Division 3 — Electrical Permit Procedures (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.)

The purpose of these procedures is to establish the process for review of Electrical Permit applications for compliance with the minimum standards necessary to safeguard public health, safety, and welfare.

(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

No electrical wiring, device, appliance, or equipment shall be installed within or on any structure or premises nor shall any alteration, addition, or replacement be made in any existing wiring, device, appliance, or equipment unless an Electrical Permit has been obtained for the work, except as exempted in Section 129.0303.

(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

An Electrical Permit is not required for the following work:

• (a) Minor work such as replacing fuses, replacing or repairing switches, circuit breakers, lampholders, luminaires, ballasts, or receptacles where the replacement is the same size and general type as the original equipment and the work is done in accordance with the provisions of this article;

• (b) The replacement of lamps or the connection of portable appliances to suitable receptacles that have been permanently installed;

• (c) Installation, alteration, or repair of wiring, devices, appliances, or equipment that operates at a voltage not exceeding 25 volts between conductors and not capable of supplying more than 50 watts of energy;

• (d) Installation of remote-control switching devices on privately owned appliances when the devices are installed by the San Diego Gas and Electric Company or its authorized agents as part of the Peak-Shift energy conservation program, provided that specifications for the installations are approved in writing by the Building Official; or

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• (e) Work done by employees of the City on City-owned or leased buildings.

• (f) Repair or replacement of hardwired appliances such as dishwashers, garbage disposals, cooking appliances and similar fixed appliances located within dwelling units shall not impose additional electrical load to the existing circuit impacted by the work.

• (g) Exemption from the permit requirements of the Electrical Regulations does not authorize any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of the Electrical Regulations or any other applicable local or state regulations.

(Amended 9-24-2002 by O-19104 N.S.) (Amended 6-27-2005 by O-19392 N.S.) (Amended 4-8-2008 by O-19727 N.S; effective 5-8-2008.) (Amended 7-31-2012 by O-20187 N.S.; effective 8-30-2012.) (Amended 4-6-2016 by O-20624 N.S.; effective 5-6-2016.)

• (a) An Electrical Permit shall be obtained before work is started except in cases where emergency or urgent necessity can be shown to exist, in which case a permit shall be obtained within 24 hours of beginning work, not including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

• (b) A separate Electrical Permit is required for each structure that stands alone, except for garages that are accessory to single-unit residences and located on the same premises .

• (c) Permits for privately owned conduits or other materials in public places and in and across streets and alleys may be issued only after approval has been granted for the installation by the City Engineer.

• (d) The Building Official may withhold permission to connect electrical service to any structure until the structure is approved for occupancy.

(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

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An Electrical Permit may be issued only to a person, firm, or corporation that holds a valid California State Contractor’s License that permits electrical installation or to the property owner or lessee.

(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

• (a) An application for an Electrical Permit shall be submitted in accordance with Sections 112.0102 and 129.0105.

• (b) Every application shall include the following information:

  • (1) The location of the work proposed to be installed; and

  • (2) The amount and kind of work proposed.

• (c) Submittal documents including plans, specifications, and schedules are required to determine whether the installation as described will be in compliance with the requirements of this article.

  • (1) Electrical plans are not required for electrical wiring in one and two family dwellings or townhouses, as defined in the California Residential Code, and their accessory structures , unless they are connected to on-site alternative power production.

  • (2) Electrical plans are not required when the Building Official determines that the scope of work and compliance with the California Electrical Code can be verified through an inspection.

• (d) The Electrical Permit shall be issued for the work proposed to be installed as described in the permit application and no deviation from the work proposed to be installed shall be made without the written approval of the Building Official.

• (e) All submitted plans shall show a single line diagram of service, feeders, conduit, and wire sizes. Electrical calculations shall accompany all submitted plans. A signed Certification of Compliance with the California Energy Code, Title 24, Part 6, shall appear on the plans.

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• (f) All submitted plans shall be signed as required by Chapter 7, Article 3 of the California Business and Professions Code.

(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.) (Amended 6/27/2005 by O-19392 N.S.) (Amended 7-31-2012 by O-20187 N.S.; effective 8-30-2012.) (Amended 4-9-2020 by O-21181 N.S.; effective 5-9-2020.)

• (a) A decision on an application for an Electrical Permit shall be made by the Building Official in accordance with Process One, except that an appeal hearing shall be provided as described in Section 129.0308(b). The Electrical Permit shall be approved if the Building Official determines that the work described in the permit application and the accompanying plans complies with the requirements of the Electrical Regulations, other applicable laws and ordinances, and any applicable development permit .

