San Marcos Municipal Code Ch. 17.12 California Electrical Code

The 2025 California Electrical Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 3, based on the National Electrical Code 2023 Edition, Chapters 1 through 9, Appendices A, B, C, and G, published by the National Fire Protection Association ("NFPA"), is adopted by reference subject to the amendments contained in this Chapter.

(Ord. No. 2019-1478, Exh. A, § 1.D, 10-22-2019; Ord. No. 2022-1526, § 1.D(Exh. A), 10-25-2022; Ord. No. 2025-1575, § 1.D(Exh. B), 1- 13-2026)

Article 230.2 is amended to add 230.2(F) to read as follows:

When required by the City of San Marcos, new development, redevelopment, additions and remodeling shall be required to underground service conductors fronting the project and service conductors on site shall be undergrounded to the satisfaction of the City. Service conductors are defined as power transmission lines, cable television, telephone, optic fiber cable, low and high voltage supplies of electricity. (See also General Plan, Chapter 2, Land Use Policy 17.3.)

(Ord. No. 2019-1478, Exh. A, § 1.D, 10-22-2019; Ord. No. 2022-1526, § 1.D(Exh. A), 10-25-2022)

Article 310.3(B) is amended to read as follows:

Copper wire shall be used for wiring No. 6 and smaller in all installations. Aluminum wiring may be approved by the City for feeder conductors only where adequate measures are taken to prevent oxidation of the aluminum wire. Aluminum conductors of No. 6 or smaller used for branch circuits shall require continuous inspection by an independent testing agency approved by the City for proper torquing of connections and installation of oxidation inhibitor at their termination point as required.

(Ord. No. 2019-1478, Exh. A, § 1.D, 10-22-2019; Ord. No. 2022-1526, § 1.D(Exh. A), 10-25-2022)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2025-1575, § 1.D(Exh. B), adopted Jan. 13, 2026, deleted § 17.12.050 entitled "Phase Arrangement," which derived from: Ord. No. 2019-1478, Exh. A, § 1.D, adopted Oct. 22, 2019; and Ord. No. 2022-1526, § 1.D(Exh. A), adopted Oct. 25, 2022.

Article 334.12 of the California Electrical Code is amended to read as follows:

Type NM, Type NMC, and Type NMS cables shall not be used in any building exceeding three (3) stories in height. Type NM, NMC and NMS cable shall not be used in nonresidential buildings and structures unless the cable is listed with insulation that has a minimum rating of 75 degrees Celsius (167 degrees Fahrenheit).

(Ord. No. 2016-1431, 10-25-2016; Ord. No. 2019-1478, Exh. A, § 1.D, 10-22-2019; Ord. No. 2022-1526, § 1.D(Exh. A), 10-25-2022)