Needles Municipal Code Art. 6 II Electrical Code

6-4 Adopted By Reference; Where Filed 6-5 Enforcement; Right Of Entry Of Enforcement Officials 6-6 Electrical Permit And Certificate Of Approval Required 6-7 Inspections 6-8 Withdrawal Of Approval 6-9 Appeals And Hearings 6-10 Exceptions To Applicability Of Article 6-11 Nonliability Of City

For state law authorizing city to regulate electrical wiring, see Gov. C., § 38660.

6-4 Adopted By Reference; Where Filed

The National Electrical Code, Copyright 2022, by the California Building Standards Code and subsequent years, of which not less than three copies have been filed for use and examination by the public in the office of the city clerk, is hereby adopted by reference, without publication in the manner provided by Needles City Charter Section 523.

(Ord. No. 306 N.S., §§ 1, 2; Ord. No. 11-AC, § 1; Ord. No. 47-AC, § 2; Ord. No. 71-AC, § 1(h); Ord. NO. 117-AC, § 1(a); Ord. No. 175-AC, § 1(g); Ord. No. 246-AC, § 1 (part) and (g); Ord. No. 313-AC, § 1 (part), (g); Ord. No. 422-AC, § 1(e). Ord. No. 575-AC)

For state law as to adoption by reference, see Gov. C., §§ 50022.1 to 50022.10. For character provision authorizing adoption of electrical regulations by references, see Char. § 523.

HISTORY Amended by Ord. 667-AC on 10/8/2024 6-5 Enforcement; Right Of Entry Of Enforcement Officials

The building inspector shall have the supervision over the installation, connecting, wiring and otherwise putting in place, and the maintenance and use, of all electrical wiring connections, appliances, apparatus and equipment in or about any building or structure in the city. He is hereby vested with all the power and authority shall perform all the duties required of him in the Electrical Code adopted by this chapter. He shall keep in proper books for that purpose account of all fees paid, giving the name of the party, date and amount of such fee, which books shall be open for public inspection, and he shall, on the first day of each month render a report to the city council of the number of permits issued during the preceding month with the amounts of fees collected therefor.

The Building inspector shall have the right to enter any building, structure or premises, and any part or portion of such building, structure or premises, for the purpose of inspecting any electric wires or electric fixtures installed or maintained in or on such building, structure or premises; and no person shall hinder, impede, obstruct or exclude the building inspector when attempting to enter or when entering any such building, structure or premises, or part or portion thereof, for the purpose of making such inspection.

The building inspector is hereby authorized to delegate any of his powers to any of his assistants, with the sole exception of the power to adopt and promulgate rules and regulations which power may not be delegated by him. (Ord. No. 254 N.S.)

6-6 Electrical Permit And Certificate Of Approval Required

No person shall equip any building with wiring or apparatus, or make any alterations or change in, or addition to, any electric wiring or apparatus without first receiving from the building inspector a written permit to do the work, and when an installation is found to conform with the rules and regulations adopted in this chapter, the building inspector shall issue a certificate that the terms of the Electrical Code have been complied with, and the same conform to the rules prescribed in this chapter; and no person shall furnish any current for the same until such certificate has been issued in accordance with the terms of the Electrical Code.

In cases where a building permit is necessary, the electrical permit will not be issued until after the building permit has been issued.

Every permit issued under this article shall expire by limitation and become null and void if the work authorized by such permit is not commenced within sixty days from the date of such permit, or fit the work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned at any time after the work is commenced, for a period of sixty days. However, the permittee may apply with the building inspector for an extension of the permit prior to its expiration. If the permit becomes expired, a new permit shall be obtained before work can be recommenced.

6-7 Inspections

All plumbing and other piping or tube work shall be in place on work to be concealed before the electrical wiring is inspected, and no such wiring will be considered as complete until such piping is in place. Upon making inspection of any electrical equipment the inspector shall leave a notice on the service switch or other suitable place, stating the work has been inspected by the building inspector, and no person shall lath, plaster, seal or in any manner conceal any electrical wiring or other electrical work until the same has been inspected as required. (Ord. No. 254 N.S.)

6-8 Withdrawal Of Approval

Any approval granted by the building inspector may be revoked by him if the electrical materials, devices or appliances are found to be hazardous to life and property for the purpose used or intended, or do not conform with the standards under which they were approved for use. Before any approval may be withdrawn, the building inspector shall give notice, in writing, to the person whom approval was granted of his intention to withdraw approval and the city council shall afford such person an opportunity to be heard with respect thereto at a public hearing to be held therein as set forth in this article. In the event that approval is withdrawn or modified by the building inspector after such hearing, any person aggrieved thereby may appeal from the ruling of the building inspector to the city council. (Ord. No. 254 N.S.)

6-9 Appeals And Hearings

In the event any person believes that unreasonable restrictions or unnecessary and extraordinary hardship or damage will be imposed upon him by the enforcement of any of the provisions of this article or by the application of any rules or regulations by the building inspector, or from any rulings or determinations of such inspector, such persons may appeal therefrom to the city council, in writing, and request a public hearing thereon by the city council.

In the event of such appeal, the city council shall fix a time and place for a public hearing thereon and shall give notice thereof, in writing, to the person requesting such hearing, by mail postage prepaid to the address shown in such request, and shall also give notice thereof to the building inspector.

At the time fixed for such hearing or at any later time to which such hearing may be adjourned, the city council shall proceed to hear the testimony of the appellant and of others in his behalf and of other competent persons who may be present and desire to testify or who may be called by the city council to give testimony at such hearing. Upon the conclusion of such hearing, the city council shall by resolution declare its findings and decision to the matter. If it finds that unreasonable restrictions or unnecessary and extraordinary hardship or damage will be imposed upon the appellant, then it may grant an exception or variance from the application in whole or in part of such provisions of this article or of such standards, rules and regulations, rulings or determinations provided, that in granting such an exception or variance or in taking such other action as it may deem justified it may do so only in the event that such action may be taken in harmony with the general purposes and objectives of this article to preserve the public health, safety and welfare. The decision of the city council rendered after a hearing held in the manner prescribed in this section shall be final and conclusive. (Ord. No. 254 N.S.)

6-10 Exceptions To Applicability Of Article

1. The provisions of this article shall not apply to electrical materials, devices and appliances which are the subject matter of regulation in city building and wiring regulations heretofore adopted and in effect as of December 2, 1952.
   2. The provisions of this article shall not apply to motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment.
   3. The provisions of this article shall not apply to electrical materials, devices or appliances designed or intended for attachment directly or indirectly to an electrical system, circuit or electrical service for light, heat or power operating at a primary voltage of not more than twenty-five volts or consuming not more than fifty watts.
   4. The provisions of this article shall not apply to electrical materials, devices and appliances installed by or for an electric utility for its use in the generation, transmission, distribution or metering of electrical energy.
   5. In the rebuilding or repair of any such electrical materials, devices or appliances, all parts replaced or repaired with used or secondhand devices shall conform in all particulars with the code of standards and the rules or regulations provided for in this article. (Ord. No. 254 N.S.)

6-11 Nonliability Of City

This article shall not be construed as relieving or limiting in any way the responsibility or liability of any person owning and operating, controlling or installing any electrical materials, devices or appliances for personal injury or property damage resulting from the use thereof by reason of any defect therein or for any other cause, nor shall it be construed as imposing upon the city or its officers and employees of any responsibility or liability by reason of the approval of any materials, devices or appliances by the building inspector. (Ord. No. 254 N.S.)