Chapter 15.16
CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE
Sections:
15.16.020 Electrical permit – Applicant qualifications.
15.16.040 Amendments, additions, and deletions to the 2021 National Electrical Code.
15.16.050 Violation – Penalty.
15.16.060 Small residential rooftop solar energy system review process.
15.16.070 Expedited electric vehicle charging station permitting.
15.16.010 Adoption.
A. Pursuant to Sections 50022.1 to 50022.10, inclusive, of the Government Code, the city council adopts and enacts as the electrical code of the city the 2022 California Electrical Code (CEC), California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 3, and Appendices (based on the 2021 National Electrical Code published by the National Fire Protection Association).
B. One copy of the CEC is on file with the building division for use and examination by the public, along with changes, additions and deletions relating to sections of the CEC as set forth in this chapter. In addition, all subsequent supplements to the CEC and related publications are adopted by reference. [Ord. 22-1505 § 6, 2023.]
15.16.020 Electrical permit – Applicant qualifications.
No permit shall be issued to any person to do or cause to be done any electrical work regulated by this chapter, unless such applicant qualifies under one of the following conditions:
A. Applicant possesses a valid, unexpired, and unrevoked electrical contractor’s license issued to him or her under the applicable provisions of the Business and Professions Code of the state; or
B. Applicant is the bona fide owner of the premises, which premises consists of a single-family dwelling, duplex, or a single unit in a condominium complex used exclusively for living purposes, and all accessory buildings thereto; provided, that the owner or a member of his/her immediate family shall perform all labor pursuant to the permit. [Ord. 22-1505 § 6, 2023.]
15.16.040 Amendments, additions, and deletions to the 2021 National Electrical Code.
Set forth below are the local amendments, additions, and deletions to the 2022 California Electrical Code. Chapter and section numbers used herein are those of the 2021 California Electrical Code.
Section 89.108.8, Appeals Board, is replaced by Section 113, Board of Appeals, of Appendix Chapter 1 of the 2022 California Building Code.
Article 100, Definitions, is hereby amended by the addition of the following words or phrases:
“CITY” or “THE CITY” shall refer to the City of Pittsburg as the text requires.
“CITY COUNCIL” shall refer to the City Council of the City of Pittsburg.
“ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR” shall refer to a contractor in possession of a valid license issued in accordance with the provisions of the California Contractors State License Board.
“ELECTRICAL INSPECTOR” shall refer to the Building Official of the City of Pittsburg or his or her authorized representative.
“ELECTRICAL WORK” shall refer to the installation, construction, maintenance, and repair of electrical equipment.
“PERSON” shall refer to a natural person, his or her heirs, executors, administrators, or assignees, and also includes a firm, partnership, or corporation, its or their successors or assignees, or the agent of any of the aforesaid.
“SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING” shall refer to a residential building containing one or two dwelling units.
[Ord. 22-1505 § 6, 2023.]
15.16.050 Violation – Penalty.
A violation of any provision under this chapter is punishable as a misdemeanor and upon conviction may be punished by a fine not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, or both. [Ord. 22-1505 § 6, 2023.]
15.16.060 Small residential rooftop solar energy system review process.
A. The following words and phrases as used in this section are defined as follows:
“Electronic submittal” means the utilization of one or more of the following:
1. Email.
2. The Internet.
3. Facsimile.
“Small residential rooftop solar energy system” means all of the following:
1. A solar energy system that is no larger than 10 kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating or 30 kilowatts thermal.
2. A solar energy system that conforms to all applicable state fire, structural, electrical, and other building codes as adopted or amended by the city and Section 714(c)(iii) of the Civil Code, as such section or subdivision may be amended, renumbered, or redesignated from time to time.
3. A solar energy system that is installed on a single or duplex family dwelling.
4. A solar panel or module array that does not exceed the maximum legal building height as defined by the authority having jurisdiction.
“Solar energy system” has the same meaning set forth in Section 801.5(a)(1) and (2) of the Civil Code, as such section or subdivision may be amended, renumbered, or redesignated from time to time.
B. Section 65850.5 of the California Government Code provides that, on or before September 30, 2015, every city, county, or city and county shall adopt an ordinance that creates an expedited, streamlined permitting process for small residential rooftop solar energy systems.
