Chapter 15.12 ELECTRICAL CODE

Chapter 15.12
ELECTRICAL CODE

Sections:

15.12.030 Underground service conductors – Installation.

15.12.010 Adoption of electrical code.

Except as may otherwise be provided in this title, the California Electrical Code, 2022 Edition (Part 3 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), without any appendices, is hereby adopted by reference and made a part of this chapter as though set forth in full herein. These provisions of Title 24, Part 3 shall comprise the electrical code of the city of Gardena. (Ord. 1851 § 4, 2023)

15.12.020 Fees.

Section 89.108.4.2 of the 2022 California Electrical Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

89.108.4.2 Fees.

The fee for each permit shall be as set forth in the latest resolution adopted by the City Council. When a plan or other data are required to be submitted by this Code, a plan review fee shall be paid at the time of submitting plans and specifications for review. Said plan review fee shall be one hundred (100) percent of the building permit fee.

For purposes of determining fees only, the following definitions shall apply:

A. New general use branch circuits.

1. The fees prescribed apply to new branch circuit wiring and the lighting fixtures, switches, receptacles, appliances or other utilization equipment permitted to be supplied by these branch circuits.

2. For the purposes of this Subsection, each ungrounded conductor of a multi-wire branch circuit supplying one appliance may be counted as one circuit.

3. For the purposes of this Subsection, three-phase lighting branch circuits are counted as two (2) branch circuits.

B. Adding outlets (to existing branch circuits) or temporary lights and yard lighting.

1. Each outlet added to an existing branch circuit shall be counted as one unit and each lighting fixture connected thereto shall be counted as an additional unit except as modified in the following provisions of this Subsection.

2. An outlet shall mean a point or place on a fixed-wiring installation from which electric current is controlled, or is supplied to a lamp, lighting fixture, fan, clock, heater, range, motor, or other electrical. appliance or equipment.

3. An outlet box for two (2) or more switches or receptacles shall be considered as one unit.

C. Motors, transformers, heating appliances and miscellaneous equipment or appliances.

1. The fees prescribed cover the inspection of the supply branch circuit and the utilization equipment supplied therefrom and the control equipment therefor.

2. Except where supplied by branch circuits rated over fifty (50) amperes, the fees required apply only to non-dwelling occupancies. The fee for each motor, transformer, heating appliance, welder, rectifier, x-ray machine, storage battery system, infrared industrial heating appliance, cooking or baking equipment, studio effects lighting, and other miscellaneous equipment or appliances shall be given in the rating table of the resolution order.

3. Where fixed equipment is supplied by flexible cords to facilitate servicing or replacement, those fees shall also apply to each receptacle outlet installed for the supply of portable equipment rated larger than three (3) H.P., K.W., or K.V.A.

4. For any equipment or appliance containing more than one motor, or other current consuming utilization components in addition to the motor or motors, the combined electrical ratings converted to K.V.A. of all shall be used to determine the fee. For the purpose of this subsection, one H.P. or one K.W. is equivalent to one K.V.A. The total ampere ratings of all receptacles installed on a factory fabricated wireway assembly for studio effects lighting may be used in computing the fees therefor.

5. The fees for a change of location or replacement of equipment on the same premises shall be the same as that for a new installation. However, no fees shall be required for moving any temporary construction motor from one place to another on the same site during the time of actual construction work after a permit has once been obtained for such motor and the fees required therefor have been paid.

D. Required fire warning, communications and emergency control systems.

For the purposes of this Subsection, devices shall include all signaling equipment, stations, power equipment such as damper actuators or door holding device, and communication jacks or outlets.

E. Service and switchboard sections.

1. Fees shall be required for the installation, reinstallation, replacement or alteration of each service and each switchboard section.

2. For the purpose of this Subsection, a switchboard section means any portion of complete switchboard, distribution board, or motor control center which is prevented by the structural framework from being separated into smaller units.

3. The fees for services shall be determined from the ampacity of the set of service entrance conductors or the total ampere rating of the service equipment.

4. No fee need be paid for switchboard section which incorporates service equipment for which service fees were paid.

(Ord. 1851 § 4, 2023)

15.12.030 Underground service conductors – Installation.

Section 230.30 of the 2022 California Electrical Code is hereby amended by adding additional paragraphs to read as follows:

All new buildings and structures in the City shall provide underground electrical and communications service laterals on the premises to be served as hereinafter required. This provision shall not apply to utility lines that do not provide service in the area being developed.

(D) Underground utilities for new buildings.

All electrical, telephone, community antenna television system (CATV), and similar service wires or cables which provide direct service to new buildings and structures shall be installed underground in compliance with all applicable building and electrical codes, safety regulations and orders, and the rules of the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California.

(E) Underground utilities for existing buildings.

Existing overhead wires and/or new utility service shall be placed underground when one or more new dwelling units are created in an existing building and one or both of the following apply:

1. The expansion exceeds fifty (50) percent of the existing gross floor area; or

2. The cost of remodeling, expansion or improvement exceeds fifty (50) percent of the value of the existing structure as determined by the building official.

Exception: Undergrounding shall not be required if Southern California Edison deems in writing that such underground installation is infeasible based upon its service requirements or to the unavailability of necessary easements.

(F) Responsibility for compliance.

The developer and owner are jointly and severally responsible for complying with the requirements of this chapter and shall make the necessary arrangements with the utility companies for the installation of such facilities.

(G) Existing underground areas.

On streets where electrical and communications lines have been placed underground or where no overhead lines presently exist on or before July 1, 1977, said lines shall remain permanently underground and no additional electric or communications service facilities shall be added on said streets unless they are placed underground.

(Ord. 1851 § 4, 2023)

15.12.040 Temporary installations.

Section 590.3(A) of the 2022 California Electrical Code is hereby amended by adding the following subparagraph to read as follows:

(1) Temporary power pole required on construction sites.

All construction sites for which temporary power must be supplied because there is no electrical service shall provide a temporary power pole prior to issuance of a building permit. Said power pole shall remain installed until the project has received final approval and electrical service has commenced. Generators are prohibited as a substitute for a temporary power pole.

(Ord. 1851 § 4, 2023)