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Chapter 11.3 - Electrical Code
Division 3 - License, Permits, Registration, Inspections and Fees

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SEC. 11.3.3-1 LICENSE OR REGISTRATION REQUIRED – Except as specifically otherwise provided in this Chapter, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to do or perform any installation, alteration, maintenance or repair of or to any electrical conductor, equipment or other process, matter or material regulated by or within the scope of the National Electrical Code as adopted and modified thereby, without being appropriately licensed and/or registered under the provisions of this Chapter.

SEC. 11.3.3-2 CLASSES OF ELECTRICAL LICENSE AND TYPE OF WORK AUTHORIZED –

  1. General Electrical Contractor – A General Electrical Contractor license authorizes any person, firm or corporation to do any type of residential, commercial or industrial electrical wiring, including without limitation the installation or alteration of electrical equipment for utilization of electricity supplied for light, heat or power.
     
  2. Maintenance Electrical Contractor License – A Maintenance Electrical Contractor license authorizes an individual employed by a single employer to maintain and/or repair, but not install, electrical conductors or equipment owned or otherwise under the exclusive control of that employer.

    (Section Amended 2/5/07 by Ord. No. 5116)

SEC. 11.3.3-3 LICENSING PROCEDURE - The procedure for obtaining any class of license shall be as follows:

  1. Application for any class of electrical license shall be received by the Electrical Inspector on forms which may be obtained from him. The application shall state on it the class of license applied for and shall include the name, address and place of business of the applicant.
     
  2. All applicants for electrical license shall be at least eighteen years of age and shall have had at least four years practical experience in the type of work authorized by the type of license sought, or shall have satisfactorily completed a course of study in the subject for which the license is sought, given by a recognized school, and have had at least one year of practical experience in addition thereto.
     
  3. Each applicant for a license under this Division must pass an examination prior to the issuance of such license. Candidates for the General Electrical Contractor License must pass the “Standard Master Electrician” examination administered by the International Code Council or its designated testing agent. Candidates for the Maintenance Electrical Contractor License must pass the “Standard Maintenance Electrician” examination administered by the International Code Council or its designated testing agent.
     
  4. Each applicant shall pay to the Town Treasurer the non-refundable sum of $50.00. This sum shall be applied as a fee toward the first year’s license or portion thereof, if the applicant is successful in obtaining a license.

(Entire section amended 2/5/07 by Ord. No. 5116)

SEC. 11.3.3-4 RESERVED.

SEC. 11.3.3-5 RECIPROCITY AND REGISTRATION – Any person, firm or corporation who is registered or licensed for the current year in any city, village or town in the State of Illinois where the requirements of registration or licensing on the date of such registration or licensing were substantially equal to or greater than the requirements in force in the Town of Normal, and if such city, village or town extends a similar privilege to persons licensed under this Chapter, shall not be required to take the examination or pay the license fees as provided in this Chapter, in order to engage in the type of electrical work authorized by the individual’s license, but prior to commencing any work, shall file a copy of his registration or license with the Electrical Inspector of the Town of Normal and pay an annual $50.00 registration fee. (Amended 12/18/00 by Ord. No. 4696)

SEC. 11.3.3-6 NON-TRANSFERABILITY – No license issued under this Chapter or registration hereunder shall be loaned, rented, assigned or transferred.

SEC. 11.3.3-7 RENEWAL AND REINSTATEMENT – Any person, firm or corporation having received an Electrical License as provided for in this Chapter has the right, without further examination, to have that license renewed annually upon payment to the Town Treasurer of a license fee and the execution or renewal of the bond required by this Chapter. (Amended 9/19/83)

The license fee for an annual renewal of a General Electrical Contractor shall be $50.00 and for a Maintenance Electrical Contractor, shall be $25.00. All licenses shall expire on the 31st day of December or each year. (Amended 7/21/80)(Amended 1/19/93 by Ord. 4104)(Amended 2/5/07 by Ord. No. 5116)

Any license forfeited for non-payment of a renewal fee may be reinstated upon the payment of the annual renewal fee without re-examination, provided however, after the same has been delinquent for a period of one year, then the same shall be null and void and may not be renewed or reinstated.

