HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-11-12 Ordinance 4771follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 4771
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO
ALTO ADOPTING PART 3 OF THE 2001 CALIFORNIA
BUILDING STANDARDS CODE (1999 NATIONAL
ELECTRICAL CODE); AMENDING CHAPTER 16.16 OF THE
PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE; AND MAKING CERTAIN
FINDINGS WITH RESPECT THERETO
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as
SECTION 1. Chapter 16.16 of the Palo Alto Municipal
Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
CHAPTER 16.16.
ELECTRICAL CODE
16.16.010 The 2001 California Electrical Code adopted.
The "California Electrical Code," being Part 3 of the
2001 California Building Standards Code, title 24 of the
California Code of regulations, is adopted and by this
referenced made a part of this code with the same force and
effect as though set out in full. The California Electrical
Code consists of the "National Electrical Code, 1999. Edition, "
promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association and
approved by the American National Standards Institute, as
modified by the California Building Standards Commission. A
copy of the California Electrical Code is on file and open to
public inspection in the office of the building official.
Wherever the phrases "uniform electrical code" and
"electrical code" are used in this code or any ordinance of the
Ci ty, such phrases shall be deemed and construed to refer and
apply to the 2001 California Electrical Code, as adopted and
amended by this chapter.
16.16.020 Violations -Penalties.
Any person, firm, or corporation violating any provision
of this electrical code is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon
conviction thereof shall be punished as provided in subsection
(a) of Section 1.08.010 of this code. Each separate day or any
portion thereof during which any violation of this chapter
occurs or continues constitutes a separate offense, and upon
0212038m 0053120 1
...: 'j
conviction thereof shall be punishable as provided in this
section.
16.16.030 Enforcement--Citation authority.
The following designated employee positions may enforce
the provisions of this chapter by the issuance of citations.
Persons employed in such positions are authorized to exercise
the authority provided in Penal Code section 836.5 and are
authorized to issue citations for violations of this chapter.
The designated employee positions are: (1) chief building
official: (2) assistant building official: (3) supervisor,
building inspection; and (4) code enforcement officer.
16.16.040 Article 120 added--Per.mits.
Article 120 is added to Chapter 1 of the California
Electrical Code to read:
"ARTJ:CLE 120--PElUIJ:TS
120-1 Enforcement by building official. It shall be
the duty of the building official to enforce the
provisions of this electrical code. The building
official shall, upon application, grant permits for the
installation or alteration of electrical wiring,
devices, appliances and equipment, and shall make
inspections of all new electrical installations and
reinspections of all electrical installations, all as
provided in this electrical code. The building official
shall keep complete records of all permits issued,
inspections and reinspections made and other official
work performed in accordance with the provisions of this
electrical code.
120-2 Authority to Disconnect Wire or Service. The
building official shall have the authority to cut or
disconnect any wire in cases of emergency where
necessary for safety to life or property or where such
wire may interfere with the work of the Fire Department.
The building official is further authorized to
disconnect or order discontinuance of electrical service
to any electrical wiring, devices, appliances or
equipment found to be dangerous to life or property
because they are defective or defectively installed
until such wiring, devices, appliances, and equipment
021203 sm 0053120 2
and their installation have been made safe and approved
by the building official.
120-3 Per.mit Required. No electric wiring, devices,
appliances or equipment shall be installed within or on
any building, structure or premises nor shall any
alterations or additions be made in any such existing
wiring, devices, appliances or equipment wi thout first
securing a permit therefor from the building official.
Exceptions. No permit shall be required to
perform the following:
1. The replacement of lamps or the connection of
portable appliances to sui table receptacles which have
been permanently installed.
2. The installation, alteration or repair of wiring,
devices, appliances or equipment for the operation of
signals or the transmission of intelligence where such
wiring, devices, appliances or equipment operates at a
voltage not exceeding twenty-five volts between
conductors and does not include generating or
transforming equipment capable of supplying more than
fifty watts of energy.
3. The installation, alteration or repair of electric
wiring, devices, appliances and equipment installed by
or for a public utility corporation for the use of such
corporation in the generation, transmission,
distribution, or metering of electrical energy, or for
the use of such corporation in the operation of signals
or the transmission of intelligence.
120-4 Requirements of Application.
such permit, describing the work to
made in writing to the building
application shall be accompanied
specifications and schedules as may
determine whether the installation as
Application for
be done, shall be
official. The
by such plans,
be necessary to
described will be
in conformity with the requirements of this code, and if
the applicant has complied with all provisions of this
code, a permit for such installation shall be issuedi
provided, however, that the issuance of the permit shall
not be taken as permission to violate any of the
requirements of this code.
021203 sm 0053120 3
The permit when issued shall be for such installation as
described in the application and no deviation shall be
made from the installation so described without the
written approval of the building official.
120-5 Penalty Fee for Late Applications. Whenever an
electrical permit fee is required by this code to be
paid prior to starting of electrical work and such work
is started prior to obtaining a permit, a double fee for
each permit will be charged.
120-6 Permit Fees. Each applicant shall pay to the
building official for each permit issued, at the time of
issuance, a fee in accordance with the schedule of fees
set forth in the municipal fee schedule and the rate for
each classification.
No permit shall be issued to any person unless all fees
due are paid in full.
120-7 Inspection and Certificate of Approval. Upon
completion of the work which has been authorized by
issuance of any permit, except an annual permit, it
shall be the duty of the person installing the same to
notify the building official who shall inspect the
installation.
Where the building official finds the installation to be
in conformity with the provisions of this code, he or
she shall issue to the person making the installation a
certificate of approval, authorizing the use of the
installation and connection to the source of supply, and
shall send notice of such authorization to the
department of light and power.
