Montebello Municipal Code Ch. 15.24 California Electrical Code

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 2347, § 5, adopted Dec. 14, 2011, changed the title of Ch. 15.24 from National Electric Code 2005 to read as set out herein.

Subject to certain changes and amendments hereinafter set forth in this chapter, the city council does adopt as the electrical regulations for the City, the 2019 California Electrical Code (Title 24, California Code of Regulations), based on the 2014 National Electrical Code, and as thereafter amended and published from time to time, by the California Building Standards Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "code"). The code provides minimum standards to safeguard life or limb, health, property and public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, construction, installation, quality of materials, locations, operations, and maintenance of electrical systems, equipment and appliances. One copy of the code is on file in the office of the city clerk for public inspection, and the same is made a part hereof as though fully set forth in this chapter.

(Ord. 2260 § 4, 2003: Ord. 2197 § 12, 1999: Ord. 2166 § 16, 1997: prior code § 8300 (a))

(Ord. No. 2336, § 34, 3-10-2010; Ord. No. 2347, § 6, 12-14-2011; Ord. No. 2356, § 13, 2-26-2014; Ord. No. 2392, § 14, 1-25-2017; Ord. No. 2421, § 39, 5-13-2020; Ord. No. 2424, § 39, 5-27-2020)

The building division is designated and authorized to enforce the regulations of this chapter. The code enforcement division is authorized to enforce the regulations of this chapter, subject to the approval of the building division.

(Ord. No. 2336, § 35, 3-10-2010)

The following code provisions shall serve as the administrative requirements for implementation of the California Electrical Code, as adopted by the city.

(Ord. 2166 § 17, 1997: prior code § 8300 (b))

(Ord. No. 2336, § 36, 3-10-2010)

The purpose of this code is to provide minimum standards to safeguard life or limb, health, property, and public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, construction, installation, quality of materials, location, operation and maintenance of electrical systems, equipment and appliances; the provisions of this code shall apply to the construction, alteration, moving, repair, and use of any electrical wiring or equipment on any premises within the city of Montebello. The provisions of this code shall not apply to public utilities, electrical wiring for street lighting or traffic signals located principally in a public way, or to mechanical equipment not specifically regulated in this code.

(Ord. 2166 § 18, 1997: prior code § 8300 (b) (1))

The building official shall be the electrical safety engineer for the purpose of this code.

(Ord. 2166 § 19, 1997: prior code § 8300 (b) (2))

It shall be the duty of the electrical safety engineer to administer and enforce the provisions of this code in a manner consistent with the intent thereof. He shall, upon application, subject to approval of plans, grant permits for installation or alteration of electrical wiring, devices, appliances, and equipment. He shall make inspections and reinspections of the installation, maintenance and repair all electrical wiring, connections, fixtures, appliances, apparatus, machinery, equipment, and work inside, outside, overhead, or underground within his jurisdiction. When electrical equipment or wiring is installed, the person, firm, or corporation responsible for the electrical equipment or work shall make any corrections as required by the sections in this code, after being notified in writing to do so by the electrical safety engineer. If such work is not corrected within ten days, or longer periods as may be specified by the electrical safety engineer, said electrical safety engineer shall have authority to disconnect or order the discontinuance of electrical service to said electrical equipment and any person, firm, corporation, or political subdivision ordered to discontinue each electrical service shall do so within twenty-four hours and shall not reconnect or allow it to be reconnected until notified to do so by the electrical safety engineer. Refusal, failure, or neglect to comply with any such notice or order shall be considered a violation of this code. In cases of property, where electrical equipment may interfere with the work of the fire department, the electrical safety engineer shall have the authority to immediately disconnect or cause to be disconnected any of the electrical equipment.

(Ord. 2166 § 20, 1997: prior code § 8300 (b) (3))

The electrical safety engineer may delegate any of his powers or duties to any of his inspectors.