SEC. 11.3.3-8 SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES – Any licensee or person registered in the Town of Normal under this Chapter may have his license or registration suspended or revoked by the Electrical Board for cause, after notice and an opportunity to be heard in his own defense. Cause for suspension or revocation of a license or registration shall include, but shall not be limited to:

  1. Refusal or failure to make any necessary corrections to electrical work within a reasonable time after notification of the defects therein;
     
  2. Failure to obtain electrical permits;
     
  3. Transfer of electrical permits;
     
  4. Failure to call for required inspections;
     
  5. Unwillingness or inability to install electrical work in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Chapter;
     
  6. Performing work not authorized by the class of license held;
     
  7. Violation of any provision of this Chapter.

(Amended 5/17/93 by Ord. No. 4138)

SEC. 11.3.3-9 PERMITS REQUIRED. Except as specifically otherwise provided in this Chapter, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to do or perform any installation, alteration, maintenance or repair of any electrical conductors, equipment or other material regulated or within the scope of the National Electrical Code, as adopted and modified hereby, without first obtaining a permit in the manner provided by this Chapter.

SEC. 11.3.3-10 PERMITS – APPLICATION, ISSUANCE, TRANSFERABILITY AND EXPIRATION. Persons desiring an electrical permit shall make application therefore to the Electrical Inspector on forms prescribed by him. Before issuing any permit, the Electrical Inspector may require such detailed plans, specifications and drawings as are necessary to describe the work, materials and manner of installation, alteration or repair. The Electrical Inspector shall issue a permit when such plans show that said electrical work will be installed in compliance with the provisions of this Chapter. After a permit has been issued by the Electrical Inspector, no change or modification in the plans or specifications shall be made unless such change has been submitted to the Electrical Inspector and approved by him. No electrical permit shall be issued to any person other than someone appropriately licensed under this Chapter unless the permit is for a dwelling or accessory structure that the permittee occupies in his residence. (Amended 9/15/80)

If electrical work is not commenced under a permit within six months after the date of issuance, the permit shall be considered to have expired. Electrical permits shall not be transferable and if after issuance, another person, firm or corporation desires to complete the work initiated under a permit, it shall be necessary to obtain a new electrical permit authorizing such completion.

SEC. 11.3.3-11 FEES. The fees for electrical permits and inspection of work performed thereunder shall be as follows:

  1. Fee Schedule Based on Amperage:
    2. SERVICE ENTRANCE FEEDER REPLACEMENT OR ADDITION OF SERVICE ONLY INSTALLATION IN A NEW BUILDING OR NEW BUILDING ADDITION
    0 to 60 amp $ 25.00 $ 25.00
    61 to 100 amp 25.00 50.00
    101 to 200 amp 40.00 75.00
    201 to 400 amp 75.00 125.00
    401 to 600 amp 100.00 175.00
    601 to 800 amp 150.00 275.00
    801 to 1000 amp 200.00 425.00
    1001 to 1200 amp 250.00 500.00
    OVER 1200 amp 300.00 600.00

    ALL PERMITS, exclusing the 1 and 2 Family construction, shall be charged a fee in addition to the service fee based on a percentage of the valuation as listed:

    $0.00 to $10,000.00 $13.00 per $1,000.00 of valuation
    $10,000.00 to $50,000.00 $130.00 plus $4.00 per 1,000 of valuation
    $50,000.00 and above $290.00 plus $2.00 per 1,000 of valuation


    FOR EACH MULTI-METER INSTALLATION, THERE WILL BE A CHARGE OF $10.00 FOR EACH METER. (Amended 1/19/93 by Ord. 4104)(Amended 12/21/98 by Ord. No. 4568, effective 2/1/99)(Amended 4/16/01 by Ord. No. 4720)
     

  2. Fee Schedule based on Valuation where no change in service amperage is made, including any remodeling work such as: new circuits and feeders, replacement light fixtures and electrical equipment of any kind. When service change and up-grade is made, both schedules will be charged. (Amended 12/21/98 by Ord. No. 4568)

    VALUATION OF WORK TO BE DONE:
    $500.00 or less $25.00
    $501.00 to $1,000.00 $35.00
    $1,000.00 to $10,000.00 $30.00 plus $13.00 per $1,000.00 or fraction thereof over $1,000.00
    $10,000.00 to $50,000.00 $147.00 plus $4.00 per $1,000.00 or fraction thereof over $10,000.00
    Above $50,000.00 $307.00 plus $2.00 per $1,000.00 or fraction thereof over $50,000.00

    (Amended 4/5/82)(Amended 2/20/84)(Amended 1/19/93 by Ord. 4104)(Amended 4/16/01 by Ord. No. 4720)

    The contractor may prepare his own permits for new residence construction on application blanks furnished by the Inspector, but he must deliver them to the City Hall for approval within 24 hours of the time the job is started. Permits for additions to other than single-family residences must be approved before the job is started. There shall be no permit fee for electrical work valued at less than $150.00 that does not require an inspection. This fee waiver for work valued at less than $150.00 is only valid for one address or parcel per calendar year. (Amended 12/5/05 by Ord. No. 5043)
     

