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It is the purpose of this chapter to adopt an Electrical Code by reference, including provisions for the inspection and regulation of electrical installation, issuance of permits, the collection of fees, and to provide penalties for violations of this chapter in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to and govern all uses, installations, alterations, repairs, removals, renewals, replacements, connections, disconnections, and maintenance of all electrical equipment within the City of Waterloo, Iowa. (Ord. 5392, 3-20-2017)
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
APPEAL BOARD: The Board created in section 9-3-7 of this chapter.
APPROVED BY THE ELECTRICAL INSPECTOR: Found by the inspector to comply with the requirements of this chapter and, in the absence of such requirements, found by the inspector to be safe in respect to life and property as measured by the standards established in this chapter and the National Electrical Code and National Fire Protection Association standards.
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING: Undertaking, or offering to undertake, the planning and installation of electrical systems and equipment and the employment, management, supervision and control of electricians and apprentice electricians doing electrical work.
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR: Any person responsible for the activity of planning, or supervising electricians and apprentices doing electrical wiring, work, or equipment installations and connections to apparatus, which is or will be connected to an electric light and power source.
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT: All electrical materials, wiring, conductors, fittings, conduits, devices, appliances, fixtures, signs and apparatus or parts thereof comprising an electrical system or control of such system.
ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE WORK: The repair of the existing electrical equipment, or limited replacement and extensions of branch circuits as determined by the chief electrical inspector.
ELECTRICAL WORK: All installations, alterations, repairs, removals, replacements, disturbances, connections, disconnections and maintenance of wiring and electrical equipment, or control of any of the above, over twenty five (25) volts, and wiring systems through, or by which is conveyed, or intended to be conveyed, electrical current in, above, or under any building, structure, tent, or premises, public, or privately owned, in the City of Waterloo, Iowa.
ELECTRICIAN: Any person doing electrical work for an electrical contractor.
EXAMINING BOARD: The board created in section 9-3-7 of this chapter.
LICENSED OR QUALIFIED PERSON: Any person who has been examined and licensed by the Examining Board and has its approval to install, remove, alter or make additions to any electrical work in the City.
SHALL: That the act to be performed is mandatory. (Ord. 5392, 3-20-2017)
In this chapter certain terms shall be construed as follows:
A. Electrical terms are definitions relating to electrical equipment, wiring methods and special wiring locations and conditions shall be those accepted by the trade and listed in the National Electrical Code or other recognized safe wiring manuals or tests.
B. Building classification and occupancy shall be determined from the City Building Code and the City zoning ordinance. (Ord. 5392, 3-20-2017)
A. The 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code, including article 90, chapters 1 through 9, and annex A, B, C, D and H, inclusive, as published by the National Electrical Code Committee, and adopted by the National Fire Protection Association, is hereby adopted by reference and is effective as if fully set forth in this article. Where, in any specific case, different sections of this article specify different materials, methods of construction or requirements, the most restrictive shall govern. (Ord. 5428, 12-11-2017; amd. Ord. 5596, 4-19-2021, eff. 4-1-2021)
A. Amendments To 2020 NEC Chapter 2 Amendments:
Delete section 210.8(A) and insert in lieu thereof the following new section:
210.8(A) Dwelling Units.
All 125-volt receptacles installed in locations specified in 210.8(A)(1) through 210.8(A)(11) shall ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.
(1) Bathrooms
(2) Garages and also accessory buildings that have a floor located at or below grade level not intended to be habitable rooms and limited to storage areas, work areas or similar use.
(3) Outdoors
Exception to (3): Receptacles that are not readily accessible and are suppled branch circuit dedicated to electrical snow-melting, de-icing, or pipeline and vessel heating equipment shall be permitted to be installed in accordance with 426.28 or 427.22, as applicable.
(4) Crawl spaces - at or below grade level.
(5) Basements
Exception to (5): A receptacle supplying only a permanently installed file alarm or burglar alarm system shall not be required to have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection.
Informational Note: See 760.41B and 760.121(B) for power supply requirements for fire alarm systems.
Receptacles installed under the exception to 201.8(A)(5) shall not be considered as meeting the requirements of 210.52(G).
(6) Kitchens - where the receptacles are installed to serve the countertop surfaces.
(7) Sinks - Where receptacles are installed to serve the countertop surfaces.
(8) Boathouses
(9) Bathtubs or shower stalls - where receptacles are installed within 1.8 m (6 ft) of the outside edge of the bathtub or shower stall.
