For the purpose of this article, the words and phrases used herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary.

(a)   Approved shall mean approved by the chief building official, the electrical inspector or his or her designee.

(b)   Authorized person shall mean any individual, firm or corporation who or which is licensed under the provisions of this article to do the work as permitted under the specified provisions of this article.

(c)   City shall mean the territory within the corporate limits of this city.

(d)   Conductor shall mean a wire or cable or other form of metal suitable for carrying the electric current or potential.

(e)   Electrical construction or installation shall mean and include all work and materials used in installing, maintaining or extending a system of electrical wiring and all appurtenances, apparatus or equipment used in connection therewith, inside or attached to any building, structure, lot or premises, except industrial plants where full-time maintenance is provided and other agencies providing inspections of installations and facilities. Electrical construction shall not be held to mean or include any of the following:

(1)   The replacement of lamps, fuses, bulbs or the connection of portable electrical equipment to suitable permanently installed receptacles and replacement of receptacles and switches, lighting fixtures and apparatus where no changes or alterations are made to the wiring;

(2)   Any work involved in the manufacturing, repair or testing of any electrical equipment or apparatus, but not including any permanent wiring; or

(3)   Any work in industrial establishments where inspections come under the scope of other inspection agencies.

(f)   Equipment shall mean conductors, materials, fittings, devices, appliances, fixtures, apparatus, motors and the like, used as a part of or in connection with an electrical installation.

(g)   Inspector shall mean the chief building official or any individual who has been appointed by the city as electrical inspector.

(h)   Person shall mean a natural person, his or her heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, and also includes a firm, partnership or corporation, its or their successors, assigns, or the agent of any of the aforesaid.

(i)    Special permission shall mean the written consent of the chief building official or the electrical inspector.

(j)    Special ruling shall mean a written ruling filed in the office of the chief building official or the electrical inspector.

(Code 1991)

The standard code known as the NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, 2005 Edition, a publication of the National Fire Protection Association, the same being a standard code for the installation of electrical wiring and apparatus and available in book and pamphlet form is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this article as authorized and in the manner prescribed by K.S.A. 12-3009:3012, Three copies shall be marked or stamped “Official Copy as Incorporated by the Code of the City of Benton,” and shall be filed with the city clerk to be open to inspection and available to the public at all reasonable hours of business. Any person violating any provision of such code shall be punished as provided in section 1-116 of this code.

(Code 1991; Ord. 2015-04)

The following sections of this article are in addition to the provisions of the standard code incorporated by reference in section 4-202.

(Code 1991)

The electrical inspector shall have the following powers:

(a)   To enter any building or structure or premises at any reasonable hour, whether complete or in the process of erection, to perform the duties contained in this chapter;

(b)   To adopt and enforce all such prudent emergency measures as he or she may deem necessary and expedient for the public safety under the laws of the city;

(c)   May cause any work done in violation of this chapter to be discontinued until he or she shall have satisfactory evidence that the work will be done in accordance with the electrical regulations of the city, subject to the right of any installer or owner to appeal to the governing body.

(Code 1991)

(a)   The electrical inspector, or his or her agent, upon proper identification, shall have authority to enter any building, structure or premises at any reasonable hour to perform his or her duties as set out in this chapter.

(b)   The authority granted to the electrical inspector by subsection (a) of this section is subject to the following:

(1)   If the building, structure or premises is occupied, the inspector shall first present proper credentials, explain the purpose for which admittance is desired and demand entry.

(2)   If such property is unoccupied, the inspector shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other person having charge or control of the property, present proper credentials, explain the purpose for which admittance is desired and demand entry.

(3)   If the inspector is refused admission or cannot locate the owner or occupant, the public officer shall refrain from entering until authorized to do so by proper judicial authority.

(Code 2010)

(a)   The governing body shall be the final determiner of the scope and meaning of all provisions of the electrical code which may be unclear, ambiguous, or requiring interpretation.

