All interior electricity used for light, heat
and power shall be installed in accordance with the Electrical Code
as accepted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and all other applicable
state and federal statutes or regulations or City ordinances.
[Amended 6-3-1999]
A.
No later than five days after commencing the wiring
of any building or the making of any changes in existing wiring in
any building, an electrical permit must be obtained from the Inspector
of Wires. The above provision shall extend to the wiring or changes
in wiring in or upon any structure, pole, or support on private premises
and connected or designed to be connected with the wiring system in
any building or any connected or designed to be connected with the
wiring system in any building or any wire thereof and used to transmit
an electric current for heating, lighting or power purposes.
B.
Any person who wishes to connect wires carrying an
electrical current in the interior of buildings or on private premises
with an outside circuit which crosses or runs along, over or under
any street or way of the City shall obtain an electrical permit no
later than five days after commencing the work.
[Amended 6-3-1999; 6-19-2003; 12-18-2003; 2-1-2007]
Fees for electrical permits shall be as set
forth in Chapter 174, Fees.
A.
Any person operating electric or other wires shall,
upon request of the Inspector of Wires, furnish him/her with such
information as may be necessary to comply with the requirements of
the State Electrical Code, any state or federal statute or regulation,
any City ordinance or regulation of the Inspection Department.
B.
Whenever the Inspector of Wires shall request, any
person operating electric or other wires upon, over or under any street
or building shall, within 15 days of such request, furnish an accurate
statement of the number and location of its poles, the number of crossarms
on each, the number of wires thereto attached, the number of arc and
incandescent lamps, the method of operating such wires, the kind,
size and tested strength of supporting or service wires, the average
volts charged and used, and such other information as the Inspector
of Wires may deem necessary.
The Inspector of Wires shall have access at
all reasonable times to all wires and appliances and apparatus in
the interior of a public building or on private premises which are
intended for carrying an electric light or power current, and no person
shall arrange, affix or change any such wires, fittings or apparatus
without giving the Inspector reasonable opportunity to inspect the
same before they are covered or enclosed.
A.
Residential structures shall be limited to no more
than one electrical meter per dwelling unit, unless permission is
obtained in writing from both the Inspector of Wires and the Building
Inspector, or a special permit has been obtained from the Zoning Board
of Appeals for a home occupation and any additional meter is intended
for use in conjunction with said home occupation.
B.
In a multifamily dwelling, the owner may install an
additional electrical meter which shall service only the common areas
of the building and such services within individual dwelling units
which are necessary for public safety or preservation of property
(i.e., smoke/heat detectors, alarm systems, emergency heating/lighting).
If a required electrical permit is not obtained
within the time period allowed for obtaining said permit, the owner
or contractor responsible shall immediately obtain an electrical permit
upon being ordered to do so by the Building Commissioner, Inspector
of Wires, or any other member of the Inspection Department of the
City of Northampton. The fee for any permit obtained after the allowed
time period shall be double the fee which would have been charged
had the permit been obtained as required.