(Ord. 2166 § 21, 1997: prior code § 8300 (b) (4))

The electrical safety engineer is authorized to determine the intent and meaning of any provision of this code. Such determination shall be made in writing and a record kept, which record shall be open to the public. Any decision of the electrical safety engineer under the provisions of this code or any interpretations by him of any provisions hereof, shall be final unless an appeal is made to the city council by filing a written request therefor, within ten days of such decision with the city clerk. A formal noticed hearing shall not be required provided the appellant or other interested person is given at least five days' written notice of the time and place of such hearing.

(Ord. 2166 § 22, 1997: prior code § 8300 (b) (5))

Whenever any work regulated by this code is being performed contrary to the provisions thereof, the electrical safety engineer shall order the work stopped, which shall be served on any person or persons engaged in doing or causing such work to be performed. Such persons shall forthwith stop such work until authorized by the electrical safety engineer to proceed with the work.

(Ord. 2166 § 23, 199: prior code § 8300 (b) (6))

A reinspection fee may be assessed for each inspection or reinspection when such portion of work for which inspection is called is not complete or when corrections called for are not made.

This section is not to be interpreted as requiring reinspection fees the first time a job is rejected for failure to comply with the requirements of this code, but as controlling the practice of calling for inspections before the job is ready for such inspection or reinspection.

Reinspection fees may be assessed when the permit card is not property posted on the work site, the approved plans are not readily available to the inspector, for failure to provide access on the date for which inspection is requested, or for deviating from plans requiring the approval of the building official.

To obtain a reinspection, the applicant shall file an application therefor in writing upon a form furnished for that purpose, and pay the reinspection fee in accordance with Section 15.24.160 of the Montebello Municipal Code.

In instances where reinspection fees have been assessed, no additional inspection of the work will be performed until the required fees have been paid.

(Ord. 2166 § 24, 1997: prior code § 8300 (b) (7))

(a) Whenever it is necessary to make an inspection to enforce any of the provisions of or perform any duty imposed by this code or other applicable law, the electrical safety engineer or his authorized representative is authorized to enter such property at any reasonable time and to inspect the same and perform any duty imposed upon the electrical safety engineer by this code or other applicable law; provided that:

(i) if such property is occupied, he shall first present proper credentials to the occupant and request entry explaining his reasons therefor; and

(ii) if such property is unoccupied, he shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other persons having charge or control of the property and request entry, explaining his reasons therefor.

If such entry cannot be obtained because the owner or other person having charge or control of the property cannot be found after due diligence or if entry is refused, the electrical safety engineer or his authorized representative shall have recourse to every remedy provided by law to secure lawful entry and inspect the property; and

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the electrical safety engineer or his authorized representative has reasonable cause to believe that the building or premises is hazardous, unsafe or dangerous as to require immediate inspection to safeguard the public health or safety, he shall have the right to immediately enter and inspect such property, and may use any reasonable means required to effect such entry and make such inspection, whether such property be occupied or unoccupied and whether or not permission to inspect has been obtained. If the property is occupied, he shall first present credentials to the occupant and demand entry, explaining his reasons therefor and the purpose of his inspection.

(Ord. 2166 § 25, 1997: prior Code § 8300 (b) (8))

(a) Except as specifically exempted, no electrical system regulated by this code shall be installed, altered, repaired, replaced or remodeled unless a separate electrical permit for each building, structure, system or equipment has first been obtained from the building official.

(b) A separate permit shall be obtained for each building or structure, except that applications for R-1 and R-3 occupancies may include accessory buildings of U occupancy on a permit for a residential building;

(c) No person shall allow any other person to do or cause to be done any work under a permit secured by permittee except persons in his employ.

(d) The issuance or granting of a permit or approval of plans and specifications shall not be deemed or construed to be a permit for, or an approval of, any violation of any of the provisions of this code. No permit presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this code shall be valid, except insofar as the work or use which it authorized is lawful; and

(e) The issuance or granting of a permit or approval of plans shall not prevent the electrical safety engineer from thereafter requiring the correction of errors in said plans and specifications, or from preventing building operations being carried on thereunder when in violation of this code or of any other ordinance of the city.