(10) Laundry areas
Exception to (1) through (3), (5) through (8), and (10): Listed locking support and mounting receptacles utilized in combination with compatible attachment fittings installed for the purpose of serving a ceiling luminaire or ceiling fan shall not be required to be ground-fault circuit-interrupter protected. If a general-purpose convenience receptacle is integral to the ceiling luminaire or ceiling fan, GFCI protection shall be provided.
(11) Indoor damp and wet locations
Delete section 210.8(F).
(Ord. 5428, 12-11-2017; amd. Ord. 5596, 4-19-2021, eff. 4-1-2021)
9-3-7: 2017 NEC ANNEX H AMENDMENTS:
80.9(C) Additions, Alterations, Or Repairs, is amended by adding the following:
It is prohibited by this ordinance to perform any repair, add to, or revamp any residential service less than 60 ampere electrical service.
80.13 Authority, subparagraph (13), is amended by inserting a period after the words "ready for inspection", and deleting the words, "and shall conduct the inspection within days."
80.15 Electrical Board, is deleted in its entirety and the following is substituted therefor:
ARTICLE 2. BOARD OF ELECTRICAL EXAMINERS AND APPEALS
Membership; Appointment Of Members; Term Of Office
(a) Establishment Of The Board. There is hereby established a board of electrical examiners and appeals, hereinafter referred to as the "board," with authority and responsibility as follows:
(1) To act as a board of appeals as provided in the Waterloo electrical code.
(2) To periodically review the provisions of the Waterloo electrical code and make recommendations to the building official for improving and updating said documents.
(b) Composition Of The Board. The board shall consist of five (5) members, all of whose place of business, residence, or work is located in the city of Waterloo. All members shall be qualified by experience and training to pass judgement upon matters pertaining to electrical construction. The membership shall be as follows: Two licensed electrical contractors, one licensed, working electrician, a representative from a public utility company furnishing electrical power to the city, one electrical engineer capable of designing systems governed by this code. The electrical inspector shall serve as secretary to the board. Said board shall serve without compensation.
(c) Appointment Of Members And Terms Of Office. The members of the board of electrical examiners and appeals shall be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the city council. After initial appointment of the board the terms of the members shall be for three years except that the initial terms shall be so arranged and staggered so that the terms of no more than two members shall expire any one year. A vacancy within any term shall be filled by appointment of the mayor with the approval of the city council for the unexpired portion of that term only.
Powers And Duties Of The Board
The board of electrical examiners and appeals shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) To act upon reports of violations by licensed master electricians and journeyman electricians as filed by the electrical inspector with the board.
(b) To keep a complete record of the official proceedings of the board; to preserve all documents, books and papers relating to appeals and hearing of complaints and charges for at least three years.
(c) To hear appeals from the decision of the electrical inspector and to rule on interpretations of the provisions of the Waterloo electrical code, and to determine the suitability of alternate materials and methods of construction consistent with the provisions of the Waterloo electrical code.
Meetings; Records
(a) All meetings of the board of electrical examiners and appeals shall be held in the council chambers, or other location indicated in a public notice posted 24 hours prior to any meeting.
(b) Three members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transacting of all business, but any action taken by the board shall require a majority vote of all members of the board.
(c) The board shall annually elect one of its members as chairperson of the board.
(d) The secretary of the board shall keep a record of the board meetings and register the names and residences of all persons examined by the board and the kind of electrical license issued to each, if any.
Right Of Appeals
Any person shall have the right to appeal any decision of the electrical inspector to the electrical board of examiners and appeals by filing a written notice of such appeal with the electrical inspector within ten (10) days from the date of the inspector's decision. The board shall forthwith fix a time and place of hearing such appeal which shall not be less than five (5) days nor more than fifteen (15) days after the date of filing of the notice of such appeal, and the electrical inspector shall notify the appellant in writing by registered mail of the time and place of such hearing. After the hearing of said appeal, the board may sustain or overrule the decision of the electrical inspector. Decision of the board shall be final unless appealed to the courts as by law provides.
80.19(a) is amended by adding the following line item #3:
Permit For Installation By Homeowner
3. A permit application may be submitted by the homeowner and, upon approval and payment of required fees, an electrical permit shall be issued. Such permit authorizes the owner only to install electrical equipment in the dwelling owned and occupied by the owner, without license or certificate of insurance, and without help from persons other than family members.