(b)   The electrical inspector shall have power to modify any of the provisions of the electrical code upon application in writing by the owner or lessee or his or her authorized agent, when there are practical difficulties in the way of carrying out the strict letter of the code. In approving modifications, the electrical inspector shall see that the spirit of the code is observed, public safety secured and substantial justice done. The particulars of a modification when granted or allowed and the decision of the inspector thereon shall be entered upon the records of the electrical inspector and a signed copy shall be furnished to the applicant.

(Code 1991)

(a)   Except as provided in subsection (b), it shall be unlawful for any person to engage in any electrical construction as defined in section 4-201 within the city without an electrical permit being first obtained therefore from the city clerk, after approval by the chief building official or his or her duly authorized assistant. The application for such permit shall be made and the permit obtained before any electrical construction work is commenced.

(b)   No electrical permit shall be required for any of the following:

(1)   The replacement of lamps, fuses, bulbs or the connection of portable electrical equipment to suitable permanently installed receptacles and replacement of receptacles and switches, lighting fixtures and apparatus where no changes or alterations are made to the wiring;

(2)   Any work involved in the manufacturing, repair or testing of any electrical equipment or apparatus, but not including any permanent wiring; or

(3)   Any work in industrial establishments where the issuance of electrical permits come under the scope of other agencies.

(Code 1991)

(a)   An electrical permit shall be issued upon an application in writing to the office of city clerk on a form or forms provided for the purpose. This application shall, among other things, disclose the following:

(1)   The name of the owner of the lot or tract of ground;

(2)   The location of the building or structure;

(3)   The electrical construction work proposed;

(4)   The class of occupancy;

(5)   The class of electrical construction;

(6)   The kind of materials to be used;

(7)   The estimated cost of the work;

(8)   The date work will commence;

(9)   Expected date of completion;

(10) Name and address of electrical contractor or contractors doing the work;

(11) Such other information as may be pertinent to the issuance of the required permit.

(b)   An application for an electrical permit shall be signed by the owner or his or her duly authorized agent, or an electrician or electrical contractor licensed by the city. If the application is made by the owner or his or her agent, it shall contain the name or names of the licensed electrician or electrical contractor or contractors doing the work described, or an electrical permit may be issued to the owner upon his or her application disclosing satisfactory evidence that the proposed work will be performed by the owner, himself or herself and not by a licensed electrical contractor, and likewise subject to the final approval of the electrical inspector for work performed.

(c)   Upon approval of the completed application and a determination that a permit should be issued, the chief building official or his or her assistant shall issue a permit to the owner, electrician or electrical contractor authorizing the electrical construction work covered by the application.

(d)   Any permit issued under this section shall be valid and subsisting for a period of not more than six months from the date of issuance unless the permittee shall have commenced, within the period so limited, the electrical construction work authorized by such permit. Electrical construction work commenced, for the purpose of this section, shall mean the beginning of electrical construction work other than the preparation of plans or the letting of an electrical contract.

(Code 1991)

Whenever an application for a electrical permit is made, the chief building official or the electrical inspector may, if he or she finds it necessary to determine whether electrical construction work described in the application will comply with the laws pertaining to such work, require that the applicant file a written description or drawing of the proposed electrical construction as may be prepared for the purpose. If such drawing or description is insufficient for the purposes of determining whether a permit should be issued, the building official may require the applicant to file complete electrical and engineering plans and specifications for such electrical construction, or any part thereof, as may be necessary for the inspector to determine compliance with this article. The filing of such plans and specifications and the approval thereof in connection with an application for a permit shall not in any way affect the authority of the city to deny or issue a permit, or to inspect any electrical construction work for conformity with this article.

(Code 1991)

A copy of the electrical permit shall be kept on the premises for public inspection during the performance of the work and until the completion of the same. The electrical inspector may require a certified copy of the approved plans to be kept on the premises at all times from the commencement of the work to the completion thereof.

(Code 1991)

Nothing herein contained shall prohibit any property owner from personally performing any electrical construction or installing electrical wiring or equipment within and upon his or her own residence and intended for his or her personal use and permanent occupancy; provided, the owner shall satisfy the electrical inspector as to his or her ability to perform such work or install such electrical wiring, secure a permit, pay required fees, do work in accordance with this article, and apply for an inspection and receive a certificate of approval. Personal electrical construction or installation performed by an owner under this section shall be by himself, herself, for himself or herself on his or her own residence, without compensation and no person shall be employed to assist him or her in any way on such work except an electrician or electrical contractor licensed by the city.

