Ordinance No. 9,145Published in the Baytown
Published in Baytown Sun I Sun on April 19, 2001 and
on April 16, 2001 and April 20, 2001
on April 21, 2001 ORDINANCE NO. 9145 - - -
® AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS, AMENDING
CHAPTER 18 "BUILDINGS AND BUILDING STANDARDS" ARTICLE III
"ELECTRICAL CODE" DIVISION 6 "STANDARDS," SECTION 18 -431
"COMPLIANCE WITH ARTICLE, ELECTRICAL CODE AND UTILITY COMPANY
SPECIFICATIONS" AND SECTION 18 -432 "TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS" OF
THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, BAYTOWN, TEXAS, TO DESIGNATE THE
ENTITY THAT MAY DISCONNECT THE ELECTRICAL SERVICE CONNECTION,
TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL MATERIALS TO BE USED TO INSTALL ELECTRICAL
WIRING, AND TO DELETE OR OTHERWISE CONFORM OTHER PROVISIONS
TO THE ELECTRICAL CODE; PRESCRIBING A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF
FIVE HUNDRED AND NO /100 DOLLARS ($500.00); PROVIDING A
REPEALING CLAUSE; CONTAINING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN,
TEXAS:
Section 1. That Chapter 18 "Buildings and Building Standards," Article III "Electrical
Code" Division 6 "Standards," Section 18 -431 "Compliance with article, electrical code and
utility company specifications" of the Code of Ordinances, City of Baytown, Texas, is hereby
amended to read as follow:
CHAPTER 18 BUILDINGS AND BUILDING STANDARDS
ARTICLE III ELECTRICAL CODE
DIVISION 6 STANDARDS
Sec. 18 -431. Compliance with article, electrical code and utility company specifications.
All electrical construction and all materials and appliances used in connection with the
installation, maintenance and operation of electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment for the
utilization of electrical energy for light, heat or power inside the city limits shall conform to such
special rules and regulations as may be embodied in this article and to the published rules and
regulations of the National Electrical Code, 1999 edition, published by the National Fire
Protection Association, and the electric public utility company's meter loop specifications.
Evidence that electric equipment is suitably safe to persons and property is solely based upon
Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., or other nationally recognized testing institute approval.
Section 2. That Chapter 18 "Buildings and Building Standards," Article III "Electrical
Code" Division 6 "Standards," Section 18 -432 "Technical Specifications" of the Code of
Ordinances, City of Baytown, Texas, is hereby amended to read as follows:
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® CHAPTER 18 BUILDINGS AND BUILDING STANDARDS
ARTICLE III ELECTRICAL CODE
DIVISION 6 STANDARDS
Sec. 18 -432. Technical specifications.
(a) When changes or additions are being made to existing electrical installations, they shall
conform to the applicable sections of this article.
(b) All unused electrical equipment within or on public or private buildings or premises shall
be removed if such equipment, in the opinion of the electrical inspector, constitutes a
hazard or danger to life or property.
(c) Service entrance switches or any service equipment shall not be installed within a
bathroom, toilet, clothes closet or any inaccessible location.
(d) Service connections made on a temporary basis may be disconnected by the Houston
Lighting and Power Company and /or the applicable retail electric provider upon request
of the inspector without written notice to the contractor or owner.
(e) All electrical connections to new installations of central air /heating units, fuel -fired
appliances and mechanical equipment shall conform to National Fire Protection
Association Code requirements and shall be provided with the following:
(1) A disconnecting means in the ungrounded leads of each power circuit to be
installed within sight and within easy reach of each grouping of electronically
operated components;
(2) A suitable 115 -volt outlet at the attic location described in subsection (e) of this
section; and
(3) In addition, all new installations of central air/heating units located in attics of
residences shall be provided with a 24 -inch minimum walkway with a minimum
of 36 inches of vertical clearance on the control side of the unit. There shall be a
light near the unit with a controlling switch within six feet of the stairway, and
such switch must be readily accessible.
(f) All wires in partitions are to be at least 18 inches from any plumbing or separated by a
stud or a stapled two -inch clearance.
(g) Attic wiring will require approved strapping with a two -inch clearance from any
® plumbing.
