Lake Wales (Current through Ordinance 2023-17, Adopted 7-05-2023)
 Code of Ordinances
 Chapter 7. Buildings And Building Regulations   
 Article III. Electrical Standards
  

  Article III. Electrical Standards  

§ 7-46. Electrical code—Adopted.
Latest version.

For the purpose of safeguarding persons and buildings and their contents from hazards arising from the use of electricity, the National Electrical Code of 1993, as published by the National Fire Protection Association, is hereby adopted by reference and shall be known and identified as the electrical code of the city.

(Code 1962, § 8-18; Ord. No. 90-12, § 1, 7-17-90; Ord. No. 91-08, § 1, 9-3-91; Ord. No. 96-10, § 1, 5-21-96)
§ 7-47. Same—Penalty for violation.
Latest version.

Any person violating the provisions of the electrical code, as adopted by reference in the preceding section, shall be punished as provided in section 1-15 of this Code.

(Code 1962, § 8-19)
§ 7-48. Electrical inspector, duties and powers.
Latest version.

(a) Electrical inspector defined. The building official or his designee shall be the electrical inspector in the city. Whenever the word "inspector" appears in this electrical code, it shall be understood to refer to the building official or his designee.

(b) Permits, inspections and general supervision. It shall be the duty of the city electrical inspector to issue permits for and inspect all electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment for light, heat or power inside of or attached to buildings in the city limits, and to look after the enforcement of laws, rules and regulations relating to same, and to exercise a general supervision over all electrical construction, and over all electricians licensed to carry on their business or trade under the provisions of this electrical code.

(c) Placing of electric poles and appliances. The electrical inspector is hereby empowered and directed to regulate and determine within and in accordance with the provisions of this electrical code the placing of electric poles, wires or other appliances for electric light, heat or power in the city, and to cause all such poles, wires or appliances to be so placed, constructed and guarded so as not to cause fires or accidents, endangering life or property. It shall be the duty of the electrical inspector to so direct the placing of poles and wires in the streets, alleys and public places of the city that the same shall cause as little obstruction as possible, either to the public travel on such thoroughfares or to the private use and enjoyment of adjacent property. It shall also be his duty to compel the removal of unsafe and superfluous poles.

(d) Records. The electrical inspector shall keep a complete daily record of permits and licenses issued and other official work performed as required by this electrical code.

(Code 1962, § 8-22; Ord. No. 90-12, § 1, 7-17-90)
§ 7-49. License required; issuance by the building official.
Latest version.

It shall be the duty of the building official to issue to competent electricians who qualify therefor a proper license, and it shall be unlawful for any person not thus licensed to engage in the trade or business of electrical construction or repair in the city.

(Code 1962, § 8-23)
§ 7-50. Forfeiture of license.
Latest version.

Any electrician who shall fail to correct any defect or defects in his work after having been duly notified for ten (10) days by the city electrical inspector shall not receive any further permit until such defect or defects have been corrected; and any case in which a person shall continue to or persistently violate this electrical code in regard to electrical affairs, or the orders of the electrical inspector touching the same, the license of such person shall be forfeited.

(Code 1962, § 8-24)
§ 7-51. Examinations; reciprocity.
Latest version.

(a) The city does hereby enter into the membership of the Board of Examiners of Polk County and Municipalities, Inc., for the express purpose of allowing said board to handle competency examinations for the certification of all construction trades and for the issuance of certificates of competency for those who engage in electrical contracting within the city. The city manager will promulgate rules and regulations for the purpose of setting up a system of reciprocity for the examination of persons desiring to engage in the trade of electrical construction for various participating municipalities in Polk County, Florida. Said rules and regulations shall provide for a joint board of examiners by all participating municipalities in Polk County, and may provide a method for the examination of the qualifications of persons wishing to engage in the business of electrical contracting in this city, and may provide that those who pass such examination are entitled to the issuance of a certificate of competency, as a master or journeyman electrician, by the city, and may provide for the issuance of said certificate of competency by the building official to the successful applicant.

(b) No business tax receipt shall be issued to any person for the purpose of engaging in or working at or carrying on the business of electrical contracting unless such person is in possession of a proper and valid certificate of competency as required under this chapter.

(c) The Board of Examiners of Polk County and Municipalities, Inc., may use any recognized testing agency or testing method that is available.