  3. Doing Work Without a Permit – If any person initiates construction, erection or alteration of electrical work in any structure without first taking out a permit, such person shall pay, in addition to the regular fees prescribed for permits, an additional amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the fee required, and upon conviction, may be subject to all penalty provisions of this Chapter. (Amended 1/19/93 by Ord. 4104)

SEC. 11.3.3-12 INSPECTIONS –

  1. Inspection Required – It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to conceal electrical conductors or equipment, energize an electrical service or occupy or permit the occupancy of any building or structure having wiring, equipment or components within the scope of regulation provided by the National Electrical Code as adopted and modified hereby, without in each case and in each stage of installation, calling for an electrical inspection in the manner provided in this Chapter and obtaining approval thereof by the Electrical Inspector.
     
  2. Procedure – The Electrical Inspector shall be notified by the person performing the electrical work when it or any portion of it is ready for inspection, at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the requested inspection time. All work shall be left uncovered and convenient for inspection until inspected and approved.

    The Inspector shall endeavor to examine the work within one working day after being notified that it is ready for inspection. All electrical work when placed in position may be required to be tested by appropriate tests in the presence of the Inspector and any and all defects corrected. Upon satisfactory completion of the electrical work and approval by the Inspector, the premises, installation or portion thereof obtaining approval shall be so posted.
     
  3. Inspection Upon Complaint – Upon complaint, in writing, of any citizen of this Town as to the unsafe condition of any part of any such electrical system within the Town, it shall be the duty of said Electrical Inspector to inspect such part complained of, and if he finds that such complaint is well grounded, or if he otherwise finds any defect, to require the owner of the property on which the defective condition is located to put such part in proper condition, and it shall then be the duty of such person, firm or corporation to put such defective part in proper condition.
     
  4. Condemnation of Electrical Work or Equipment – The Town Electrical Inspector shall have the authority upon inspection or reinspection to condemn any or all electrical work installed or being installed that may be considered unsafe or hazardous to life and property. Upon condemnation of such work, he shall serve a written notice upon the person owning, using or installing the same to place the work in a secure and safe condition and in compliance with the provisions herein contained.

    Upon condemnation of any electrical work, the Electrical Inspector is authorized to refuse the connection or to order the disconnection of any electrical supply lines until the condemned electrical work has been made safe and is approved by the Electrical Inspector. Such order shall be in writing, signed by the Electrical Inspector and served upon both utilities furnishing services in the Town and upon the owner.

    It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to utilize condemned electrical work or to reconnect an electrical supply to any condemned electrical work from which the Electrical Inspector has refused to authorize a connection or ordered a disconnection of electrical supply lines.

SEC. 11.3.3-13 EXCEPTIONS.

  1. From the License Requirements of SEC. 11.3.3-1 – The owner-occupant of a one-family dwelling may, with the assistance of any member of his family, personally carry on in such a house any work governed by this Division without a license, provided that such owner shall obtain a permit for any such work and shall call for inspections as provided in this Chapter. Such owner-occupancy shall be retained for at least one year from the date of final inspection and approval of such work.
     
  2. From the Permit Requirements of SEC. 11.3.3-8 – Persons, firms, or corporations holding Maintenance Electrical Licenses may maintain or repair conductors or equipment of their employer without a permit, provided that such licensee call for inspections as provided in this Chapter.
     
  3. From the License, Permit and Inspection Requirements – The license requirements of SEC. 11.3.3-1 and the permit provisions of SEC. 11.3.3-8 do not apply to:
     
    1. Public service agencies installing, altering or repairing electrical equipment for the operation of communication and signals. This exemption applies only to equipment and conductors owned by the serving agency which are exterior to any premises or dwelling unit; (Amended 12/5/05 by Ord. No. 5043)
       
    2. Power companies performing the installation, alteration or repair of electrical equipment of power or public service companies for use in the generation, transmission, distribution or metering of electricity, and other such maintenance or construction as may be required to insure the safe and adequate transmission of electricity to the premises being served by said company;
       
    3. Temporary testing systems – The installation of any temporary system required for the testing or service of electrical equipment or apparatus. Such system must be approved by the Electrical Inspector as being safe for the location on which or in which it is to be used;
       
    4. Railway utilities – Installing equipment used by a railroad utility in the exercise of its function as a public carrier and located outdoors or in buildings used exclusively for that purpose;
       
    5. Transmitting equipment – The installation, alteration, modification or use of electrical equipment for radio and television transmission, except the equipment and wiring for power supply therefore.