C. Section 65850.5 of the California Government Code provides that in developing an expedited permitting process, the city, county, or city and county shall adopt a checklist of all requirements with which small rooftop solar energy systems shall comply to be eligible for expedited review. The building official is hereby authorized and directed to develop and adopt such checklist. (Note: Your city may adopt an ordinance that modifies the checklists and standards found in the California Solar Permitting Guidebook due to unique climatic, geological, seismological, or topographical conditions.)
D. The checklist shall be published on the city’s internet website. The applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the city’s building division by personal, mailed, or electronic submittal together with any required permit processing and inspection fees. In the case of electronic submittal, the electronic signature of the applicant on all forms, applications and other documentation may be used in lieu of a wet signature. (Or, if the city will not accept electronic signature, the reasons for the inability to accept electronic signatures must be described.)
E. Prior to submitting an application, the applicant shall:
1. Verify to the applicant’s reasonable satisfaction through the use of standard engineering evaluation techniques that the support structure for the small residential rooftop solar energy system is stable and adequate to transfer all wind, seismic, and dead and live loads associated with the system to the building foundation; and
2. At the applicant’s cost, verify to the applicant’s reasonable satisfaction using standard electrical inspection techniques that the existing electrical system including existing line, load, ground, and bonding wiring as well as main panel and subpanel sizes are adequately sized, based on the existing electrical system’s current use, to carry all new photovoltaic electrical loads.
F. For a small residential rooftop solar energy system eligible for expedited review, only one inspection shall be required, which shall be done in a timely manner and may include a consolidated inspection by the building official and fire chief. (Note: A separate fire inspection may be performed if your city does not have an agreement in place with your local fire authority to conduct a fire safety inspection on behalf of the fire authority.) If a small residential rooftop solar energy system fails inspection, a subsequent inspection is authorized; however, the subsequent inspection need not conform to the requirements of this subsection.
G. An application that satisfies the information requirements in the checklist, as determined by the building official, shall be deemed complete. Upon receipt of an incomplete application, the building official shall issue a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance.
H. Upon confirmation by the building official of the application and supporting documentation being complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, the building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations. Such approval does not authorize an applicant to connect the small residential rooftop energy system to the local utility provider’s electricity grid. The applicant is responsible for obtaining such approval or permission from the local utility provider. [Ord. 22-1505 § 6, 2023.]
15.16.070 Expedited electric vehicle charging station permitting.
A. The ordinance codified in this section shall be known as the city of Pittsburg electric vehicle charging station permit expediting ordinance. The terms, phrases, and words used in this section shall be construed in compliance with the definitions set forth by California Government Code Section 65850.7.
B. Electric vehicle charging stations which qualify for expedited permit processing, pursuant to Government Code Section 65850.7, shall be subject to the administrative permitting procedures set forth in this section.
C. Expedited Review Process. Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the building official shall implement an expedited administrative permit review process for electric vehicle charging stations and adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging stations shall comply in order to be eligible for expedited review. The expedited administrative permit review process and checklist may refer to the recommendations in the checklist prescribed by the most current version of the “Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist” of the “Zero-Emission Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook” published by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. The city’s adopted checklist shall be published on the city’s website.
D. Electronic Submittals. Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the building official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this section and associated supporting documentation. In accepting such permit applications, the building official shall also accept electronic signatures on all forms, applications, and other documentation in lieu of a wet signature by any applicant.
E. Association Approval. Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the building official shall not condition the approval for any electric vehicle charging station permit on the approval of such a system by an association, as that term is defined by Civil Code Section 4080.
F. Permit Application Processing. A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the city’s adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed. Upon confirmation by the building official that the permit application and supporting documents meet the requirements of the city-adopted checklist, and are consistent with all applicable laws, the building official shall, consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, approve the application and issue all necessary permits. Such approval does not authorize an applicant to energize or utilize the electric vehicle charging station until approval is granted by the city. If the building official determines that the permit application is incomplete, he or she shall issue a written correction notice to the applicant, detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance.
G. Technical Review. It is the intent of this section to encourage the installation of electric vehicle charging stations by removing obstacles to permitting for charging stations so long as the action does not supersede the building official’s authority to address higher priority life-safety situations. If the building official makes a finding based on substantial evidence that the electric vehicle charging station could have a specific adverse impact upon the public health or safety, as defined in Government Code Section 65850.7, the city may require the applicant to apply for a use permit. [Ord. 22-1505 § 6, 2023.]