• (b) An applicant may appeal a Building Official’s denial of an application for an Electrical Permit for the following by filing an application for a Process Two appeal hearing:

  • (1) a small rooftop solar energy system as set forth in Section 141.0418(c); or

  • (2) an electric vehicle charging station as set forth in Section 141.0419.

(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.) (Amended 8-7-2015 by O-20555 N.S.; effective 9-6-2015.) (Amended 4-5-2016 by O-20634 N.S.; effective 5-5-2016.)

• (a) An Electrical Permit may be issued after all approvals have been obtained and the required fees have been paid.

• (b) An Electrical Permit shall not be issued for a development that requires a development permit until the development permit has been issued.

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• (c) If one year has elapsed since the date an Electrical Permit application is deemed complete and the applicant has not requested that an Electrical Permit be issued, the application file shall be closed. Plans and other data submitted for review may be returned to the applicant or destroyed by the Building Official. To reapply, the applicant shall submit a new Electrical Permit application with required submittal materials and shall be subject to all applicable fees and regulations in effect on the date the new application is filed.

• (d) The Electrical Permit application file for City projects shall be closed after two years have elapsed since the date the Electrical Permit application is deemed complete.

• (e) The Building Official may extend an Electrical Permit application one time, for a period not exceeding 180 calendar days, if the Building Official determines that circumstances beyond the control of the applicant prevented issuance of the Electrical Permit.

(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

(Retitled from “Issuance of an Electrical Permit” to “Issuance of an Electrical Permit and Closing of an Electrical Permit Application” and amended 4-9-2020 by O-21181 N.S.; effective 5-9-2020.)

• (a) An Electrical Permit shall expire if substantial work authorized by the permit has not been completed and validated by an inspection within 180 calendar days of the date of permit issuance.

• (b) An Electrical Permit shall expire if, after initial utilization of a permit pursuant to Section 129.0310(a), work authorized by the permit is suspended or the structure is abandoned for a continuous period of 180 calendar days.

• (c) An Electrical Permit shall expire 2 years after the date of permit issuance if the work authorized by the Electrical Permit has not received final inspection approval by the permit expiration date.

• (d) If the work authorized by the Electrical Permit has not received final inspection approval by the permit expiration date, all work shall stop until a new permit is issued.

• (e) Any Electrical Permit associated with a Building Permit shall expire concurrently with the Building Permit.

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• (f) An expired Electrical Permit may be extended by the Building Official concurrently with the extension of a Building Permit.

• (g) A new Electrical Permit is required to finish any work that was not finished because of the expiration of the permit; however, unfinished work may be removed without a permit.

(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.) (Amended 7-31-2012 by O-20187 N.S.; effective 8-30-2012.) (Retitled from “Initial Utilization of an Electrical Permit” to “Electrical Permit Expiration” and amended 4-6-2016 by O-20624 N.S.; effective 5-6-2016.)

All construction work and equipment authorized by an Electrical Permit shall be inspected by the Building Official in accordance with Section 129.0111. Inspections that may be required are established by the Building Official.

(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.) (Amended 7-31-2012 by O-20187 N.S.; effective 8-30-2012.) (Amended 1-18-2018 by O-20897 N.S.; effective 2-17-2018.)

• (a) The Building Official may issue a Temporary Electrical Permit for the following types of temporary electrical installations:

  • (1) Temporary power during the time construction is in progress;

  • (2) Temporary power for carnivals, conventions, festivals, fairs, and similar events. during the time the event is in progress, not to exceed 90 calendar days; and

  • (3) Temporary power for the testing of any permanent system of wiring prior to the final approval of that system during the time required for testing, not to exceed 30 calendar days.

• (b) A Temporary Electrical Permit shall be issued only if the Building Official determines that the safety of life and property will not be jeopardized by the temporary electrical installation.

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• (c) All temporary installations shall conform as nearly as practicable with the requirements of the Electrical Regulations of the San Diego Municipal Code for permanent installations. Deviations from the Electrical Regulations of the San Diego Municipal Code may be permitted if the Building Official determines that the deviations will not cause hazard to life or property.

• (d) If the Building Official determines that the electrical installation is a hazard to life or property, the Building Official may immediately disconnect or order disconnection of all energy to the electrical installation and initiate proceedings to rescind or cancel the temporary permit covering the installation.

• (e) Upon expiration of the time designated in the Temporary Electrical Permit, the Building Official may disconnect or order disconnection of all electrical energy authorized by the temporary permit.

(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

(Retitled to “Electrical Permits for Temporary Installations” and amended 7-31-2012 by O-20187 N.S.; effective 8-30-2012.)

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Article 9: Construction Permits