If at any time during the permit or inspection process, the chief electrical inspector determines the homeowner is unqualified to perform the electrical work, the homeowner will be required to hire a licensed electrical contractor to perform the electrical work.
80.19(c1) is amended by adding the following sentence at the end of the section:
A permit is not required for these repairs if the cost of the repairs does not exceed $300.00.
80.19(e) is amended by adding the following:
Fees
(a) Payment of fees for electrical permits shall be made on or before the tenth day of the month following the date of application for the permit or the date of the statement from the electrical inspector. All fees shall be payable to the city of Waterloo. All accounts over 60 days due will be put on a "hold" status until brought current.
(b) Inspection fees shall be paid in such amounts as established by resolution by the city council.
Inspections
80.19(f) Inspections And Approvals, subparagraph (3), is amended by deleting the words "or until days have elapsed from the time of such notification".
80.23(b) Penalties, subparagraph (3), is deleted in its entirety.
80.25(c) Notification is deleted in its entirety.
80.27 Inspector's Qualifications is amended by deleting said section in its entirety and substituting the following therefor:
80.27 Inspector's Qualifications.
ARTICLE 3. ELECTRICAL INSPECTOR
Appointment; Qualifications
(a) The electrical inspector is hereby authorized, directed and empowered to inspect any and all buildings, structures, tents and premises, public and private, and, as provided in this ordinance, to condemn and order removed or remodeled and put into proper and safe condition for the prevention of fire and for safety to life and property, all electrical equipment installations and connections of electrical current for light, heat and power purposes, and to control the disposition and arrangement of such equipment so that persons and property shall not be in danger therefrom.
(b) The electrical inspector shall have successfully passed any and all examinations administered by the civil service commission, have been recommended to said position by the building official, appointed by the mayor, and confirmed by the majority of all members of the city council.
(c) The appointee shall:
(1) Be a qualified electrician and shall have at least five years of practical experience in the electrical trade or five years of experience as an electrical inspector, or, in lieu of such experience, shall be a graduate in electrical or mechanical engineering of a college or university considered by the personnel director as having suitable requirements for graduation, and shall have had two years of practical electrical experience; and
(2) Be possessed of such executive ability as requisite for the performance of required duties and have thorough knowledge of the standard material and methods used in the installation of electrical equipment; and
(3) Be well versed in improved methods of construction for safety to persons and property, the statutes of the state relating to electrical work and any orders, rules and regulations issued by authority thereof, and in the national electrical code.
(d) The electrical inspector shall hold a current master or journeyman electrical license with the state of Iowa or shall be required to pass an examination prior to his/her appointment.
(e) He/she shall hold membership in the International Association Of Electrical Inspectors.
80.28 Licensing, is added as follows:
(a) License Required
1. Electrical licenses shall be governed by Iowa Code chapter 103, Electricians And Electrical Contractors (2008).
(b) State Of Iowa Class B License. All state of Iowa class B journeyman's license will be accepted by the city of Waterloo. A state of Iowa class B master electrician's license will be accepted if the electrician has held a Waterloo license after January 1, 1990.
(c) If you have a state of Iowa electrical contractor's license and wish to pull a permit in the city of Waterloo, a one-time registration fee of $150.00 will be charged if you have never held a city of Waterloo license.
(d) Licenses are not transferable, nor shall they be loaned or rented.
(Ord. 5392, 3-20-2017)
A. Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a municipal infraction and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished accordingly.
B. If any electrical work, including construction or repair, is performed within the city contrary to the provisions of this chapter, it shall be deemed a municipal infraction and, in addition to penalties described, shall be abated in accordance with this chapter.
C. The doing of any act prohibited or declared to be unlawful, an offense or a municipal infraction by this chapter or the national electrical code, or the omission or failure to perform any act or duty required by this chapter or the national electrical code, is, unless another penalty is specified, punishable as provided in section 1-3-2 of this code. (Ord. 5392, 3-20-2017)
A. If any existing building is damaged due to fire, natural disaster or otherwise, the areas that are damaged shall be brought up to current city and national codes. If other areas of the building are altered or repaired due to damages that occurred, these areas must also be brought up to the current codes.
B. If the type of occupancy of an existing building is partially or entirely changed, the electrical wiring shall be made to conform to the requirements of the current city and national codes for the new type of occupancy. (Ord. 5392, 3-20-2017)
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