Official and the most current Manhattan Beach Resolution of Fees in addition to the required permit fees.

Investigation. Whenever any work for which a permit is required by this code has been commenced without first obtaining said permit, a special investigation may be required before a permit may be issued for such work.

Investigation Fee. An investigation fee, in addition to the permit fee, shall be collected whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued. The investigation fee shall be equal up to the amount of the permit fee required by this code as determined by the Building Official. The minimum investigation fee shall be determined by the most current City Resolution of Fees. The payment of such investigation fee shall not exempt any person from compliance with all other provisions of this code nor from any penalty prescribed by law.

(§ 6, Ord. 19-0015, eff. January 1, 2020; § 6, Ord. 22-0008, eff. January 1, 2023)

Section 89.108.4.3 is amended by adding the following paragraphs to the section:

Electrical Plans and Specifications. When required by the Building Official, electrical plans, specifications, and applications shall be filed and approved by the Building Official prior to any electrical wiring or installations.

Electrical plans and specifications for all occupancies listed in the current adopted California Building Code shall be prepared by an Electrical Engineer who possesses a valid Professional Electrical Engineering Registration issued pursuant to and in accordance with the laws of the State of California. All electrical sheets shall be stamped and signed by the licensed Professional Electrical Engineer.

Electrical plans shall include but are not limited to load schedule, wiring diagrams, homeruns, wire sizes, location and size of service panels and subpanels, method of grounding of service. Electrical plans for the following types of projects must be submitted for electrical plan check:

1. All Commercial and Industrial projects, tenant improvements, additions, and service changes.

2. The mixed Occupancy of R-2 and U Occupancy where U Occupancy is between 1000 and 3000 square feet and when service is over 400 amps.

3. R-3 Occupancy and U Occupancy when service is over 400 amps.

Electrical Load Calculations shall be prepared and submitted by a licensed electrical contractor and/or owner/builder under the following conditions:

1. R-3 Occupancy including new construction, additions, and service changes.

2. U Occupancy (which is part of the R-3 Occupancy), which does not exceed 1000 square feet in area.

Exception: The Building Official may waive the submission of electrical plans, calculations, etc., if it is found that the nature of the work applied for is such that reviewing of electrical plans is not necessary to obtain compliance with this Code.

(§ 6, Ord. 19-0015, eff. January 1, 2020; § 6, Ord. 22-0008, eff. January 1, 2023)

Section 230.30 (A) is amended by the addition of subsection (5) to read as follows:

(5) Underground Utilities Required. All new buildings and structures in the City of Manhattan Beach shall provide underground electrical and communication service laterals on the premises to be served, as hereinafter required.

(a) New Construction. All electrical, telephone, cable television system, and similar service wires and cables which provide direct service to new main buildings, new accessory buildings, and structures, shall be installed underground in compliance with all applicable building and electrical codes, safety regulations, and orders, rules of the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California, and specifications or standards of the Public Works Department.

(b) Existing Buildings. Such service wires and cables shall also be placed underground when existing buildings, existing accessory buildings, and structures are repaired, remodeled, altered or expanded, except where the value, as determined for building permit fee purposes, by the Building Code of the City of Manhattan Beach, of such repairs or remodeling, or expansion does not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the value of the building or structure as determined by the California Building Code.

(c) Wiring between the accessory buildings and the main buildings shall be in an underground system.

(d) Responsibility for Compliance. The Contractor and Owner are jointly and severally responsible for complying with the requirements of this section and shall make the necessary arrangements with the utility companies servicing the structure for the installation of such facilities.

If a proposed building or structure would create a situation which would make unreasonable, impractical, or physically impossible the continuance of overhead utility service to an existing adjacent property (or properties), then the Contractor and owner of the proposed building or structure shall be responsible for relocating such utilities per utility company specifications, and shall be installed underground in compliance with all applicable codes, safety regulations, and orders, rules of the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California, and specifications or standards of the Public Works Department.

(e) Appurtenances. For the purpose of this section, appurtenances and associated equipment such as, but not limited to, service mounted transformers, pedestal mounted terminal boxes and meter cabinets may be placed above ground if permitted by and in accordance with the rules of the State Public Utilities Commission.

(f) Waiver of Underground Requirements. If topographical, soil, or any other conditions make such underground installations unreasonable or impractical, a waiver of the requirements of this section may be granted by the Building Official, (a written approval from Southern California Edison is required when necessary) subject to the installation of all necessary electrical conduits, terminal boxes and other appurtenances as may be required to provide underground service in the future.

If the utility pole(s) from which underground service would be provided are not situated on the same side of the public street as the permittee, or not within five (5) feet of the area enclosed by the extension of the side property lines to said public street, the permittee may have the alternative of installing all conduit, wires, pillboxes, electrical panel and other appurtenances which may be required for future underground utility services from the structure to an approved location on the property line of the parcel which will facilitate future underground service; and that the property may continue to be served by overhead wires until said future underground utility conversion.

If a building or structure is served by the rear from utilities not located in the public right-of-way, the permittee may have the alternative of installing all conduit, wires, pull boxes, electrical panel, and other appurtenances which may be required for future underground utility services from the building or structure to an approved location on the property line of the parcel which will facilitate future underground service; and that the property may continue to be served by overhead wires until said future underground utility conversion.

Exceptions: This section shall not apply to:

(i) Utility lines which do not provide service to the area being developed.

(ii) Detached dwelling units with separate utility services which are not the subject of a common including permit.

(§ 6, Ord. 19-0015, eff. January 1, 2020; § 6, Ord. 22-0008, eff. January 1, 2023)

Editor's note— Ord. 22.0008, § 6, effective January 1, 2023, repealed §§ 9.12.050—9.12.070. Former §§ 9.12.050—9.12.070 pertained to service equipment; conductor material and ampacities of various conductors and derived from § 6, Ord. 19-0015, eff. January 1, 2020.