Redondo Beach Municipal Code Ch. 3 Electrical Code (CA)

Note: Chapter 3, codified from Ordinance No. 1560, as amended by Ordinance Nos. 1718, 1972, 2195, 2276, 2404, 2476, 2636, 2663, 2753, 2770, 2834, 2893, 3009, 3064, 3102, 3153 and 3169 were amended or repealed by Ordinance 3247 c.s., effective January 1, 2023.

§ 9-3.01. Adoption of 2025 California Electrical Code and Chapter 1, Division II of the…¶

Pursuant to the provisions of Sections 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 "2025 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 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.

(§ 26, Ord. 3247 c.s., eff. January 1, 2023, as amended by Ord. 3307-25 c.s., eff. January 1, 2026)

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§ 9-3.02. Violations and penalties.¶

Any person who violates a provision of this code or fails to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who erects, constructs, alters or repairs a building or structure in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the Building Official, or of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this code, shall be subject to the penalties as prescribed by law. Every person who willfully resists, delays, obstructs or interferes in any way with the Building Official or his or her authorized representative in the discharge or attempt to discharge any duty of his or her office or employment shall be guilty of a violation of this chapter.

Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions or failing to comply with any of the mandatory requirements of the ordinances of Redondo Beach shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person convicted of a misdemeanor under the ordinances of Redondo Beach shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000, or by imprisonment not to exceed six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each such person shall be guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which any violation of any provision of the ordinances of Redondo Beach is committed, continued, or permitted by any such person, and shall be punished accordingly.

(§ 27, Ord. 3247 c.s., eff. January 1, 2023, as amended by Ord. 3307-25 c.s., eff. January 1, 2026)

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§ 9-3.03. Fees.¶

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. Refer to RBMC Section 9-1.03 Section [A] 109.2 Schedule of permit fees.

Work Commencing Before Permit Issuance. Refer to RBMC Section 9-1.03 Section [A] 109.4 Work Commencing Before Permit Issuance.

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. Refer to RBMC Section 9-1.03 Section [A] 109.2 Schedule of permit fees.

(§ 28, Ord. 3247 c.s., eff. January 1, 2023, as amended by Ord. 3307-25 c.s., eff. January 1, 2026)

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§ 9-3.04. Plans and specifications.¶

Section 89.108.4.3 is amended to read as follows:

89.108.4.3 Plan Review and Time Limitation.

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 1,000 and 3,000 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 1,000 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.

(§ 29, Ord. 3247 c.s., eff. January 1, 2023, as amended by Ord. 3307-25 c.s., eff. January 1, 2026)

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§ 9-3.05. Plan review fees.¶

Refer to RBMC Section 9-1.03 Section [A] 109.2 Schedule of permit fees

(§ 30, Ord. 3247 c.s., eff. January 1, 2023, as amended by Ord. 3307-25 c.s., eff. January 1, 2026)

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§ 9-3.06. Permit limitation.¶

Section 105.5 of said Chapter 1, Division II of the California Building Code for Administrative Code Provisions for the California Electrical Code 2025 is hereby amended to read:

105.5 Expiration. Refer to RBMC Section 9-1.06 Section [A] 105.5 Expiration.

(§ 31, Ord. 3247 c.s., eff. January 1, 2023, as amended by Ord. 3307-25 c.s., eff. January 1, 2026)

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§ 9-3.07. Expiration of plan review.¶

Section 9-1.06.1.1 of the Redondo Beach Municipal Code shall apply.

(§ 32, Ord. 3247 c.s., eff. January 1, 2023, as amended by Ord. 3307-25 c.s., eff. January 1, 2026)

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§ 9-3.08. Undergrounding services.¶

Section 9-3.08 is amended to read as follows:

Section 230.30(A) Installation 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 Redondo Beach shall provide underground electrical and communication service laterals on the premises to be served, as hereinafter required.	Underground Utilities Required. All new buildings and structures in the City of Redondo 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 Engineering 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, expanded, or requiring the relocation or replacement of service panel.
	(c)	Wiring. Between the accessory buildings and the main buildings shall be in an underground system and shall be in a separate conduit so that replacement may be made without disturbing other groups of service wires, unless otherwise approved by the Building Official.
	(d)	Responsibility for Compliance. The Contractor and Owner shall be and 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. In new construction or in additions to and or remodeling of existing buildings, if topographical, soil, or any other conditions make such underground installations unreasonable or impractical, a waiver of some, or all of the requirements of this section may be granted by the Building Official, provided that a special electrical panel with connectors that are capable of accepting either the overhead or the underground power supply cables, and a four (4″) inch pipe leading from the panel to the outer side of the foundation system (sweep) installed inside the exterior wall of the building, shall be installed at the time of construction, as a minimum for future underground utility cables connection. 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.
Exceptions: This section shall not apply to:
(i)	Utility lines which do not provide service to the area being developed.	Utility lines which do not provide service to the area being developed.
(ii)	Properties which are served by the rear from utilities not located within public rights-of-way.	Properties which are served by the rear from utilities not located within public rights-of-way.

(§ 33, Ord. 3247 c.s., eff. January 1, 2023, as amended by Ord. 3307-25 c.s., eff. January 1, 2026)

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§ 9-3.09. Service equipment.¶

Section 230.70(A)(1) is amended to read as follows:

(A)	The service disconnecting means shall be installed at a readily accessible location outside of the building. The service disconnecting means may be located inside nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors where approved by the Building Official.

Section 230.79 is amended to add subsection (E) to read as follows:

(E)	Multi-Family Dwellings. For each multi-family dwelling, the service disconnecting means shall have a rating of net less than 100 amperes, 3-wire.

(§ 34, Ord. 3247 c.s., eff. January 1, 2023, as amended by Ord. 3307-25 c.s., eff. January 1, 2026)

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