Santa Maria Municipal Code Ch. 9-36 Electrical Code

The provisions of the California Electrical Code, including Annex H, 2025 Edition, as published by the National Fire Protection Association, and subsequent Editions as adopted by the State of California, Building Standards Commission or successor agency are adopted by reference, subject to the additions and amendments set forth in this Chapter.

(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)

Section 80.15 of Annex H of the California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by substituting Section 9-04.080 of this Code in its place in its entirety.

(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)

Section 80.19 of Annex H of the California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by replacing subsection 80.19(D) in its entirety to read as follows:

80.19(D) Annual Maintenance Permits. An annual electrical maintenance permit may, upon application therefor, be issued to any person or firm who regularly employs one (1) or more designated, qualified electricians for the installation, repair or maintenance of electrical wiring or equipment on the premises owned or occupied by the permit holder. The permit holder shall keep an accurate record in duplicate of all electrical work performed under the annual permit, and within fifteen (15) days following the end of each calendar year, the permittee shall transmit to the Building Official a report stating whether or not any electrical work was performed during the preceding year. If the report indicates that any electrical work was performed, such report shall contain a description of all such work performed during the preceding year. All work described in the annual report shall be inspected and subject to corrections or, due to extent or complexity of work, shall be subject to individual permit requirements. Each annual electrical maintenance permit shall automatically expire on December 31st of the year in which it was issued.

(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)

Subsection 80.19(E) of Annex H of the California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

80.19(E) Fees. Permit fees shall be as set forth in the current City of Santa Maria Schedule of Fees and Charges.

80.19(E)(1) Fee adjustments by resolution. Authorized. The fees provided for in this Section shall be established and amended by City Council resolution.

80.19(E)(2) Special Investigation Fees. Whenever any work for which a permit is required by this Code has been commenced without first obtaining said permit, a special investigation shall be made before a permit may be issued for such work. An investigation fee, in addition to the permit fee, may be imposed subject to the discretion of the Building Official whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued. The investigation fee shall not exceed the amount of all permit fees required by this Code for the unpermitted work. The payment of such investigation fee shall not exempt any person from compliance with all other provisions of this Code nor from any penalty prescribed by law.

80.19(E)(3) Refunds. The Building Official may authorize refunding of any fee paid hereunder which was erroneously paid or collected. The Building Official may authorize refunding of not more than 80 percent of the permit application fee when an application for a permit is withdrawn or canceled before any plan review is done. The Building Official shall not authorize refunding of any fee paid except on written application filed by the original applicant not later than 180 days after the date of fee payment.

(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)

Section 80.19 of Annex H of the California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition is amended in its entirety as follows:

80.19(F)6 Electrical Observation. In addition to the inspections required by this section, electrical observation shall be provided for the following items:

The owner shall employ the engineer responsible for the electrical design, or another engineer designated by the engineer responsible for the electrical design to perform visual observation of complex electrical equipment and systems for general conformance to the approved plans and specifications, including but not limited to placement and interconnection of equipment. Electrical observation shall be performed at significant stages of the construction and when the installation is complete and ready to be inspected by the Building Official. Electrical Observation is not in lieu of required Building Division Electrical Inspections. Upon completion of the portions of the work requiring observation, a Certificate of Compliance shall be issued to the Building Official over the seal and signature of the engineer responsible for such observation. A Certificate of Occupancy will not be issued until the Building Official receives and approves any required observation reports and the Certificates of Compliance. The Certificates of Compliance for observation shall read as follows:

(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)

Section 80.19 of Annex H of the California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by adding a new Subsection 80.19(F)8 to read as follows:

80.19(F)8 Special Inspection. In addition to the inspections required by this Section, electrical special inspection shall be provided for the following items:

1. Ground Fault Protection of Equipment: or

2. Switchboards, Distribution Boards, and Motor Control Centers 1000 amps or more and/ or over 600 volts; or

3. Transformers 100 kVa or more single phase or 300 kVa or more three phases; or

4. Solar Photovoltaic Systems greater than 100 kVa; or

5. Hazardous Locations; or

6. Licensed Clinics (OSHPD 3); or

7. Installations of Critical Operation Systems (C.O.P.S.).

Special Electrical Inspections include, but are not limited to, observation of the work assigned for conformance with the approved design drawings and specifications, and submission of appropriate inspection reports to the City of Santa Maria Building Inspector. The Special Electrical Inspector shall be a qualified person who demonstrates competence to the satisfaction of the Building Official for the type of work and/or testing requiring Special Inspection. These individual(s) or firm(s) shall be responsible for performing the Special Inspection tasks and reports required by the California Electrical Code and City of Santa Maria Regulations. The Special Electrical Inspector(s) shall be a designated registered design professional familiar with the materials and design or a third-party individual, firm or testing agency and shall not be the installing contractor.

(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)

Subsection 80.19(H) of annex H of the California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by substituting Section 9-04.180 of this Code in its place in its entirety.

(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)

Section 80.19 of Annex H of the California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by adding subsection 80.19(I) to read as follows:

80.19(I) to whom permits may be issued. No permit shall be issued to any person or firm to do or cause to be done any electrical work regulated by this Chapter, except to such person or firm holding both a valid unexpired and unrevoked contractor's license issued by the State, enabling the performance of such work and a valid unexpired City business license to engage in the business of such contracting work in the City.

Exception: Any electrical permits required by the California Electrical Code may be issued to any person to do any electrical work regulated by the Code in a single-family dwelling used exclusively for living purposes, including the usual accessory buildings in connection therewith; provided, that such person is the owner of such dwelling and that the same is occupied by, or is intended to be occupied by, the owner; and provided further, that the owner personally purchases all materials and performs all labor in connection with the electrical work.

(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)

Section 80.23 of Annex H of the California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, is amended its entirety to read as follows:

80.23 Violations and Penalties.

(A) Violations. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, demolish, equip, use, occupy or maintain any electrical system or equipment in the City, or cause or permit the same to be done in violation of this Code.

(B) Penalties. Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this Code shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment as set forth in Title 1, Chapter 6 of the City of Santa Maria Municipal Code. Furthermore, each separate day or any portion thereof, during which any violation of this Code occurs or continues, shall be deemed to constitute a separate offense.

(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)

Section 80.25 of Annex H of the California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

80.25 Connections to Electricity Supply. All installations of electric services shall be made in accordance with all applicable rules of the particular utility company concerned. No service may be energized until work is completed to the satisfaction of the Building Official.

(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)

Section 250.52(A)(3) of the California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by adding a new last paragraph to read as follows:

"Every new building or addition shall be provided with a concrete encased grounding electrode as defined in the above paragraph. This requirement may be waived by the Building Official when completely justified by hardship conditions."

(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)