(d) The city does hereby establish, with other municipalities, a contractors' disciplinary board in accordance with F.S. § 489.131(7)(a), to discipline violations as set forth in F.S. § 489.129. The city shall appoint one (1) or more members to this board. Each appointee shall be a licensed contractor either registered or certified as a contractor with the state. The building official may submit to the board the name of any contractor who violates the building codes as adopted by the city code of ordinances.

(Code 1962, § 8-25; Ord. No. 92-12, § 3, 9-22-92; Ord. No. 92-22, § 2, 1-5-93; Ord. No. 96-12, § 1, 6-4-96; Ord. No. 2006-47, § 3, 12-5-06)
§ 7-52. Licensed or supervised electrician to perform work.
Latest version.

No person shall engage in any electrical work, construction or repair unless he is in possession of a license or is working under the direction, supervision and responsibility of a master or employing electrician.

(Code 1962, § 8-26)
§ 7-53. License prerequisite to permit; license fee.
Latest version.

All electrical contractors doing business in the city, or electricians contracting business in the city, shall pay an annual license fee as prescribed in the license schedule, section 14-51, and no permit for electrical installation, alteration or extension shall be issued except to a licensed electrician.

(Code 1962, § 8-27)
§ 7-54. Electrical construction, etc., prohibited without license.
Latest version.

It shall be unlawful for any person not a licensed electrician in accordance with the provisions of the electrical code to do any electrical construction or make any repairs, alterations, additions or changes to any existing system of electrical wiring apparatus or equipment for lights, heat or power inside of or attached to any building within the city limits, except the owner or bona fide occupant of any building may install or repair cords, extension cords, or repairs to electrical appliances and household conveniences.

(Code 1962, § 8-28)
§ 7-55. Expiration date for license and bond.
Latest version.

All licenses and bonds shall expire on, and shall be null and void after, October 1 of any year, except that no extra electrical work shall be done by and no permit shall be issued to any master or employing electrician who has not such license as is required by section 14-51 in full force and effect. All licenses granted hereunder shall be renewable without any further examination.

(Code 1962, § 8-30)
§ 7-56. Permits.
Latest version.

(a) A permit will be required to do any electrical construction of any character, install any electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment, or make any extensions or changes to existing wiring systems for light, heat or power within or attached to any building, except the repairing of damaged or broken fixtures, apparatus or equipment and the ordinary work necessary for the proper maintenance of same. The life of an electrical permit for any specific job shall not extend beyond a period of twelve (12) months unless otherwise authorized by the building official.

(b) Permits to do electrical work will be issued only to master or employing electricians.

(Code 1962, §§ 8-31, 8-32)
§ 7-57. Working without license and permit prohibited.
Latest version.

It shall be unlawful for any person doing electrical contracting or contracting electrical work in the city, to do such electrical work or contract any such electrical work without first securing a permit and license or taking the examination herein provided for.

(Code 1962, § 8-33)
§ 7-58. Use of name of licensed electrician.
Latest version.

No licensed electrician shall allow his name to be used by any other person directly or indirectly, either for the purpose of obtaining a permit, or to do any work under his license.

(Code 1962, § 8-34)
§ 7-59. Inspection fees.
Latest version.

Permits shall not be issued by the building official until after the inspection fees shall have been paid to the city auditor and clerk. Permit fees shall be as posted in inspection office.

(Code 1962, § 8-35)
§ 7-60. Separate permit for each service; classifications.
Latest version.

For the purpose of this article, to regulate the issuing of permits and fixing the inspection fees covering same, each recording watt-hour meter and all subfeeder wires and branch circuit wires connecting to same shall be construed as one (1) service. A separate permit must be issued for each service.

(Code 1962, § 8-36)
§ 7-61. Inspection and certificate required before use of current.
Latest version.

It shall be unlawful for any person to use any electrical current in or through any wiring apparatus or fixtures for lights, heat or power in or on any buildings or structure within the limits of the city until the same shall have been inspected and approved by the electrical inspector and the certificate hereinafter provided for shall have been issued therefor.

(Code 1962, § 8-37)
§ 7-62. Preliminary and final inspection.
Latest version.

(a) All plumbing and other piping or tube work must be in place on work to be concealed before the electrical wiring is inspected, and no such wiring shall be considered as complete until all such plumbing or piping is in place.