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® (h) A bell -type transformer's primary connection must be connected in a junction box with
the transformer fastened to the box and made accessible to authorized persons.
(i) All conductors within six feet of an attic scuttle hole or a stairway landing must be
guarded from physical damage.
(j) Approved metallic, non - metallic, or underfloor cast -in -place raceways, armored cable or
metal clad cable with a ground conductor that complies with section 250.122 of the
electrical code adopted in section 18 -431 shall be required for all wires used to conduct
current for lights, heat or power, in the wiring of all buildings hereafter constructed, as
well as additions to any buildings within fire limit areas Nos. 1 and 2, as they are now or
may hereafter be established, and in apartment houses of more than four apartments,
churches, schools, hotels, theaters, all commercial buildings and other places of public
assembly. However, in multifamily dwellings, nonmetallic or nonmetallic corrosion -
resistant insulated conductors such as Romex may be used if:
(1) A 13R automatic sprinkler system, as defined in the 1994 standards of the
National Fire Protection Association, is installed;
(2) An audible and visual alarm is installed to indicate not only the water flow from
as few as one sprinkler head but also any tampering with the water supply valves
of the sprinkler system. These alarms shall be installed so that they can be heard
and seen from all sides of the building from outside the building; and
(3) A 2 '/2 -inch fire department connection is installed.
All electrical systems of multifamily dwellings must comply with all applicable
provisions of the electrical code adopted by the city.
(k) Every new residence with an overhanging eave exceeding 12 inches and less than ten feet
from the ground level shall have a roof mast type service entrance riser, except where
underground service is provided.
(1) The electrical inspector may, with the approval of the city council, authorize installations
of special wiring methods.
(m) Aluminum conductors may not be used in any branch circuit wiring.
(n) All underground feeders for commercial and multioccupancy buildings shall be in
conduit and covered with a minimum of two inches of red concrete at a depth specified
by the electrical code.
(o) All underground conduit for single - family and two - family dwellings shall be sized in
accordance with the electrical code adopted in section 18 -431 and shall be rigid conduit,
® either rigid steel galvanized or schedule 40 polyvinyl chloride conduit installed at a depth
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as specified by the electrical code. The rigid conduit shall be terminated approximately
one foot from the power company slab or housing.
(p) Temporary saw poles installed to supply construction power shall not be connected to the
permanent interior wiring of a building or other structure without first obtaining written
permission from the electrical inspector. If such condition is found to exist without prior
written permission, the electrical inspector may cause the immediate disconnection of
service without further notice to anyone. This shall also include poles which may be
classified as permanent.
(q) Power run to manufactured homes must be installed underground in accordance with the
electrical code adopted in section 18 -431.
Section 3: Any person who fails to comply with any provision of this ordinance shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding
FIVE HUNDRED AND NO /100 DOLLARS ($500.00). Each act of violation and each day
upon which any such violation shall occur shall constitute a separate offense. In addition to the
penalty prescribed above, the city may pursue other remedies such as abatement of nuisances,
injunctive relief, administrative adjudication and revocation of licenses or permits.
Section 4: All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with the terms of this
ordinance are hereby repealed; provided, however, that such repeal shall be only to the extent of
such inconsistency and in all other respects this ordinance shall be cumulative of other
ordinances regulating and governing the subject matter covered by this ordinance.
Section 5: If any provision, section, exception, subsection, paragraph, sentence,
clause or phrase of this ordinance or the application of same to any person or the set of
circumstances, shall for any reason be held unconstitutional, void or invalid, such invalidity shall
not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this ordinance or their application to other
persons or sets of circumstances and to this end all provisions of this ordinance are declared to be
severable.
Section 6: This ordinance shall take effect from and after ten (10) days from its
passage by the City Council. The City Clerk is hereby directed to give notice hereof by causing
the caption of this ordinance to be published in the official newspaper of the City of Baytown at
least twice within ten (10) days after passage of this ordinance.
INTRODUCED, READ, and PASSED by the affirmative vote of the City Council of the
City of Baytown, this the 12'" day of April, 2001.
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PETE C. ALFARO, ayor