(Ord. 2197 § 13, 1999; Ord. 2166 § 26, 1997: prior code § 8300 (b) (9))

Every permit issued under the provisions of this code shall expire by limitation and become null and void if the work authorized by such permit is not commenced within one hundred eighty days from the date of such permit, or if the work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned at any time after work is commenced for a period of one hundred eighty days. Before such work can be recommended, a new permit shall be first obtained to do so.

(Ord. 2166 § 27, 1997: prior code § 8300 (b) (10))

The following shall not require a permit:

(a) Minor repair work such as the replacement of lamps, switches, receptacle devices, sockets, taping bare joints and the like, or the connection of portable motors and appliances to suitable receptacles which have been permanently installed;

(b) Wiring for temporary theater, motion picture or television stage sets;

(c) Repair and replacement of fixed motors, transformers, apparatus, or appliances of the same type and rating in the same location;

(d) Electrical wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus, or equipment operating at less than twenty-five volts and not capable of supplying more than fifty watts of energy;

(e) Installation of temporary wiring for testing or experimental purposes within suitable facilities;

(f) Portable generators, motors, appliances, tools, receptacle outlets, and other portable equipment connected by means of a cord or cable having an attachment plug and used on construction sites; and

(g) Installation, alteration, repair or maintenance of electrical equipment installed by or for an electricity supply agency for the use of such agency in the generation, transmission, distribution or metering of electricity.

(Ord. 2166 § 28, 1997: prior code § 8300 (b) (11))

Application for electrical permits shall be made in writing on the form provided. The applicant shall be one of the following:

(a) A state licensed electrical, general, sign, or elevator contractor working within their respective classification as specified in the State Contractor License Board Rules and Regulations.

(b) The owner of a single-family dwelling for any electrical work at such dwelling used exclusively for living purposes including the usual accessory building and quarters in connection with such buildings; provided, that such person is the bona fide owner of such dwelling and accessory buildings and quarters, that the same are occupied by or designed to be occupied by said owner, that said single-family dwelling is the only dwelling on the lot or property; and provided, that said owner shall personally perform all labor in connection therewith.

(Ord. 2166 § 29, 1997: prior code § 8300 (b) (12))

(Ord. No. 2356, § 14, 2-26-2014)

Plans, specifications, load schedules and calculations shall be submitted for plan check as required by the electrical safety engineer and shall be prepared by an architect, electrical engineer, or qualified electrician and shall be submitted for the following structures:

(a) New apartment buildings over two stories in height;

(b) Other new structures where the electrical service is rated in excess of four hundred amperes; and

(c) Unusual or complex installations, as determined by the electrical safety engineer.

(Ord. 2166 § 30, 1997: prior Code § 8300 (b) (13))

(a) Electrical Permit Fees. Any person desiring an electrical permit required by this code shall, at the time of filing an application, pay a fee to the city in an amount set by city council resolution.

(b) Penalty Fee. Any electrical installation of work done without first securing a permit, except as provided in Section 15.24.130, is subject to the full requirements of this code. The electrical safety engineer shall double the appropriate fees covering the work whenever said work is started prior to obtaining the required permit. The payment of such penalty shall not relieve any persons from fully complying with the requirements of this code in the execution of the work nor from any other penalties prescribed herein.

(Ord. 2166 § 31, 1997: prior code § 8300 (b) (14))

(Ord. No. 2356, § 15, 2-26-2014)

Permits are not transferable from one person to another or from one location to another.

(Ord. 2166 § 32, 1997: prior code § 8300 (b) (15)).

Where one person, firm or corporation has an active electrical permit for a job, and another person, firm or corporation wishes to make application to do electrical rough wiring or installation of fixtures on the same job, a final inspection and approval of the original permittee's work shall be made before a permit will be granted to a second person, firm or corporation.

(Ord. 2166 § 33, 1997: prior code § 8300 (b) (16))

The electrical safety engineer may suspend or revoke any permit issued under the provisions of this code whenever such permit is issued in error, or is issued on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or has been obtained by falsification or misrepresentation or when work is being done thereunder in violation of this or any other related ordinance or regulation.

(Ord. 2166 § 34, 1997: prior code § 8300 (b) (17))