The County Board hereby adopts the National Electrical Code 2020 with the following revised local amendments:
ALL ARTICLES
1) Change all references to “code official” to “building official.”
2) Change all references to “legal counsel” to “State’s Attorney Office.”
ARTICLE 90 - INTRODUCTION
1) ARTICLE 90.1 PURPOSE
a) Add Section 90.1(D) “Title” to read as follows:
“(D) Title. These regulations shall be known as the Electrical Code of McHenry County, hereinafter referred to as “this Code.”
2) ARTICLE 90.4 ENFORCEMENT
a) Add Article 90.4 (A) “Permits” to read as follows:
“(A) Permits. Electrical wiring and equipment associated with an electrical service shall not be installed, replaced or otherwise modified without first submitting a permit application, securing approval and a permit through the McHenry County Planning & Development Department.”
b) Add Article 90.4 (B) “Exemptions” to read as follows:
“(B) Exemptions. It shall not be necessary to obtain a permit for minor repair work. Such work shall include the following:
(1) Repairs and Maintenance: A permit shall not be required for the replacement of lamps or the connection of approved portable electrical equipment to approved permanently installed receptacles.
(2) Radio and television transmitting stations: The provisions of this code shall not apply to electrical equipment used for radio and television transmissions, but do apply to equipment and wiring for a power supply and the installations of towers and antennas.
(3) Temporary testing systems: A permit shall not be required for the installation of any temporary system required for the testing or servicing of electrical equipment or apparatus.
(4) Referenced Exemptions: A permit shall not be required for work prescribed as exempt in the International Building Code as adopted by McHenry County, the International Residential Code as adopted by McHenry County, or as referred to in Article 90.2 Scope.”
c) Add Article 90.4 (C) “Inspections” to read as follows:
“(C) Inspections. Electrical wiring and equipment associated with an electrical service installed, replaced, or otherwise modified that required a permit shall be inspected by the building official.
(1) Upon the installation of an electrical service or alteration of any electrical equipment associated with the electrical service the owner or owner’s agent shall be responsible for notifying the building official to conduct a Service Inspection. If the installation or alterations are in compliance with this code, then the building official issue written notification to the electric utility company authorizing the electric utility company to energize the system.
(2) Rough inspections of electrical systems shall be made prior to covering or concealment, before fixtures or appliances are set or installed, prior to framing inspections.
ARTICLE 210 BRANCH CIRCUITS
1) SECTION II. BRANCH-CIRCUIT RATINGS
a) Add Article 210.8(A)(2) “Exception to (2)” to read as follows:
“Exception to (2): Receptacles that are not readily accessible and for essential equipment, such as an overhead door opener, or an approved appliance located in a dedicated space that, in normal use, is not easily moved from one place to another and that is cord-and-plug connected in accordance with Article 400 shall be permitted to be installed without GFCI protection.”
b) Add Article 210.8(A)(5) “Exception to (5) No. 2” to read as follows:
“Exception to (5) No. 2: A single receptacle for essential equipment located in a dedicated space, such as a sump pump or ejector pump, or an approved appliance that, in normal use, is not easily moved from one place to another and that is cord-and-plug connected in accordance with Article 400 shall be permitted to be installed without GFCI protection.”
c) Add Article 210.8(A)(10) “Exception to (10)” to read as follows:
“Exception to (10): A single receptacle that is not readily accessible and for essential equipment, such as clothes washers, gas dryers, or an approved appliance located in a dedicated space that, in normal use, is not easily moved from one place to another and that is cord-and-plug connected in accordance with Article 400 shall be permitted to be installed without GFCI protection.”
d) Add Article 210.8(B)(6) “Exception to (6)” to read as follows:
“Exception to (6): A single receptacle installed in attics intended for use with the radon mitigation system and that is cord-and-plug connected in accordance with Article 400 shall be within 3'-0" of radon stack pipe and permitted to be installed without GFCI protection.”
e) Add Article 210.8(B)(8) “Exception to (8)” to read as follows:
“Exception to (8): Receptacles that are not readily accessible and for essential equipment, such as an overhead door opener, or an approved appliance located in a dedicated space that, in normal use, is not easily moved from one place to another and that is cord-and-plug connected in accordance with Article 400 shall be permitted to be installed without GFCI protection.”
f) Add Article 210.8(D) “Exception to (D)” to read as follows:
“Exception to (D): Dishwashers hard-wired directly to the circuit shall be permitted to be installed without GFCI protection.”
g) Add Article 210.12 “Exception to (A), (B) and (C)” to read as follows:
“Exception to (A), (B) and (C): Where a branch circuit is enclosed in Rigid Metal Conduit (RMC), Intermediate Metal Conduit (IMC), Electrical Metal Tubing (EMT), or Type AC cables meeting the requirements of 250.118 along with metal outlet and junction boxes, Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter (AFCI) protection shall be permitted to be omitted.”
h) Add Article 210.21(B)(5) “Minimum Conductor Size” to read as follows:
“(5) Minimum Conductor Size. The minimum conductor size for a commercial and industrial building shall be #12 AWG.”
2) SECTION III. REQUIRED OUTLETS
a) Add Article 210.52(C)(3) “Peninsular Countertop Spaces. Exception to (3)” to read as follows:
“Exception: If there is no practical mounting per the code, then elimination of such outlet can be made upon authorization of the building official.”
b) Revise Article 210.70(A)(1) “Habitable Rooms” to read as follows:
“(1) Habitable Rooms. At least one wall switch-controlled lighting outlet shall be installed in every habitable room, bathroom, and walk-in closet.”
c) Add Article 210.70(A)(2)(d) to read as follows:
“(d) Where a center ceiling box is provided for future use in rooms and areas not listed in article 210.70(A) the box shall be fan rated.”
ARTICLE 230 SERVICES
1) SECTION VI. SERVICE EQUIPMENT
a) Revise Article 270.30(A)(1) “Readily Accessible Location” to read as follows:
“The service disconnecting means shall be installed at a readily accessible location either outside of a building or structure or inside nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors. A fusible disconnecting means shall be installed when more than 10'-0" of conductor exists between the panel and the metering device or transformer.”
CHAPTER 4 EQUIPMENT FOR GENERAL USE
1) ARTICLE 406 RECEPTACLES, CORD CONNECTORS, AND ATTACHMENT PLUGS
a) Add Article 406.12 “Exception to (5) to (A)” to read as follows:
“(5) Receptacles that are strictly unavailable or unobtainable for the application.”
(Ord. O-202211-10-050, passed 11-15-2022)