120-8 Correction of Defects. If, upon inspection, the
installation is not found to be fully in conformity with
the provisions of this code, the building official shall
as soon as possible notify the person making the
installation, stating the defects which have been found
to exist.
All defects shall be corrected within ten days after
inspection and notification, or within other reasonable
time as permitted by the building official.
021203 sm 0053120 4
120-9 Temporary and Preliminary Permits. When a
certificate of approval is issued authorizing the
connection and use of temporary work, such certificate
shall be issued to expire at a time to be stated therein
and shall be revocable by the building official for
cause.
A preliminary certificate of approval may be issued
authorizing the connection and use of certain specific
portions of an incomplete installation; such certificate
shall be revocable at the discretion of the building
official.
120-10 Concealment of Wiring; Right to Require Removal.
When any part of a wiring installation is to be hidden
from view by the permanent placement of parts of the
building, the person installing the wiring shall notify
the building official and such parts of the wiring
installation shall not be concealed until they have been
inspected and approved by the building official;
provided that on large installations, where the
concealment of parts of the wiring proceeds
continuously, the person installing the wiring shall
give the building official due notice and inspection
shall be made periodically during the progress of the
work. The building official shall have the power to
remove or require the removal of any obstruction that
prevents proper inspection of any electrical equipment.
120-11 Connection and Installation. Except where work
is done under an annual maintenance permit, it shall be
unlawful for any person to make connection from a source
of electrical energy or to supply electric wiring,
devices, appliances or equipment for the installation of
which a permit is required, unless such person shall
have obtained satisfactory evidence that such wiring,
devices, appliances, or equipment are in all respects in
conformity with all applicable provisions of this code.
120-12 Unlawful to Connect without Certificate of
Approval. It shall be unlawful for any person to make
connection from a source of electrical energy or to
supply electric service to any electric, wiring,
devices, appliances or equipment which has been
disconnected or ordered to be disconnected by the
building official or the use of which has been ordered
by the building official to be discontinued until a
021203 sm 0053120 5
certificate of approval has been issued by the building
official authorizing the reconnection and use of such
wiring, devices, appliances or equipment. The building
official shall notify the department of light and power
of such order to discontinue use./I
16.16.050 Article 300-1(c) through (e) added--Wiring
methods--General requirements.
Three new subsections are added to Article 300-1 of the
1998 California Electrical Code, to be designated (c) through
(e) and to read:
\\(c) All buildings and structures (other than single or
two family dwellings, apartment buildings of wood frame
construction not exceeding three stories in height and
accessory buildings thereto) shall be wired in an
approved type raceway or metallic covered cable
permitted by this code.
(d) Binding screws and self-locking wire terminals of
receptacles and switches shall not be substituted for
splicing devices or splices in conductors.
(e) That portion of a building to be remodeled shall be
wired in accordance with this code and all other areas
of the building shall be made safe as may be required by
the building official."
SECTION 2. The Council adopts the findings for newly-
enacted local amendments to the 2001 California Electrical Code,
attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and incorporated herein by
reference.
SECTION 3. The Council finds that this project is
exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental
Quality Act ("CEQA"), pursuant to Section 15061 of the CEQA
Guidelines, because it can be seen with certainty that there is
no possibility that the amendments herein adopted will have a
significant effect on the environment.
II
II
II
0212038m 0053120 6
SECTION 4. This ordinance shall become effective upon
the commencement of the thirty-first day after the date of its
adoption, provided, however, the provisions herein enacted shall
be operative from and after November 1, 2002.
INTRODUCED: October 21, 2002
PASSED: November 12, 2002
AYES: BURCH, FREEMAN, KISHIMOTO, KLEINBERG, LYTLE, MORTON,
MOSSAR, OJAKIAN
NOES:
ABSENT: BEECHAM
ABSTENTIONS:
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
l~\,-Q ~~-~ .
Cit ttorney
and
/
021119 sm 0053120 7
EXHIBIT A
FINDINGS FOR LOCAL AMENDMENTS TO THE
2001 CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE
Section 17958 of the California Health and Safety Code
provides that the City may make changes to the provisions in the
uniform codes that are published in the California Building
Standards Code. Sections 17958.5 and 17958.7 of the Health and
Safety Code require that for each proposed local change to those
provisions in the uniform codes and published in the California
Building Standards Code which regulate buildings used for human
habitation, the City Council must make findings supporting its
determination that each such local change is reasonably
necessary because of local climatic, geological, or
topographical conditions.
Local building regulations having the effect of amending
the uniform codes, which were adopted by the City prior to
November 23, 1970, were unaffected by the regulations of
Sections 17958, 17958.5 and 17958.7 of the Health and Safety
Code. Therefore, amendments to the uniform codes which were
adopted by the City Council prior to November 23, 1970, and have
been carried through from year to year without significant
change, need no required findings. Also, amendments to
provisions not regUlating buildings used for human habitation do
not require findings.
The findings made by the Council of the City of Palo
Al to in Ordinance 2600 adopting the 1968 National Electrical
Code and the findings adopted by the Council in Ordinance 2811
adopting the 1971 National Electrical Code, have been reaffirmed
with each successive adoption of the National Electrical Code as
published in the California Building Standards Code, and are
hereby reaffirmed and expressly made applicable to such changes
as are hereby adopted, readopted, amended or carried through
without significant change. New amendments or modifications to
the National Electrical Code have been made for administrative
consistency only, and do not require findings pursuant to
California Health and Safety Code section 17958.7.
021203 sm 0053120 8