Posted on 05/16/2005 8:04:36 PM PDT by Brian Mosely
At least when it comes to electrical things, do-it-your-selfers may find their craft considerably more expensive.
Starting Aug. 1, when the 2004 California Electrical Codes automatically take effect, residents will have to apply for a city building permits to replace or add wall, porch and ceiling lamps, light switches, electric receptacles, and other common do-it-yourself chores.
So changing that noisy electrical switch with a quieter mercury switch will cost a lot more. Besides the costs of the new switch, there’ll be the $81 basic permit fee plus an additional surcharge of $2.15 for each receptacle, outlet or switch and—if you want to add more—$21.50 for altering or changing wiring.
Under the current city code, such small changes can be made without permits and inspections; starting Aug. 1, not so.
The exemptions are currently allowed under Chapter 19.30.080 of the city electrical code. City Building Officer Joan McQuarrie said there’s a question about whether or not the exemptions could be incorporated into the new code.
“We’re looking into that,” said Deputy City Attorney Zach Cowan. “Generally cities are allowed to adopt more restrictive findings based on local conditions, but not less restrictive. But it never hurts to ask.”
McQuarrie said that from her perspective, she wasn’t aware of any problems from the previously exempted home repairs, “but that doesn’t mean there couldn’t be in the future. I think it’s reasonable to exclude them, but we are bound by state law.”
Activities which will no longer be permitted without a permit after Aug. 1 include:
• Installing hard-wired sound, intercom and communication systems.
• Connecting portable motors and appliances to permanent suitable receptacles that were previously installed.
• Installing wiring for temporary theater, television and film sets.
• Repair or replacement of fixed motors, transformers and appliances of the same type and in the same location.
The Housing Advisory Commission (HAC) considered the revisions during their meeting May 5 and recommended that the city adopt the new code while retaining the current exemptions.
Should it turn out that the exemptions can’t be retained, HAC recommended that the city inform residents of the new requirements. The final decision is up to the Berkeley City Council, which is slated to vote on the new code during their June 24 meeting.
The final decision is up to the Berkeley City Council,
--Berkeley, that explains it all, why be surprised? lol
What about the residents decision on whether to inform ANYONE of when they replace light switch or anything else in their house?
How will they enforce it?
Your children will be encouraged to turn you in for performing non-permitted repairs to your light switches....
It is Berkeley after all.
But, shouldn't they also have to drop to their knees and invoke the blessing of the Mother Earth Spirit?
Memo to self... reason #457 not to move to California...
I suppose people will have to smuggle electrical components in.
The day I ain't bright enough to replace a receptacle, someone shoot Me, please.
At 62, I've never hired an electrician or a plumber, only paid a mechanic a couple of times when special equipment was needed, not about to start now.
• Installing hard-wired sound, intercom and communication systems.
So forget about installing that home theater.
• Connecting portable motors and appliances to permanent suitable receptacles that were previously installed.
You can no longer plug that grinder into the wall, nor the electric drill (portable motors or appliances). If you want to get really anal (and why not, this is CA after all), appliances could mean a toaster, so you now need a permit to plug in a toaster to an existing outlet.
• Installing wiring for temporary theater, television and film sets.
You can no longer connect up speaker wires to your stereo, if I read this right.
• Repair or replacement of fixed motors, transformers and appliances of the same type and in the same location.
You can't replace that old bench grinder with a new one, to say nothing of the motor in the washing machine.
So, what's the problem? Just get into your time machine when you do the next electrical job and set the date for pre-August 2005.
The inspectors in my neck of the woods are ratcheting things up as well. A 240v service in my garage now needs a separate grounding rod, main and main retaining clip. The can I hung on the wall last year before the snow is now obsolete. Last time I checked, the two grounds in the house system were functioning too. Looks to me like the Unions want more work and feel crowded by DIY'ers.
Berkeley better beef up the fire department.
Good grief! No wonder everybody in CA is moving to Montana. It'll now cost those poor suckers a couple of hundred $ just to install a dimmer switch. What Californians really need to do is install a dimmer switch on the ridiculous state assembly of theirs for having codified this bit of larcenous lunacy and shut 'em down for good.
SWAMPSNIPER wrote:
I suppose people will have to smuggle electrical components in.
The day I ain't bright enough to replace a receptacle, someone shoot Me, please.
At 62, I've never hired an electrician or a plumber, only paid a mechanic a couple of times when special equipment was needed, not about to start now.
--> I hear you! Ditto, but don't forget, this is Berkeley California we're talking about, they have more money than brains.... The city council obviously does....
They keep telling Us how smart they are, go figure!
Well, let's see, at the rate things are going, here's one possible future scenario: Every new light fixture, appliance, etc. that's affected by this regulation will have an embedded tracking chip. It emits a frequency that can be picked up by government vans that roam through neighborhoods. Only licensed professional electricians will be able to turn off the chip...
The next step, of course, is to outlaw the sale of the offending items - or at least require a person to show a license if he wants to purchase a light switch.
Yea, living in the "woods" is becoming more and more attractive each year. :)
I wonder how many illegal aliens will comply with these permits?
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