(b) Upon making an inspection of any electrical wiring or equipment when the same is found to have been installed in a satisfactory manner, and in accordance with the provisions of this electrical code, the inspector shall place a notice at the service switch or other suitable place stating the electrical work has been inspected and found to be in accordance with the rules as prescribed and the provisions of this article.

(c) It shall be unlawful to lath, seal or in any manner conceal any electrical wiring or equipment until same has been inspected and the notice posted as herewith required.

(d) The electrical inspector shall be the judge of the quality of the material and workmanship, according to this article.

(Code 1962, § 8-39)
§ 7-63. Final certificate of inspection.
Latest version.

When any electrical wiring, apparatus or fixtures covered by a permit shall be found on inspection by the electrical inspector to conform to the rules and regulations provided by this code, the electrical inspector shall issue a final certificate of inspection certifying that the wiring, apparatus or fixtures have been inspected and found to comply with the terms of this code, but no such certificate shall be issued until such wiring and equipment is made to conform to such rules and regulations.

(Code 1962, § 8-40)
§ 7-64. Distributors to have permission to connect.
Latest version.

It shall be unlawful for any person furnishing electric current for light, heat or power to connect his distributing system with any installation of wiring, apparatus or fixtures in or on any building within the limits of the city without having first received permission from the electrical inspector to furnish current for such wiring, apparatus or fixtures; such permission shall be given by the electrical inspector at any time after the certificate herein provided for shall have been issued.

(Code 1962, § 8-42)
§ 7-65. Removal of unsafe apparatus.
Latest version.

The electrical inspector is hereby empowered to inspect or reinspect, at his option, all interior wires and apparatus conducting or using electrical current for light, heat or power, and when the conductors or apparatus are found to be unsafe to life or property, he shall notify the person owning, using or operating them to place the same in a safe and secure condition within twenty-four (24) hours or within such further time as the electrical inspector shall determine is necessary. Any person failing or refusing to repair or remove the same within such further time as the electrical inspector shall determine is necessary after the receipt of such notice, shall be subject to the penalty provided in section 1-8 of this Code, and his electrical service is subject to be discontinued without further notice.

(Code 1962, § 8-43)
§ 7-66. Use of condemned utility poles prohibited.
Latest version.

It shall be unlawful for any person to erect for use in the transmission of electric light, heat or power, any pole or poles found and declared by the electrical inspector to be unsafe for such use, or to fail to remove or continue to use such poles after the expiration of a period of five (5) days after notice from the electrical inspector to remove the same.

(Code 1962, § 8-44)
§ 7-67. Joint use of poles by different companies; zones.
Latest version.

On any pole of any electric light, power, street railway, telephone or telegraph company used jointly by two (2) or more such companies, such company shall be allotted a special zone, and shall confine its wires to that zone. Spaces shall be measured from the tops of poles downward, and a suitable zone on every pole shall at all times be reserved for the free use of the city in stringing its fire alarm or police telephone wires.

(Code 1962, § 8-45)
§ 7-68. Removal of dead wires.
Latest version.

The electrical inspector shall cause all wires, except telephone wires, that have not been used for thirty (30) days, and which are known as dead wires, to be removed at once at the expense of the owners of such wires. All dead wires of telephone companies shall be detached from the buildings with which they have been connected.

(Code 1962, § 8-46)
§ 7-69. Disconnection of wires for other work.
Latest version.

Whenever builders or persons engaged in repairing, painting, etc., find it necessary to remove wires from buildings in prosecuting their work, the owner of such building or the contractor engaged thereon shall serve the electrical inspector with notice twenty-four (24) hours before such contemplated work is begun, and the inspector shall have authority in his discretion to direct the owners of such buildings to remove the wires.

(Code 1962, § 8-47)
§ 7-70. Discontinuance of service to enforce compliance.
Latest version.

In any case of failure of any person to remove or discontinue the use of any electric poles, appliances or equipment condemned by the electrical inspector, the inspector may after due notice cut out lights or current in any locality affected by such nonobservance and discontinue electric service until such requirements are complied with.

(Code 1962, § 8-48)
§ 7-71. Interference with inspector.
Latest version.

It shall be unlawful for any person to hinder or interfere with the city electrical inspector in the discharge of his duties under this chapter.

(Code 1962, § 8-49)