(Code 1991)

No electric materials for wiring of appliances or equipment shall be installed in the city unless they are in conformity with the provisions of this article and with the approved standards of construction for safety to life and property. Conformity of materials for wiring appliances and equipment to the standards of the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. shall be prima facie evidence that the materials, devices, appliances and equipment comply with the requirements of this article.

(Code 1991)

This article shall not be construed to relieve from or lessen the responsibility or liability of any party owning, operating, controlling or installing any electrical equipment for damages to persons or property caused by any defect therein, nor shall the city be held as assuming any such liability, by reason of the inspection or reinspection authorized herein, or the certificate of approval of any work or equipment authorized herein or by reason of any permit or license granted herein.

(Code 1991)

If any section of the National Electrical Code or of this article shall be held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, then such section shall be considered separate and apart from the remaining provisions of the National Electrical Code or of this article, the section is to be completely severable from the remaining provisions which shall continue in full force and effect.

(Code 1991)

(a)   An electrician or electrical contractor for purposes of this article shall be any person, firm, co-partnership, corporation, association, or any combination thereof, whether a resident or not of the city:

(1)   Who or which undertakes with or for another, for a fixed sum, price, fee or any other compensation to install, construct, alter, repair, add to, or move any electrical installation or performs any electrical construction work in the city, for which an electrical construction permit may now or hereafter be required by the laws of the city; or

(2)   Who or which advertises or represents himself, herself, or itself to the public to have the capacity or ability to undertake, or submit a bid or offer to install, construct, alter, repair, add to, remove, restore or replace any electrical installation or perform any electrical construction work; or

(3)   Who or which installs, constructs, alters, adds to or removes any electrical installation or performs any electrical construction work either on his or her own or other property for purposes of sale or speculation.

(b)   An electrician or electrical contractor as defined shall not mean or include:

(1)   Any owner or his or her authorized agents or employees making ordinary repairs to his, her or its own building or structure not involving electrical construction and for which a permit is not required or on which an electrician or electrical contractor, as defined, is not required, employed or engaged to perform; or

(2)   Any property owner personally performing any improvements, alterations or electrical construction within or upon his or her own residence and intended for his or her own personal use and permanent occupancy; provided, the owner shall satisfy the electrical inspector as to his or her ability to perform such work, secure a permit, pay required fees, do work in accordance with this article, and apply for an inspection and receive approval. Personal electrical construction by an owner under this section shall be by himself, herself, for himself or herself on his or her own residence, without compensation and no person shall be employed to assist him or her in any way on such work except an electrician or electrical contractor licensed by the city.

(Code 2010)

(a)   Each electrician or electrical contractor shall before entering upon any electrical construction work subject to regulation by city laws, apply to the city clerk for an electrician’s or electrical contractor’s license and receive the same as hereinafter provided and have in his or her possession a valid license authorizing him, her or it to engage in the trade or occupation of electrician or electrical contractor in the city.

(b)   No permit for any electrical construction work shall be issued for any such work to be performed by an electrician or electrical contractor, as defined, who has not first obtained a license upon making a proper application and payment of the license fee as required.

(c)   It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, company, association or corporation to enter into a contract or agreement with another so as to bring himself, herself, or itself under the definition of an electrician or electrical contractor herein, or to perform any work as an electrician or electrical contractor or any work under a contract for any work involving electrical construction, without first having obtained an electrician’s or electrical contractor’s license issued by the city.

(Code 2010)

Application for an electrician’s or electrical contractor’s license shall be made upon a form to be supplied by the city which shall disclose the name of the applicant, his or her place of business in the city (and home office if a nonresident), the kind of contracting work engaged in, the length of time engaged in such work and places where work has been performed within the past two years. The application shall be signed by the electrician or electrical contractor or his or her authorized agent. The applications shall be subject to the approval of the chief building official and thereafter referred to the governing body at its next meeting for action thereon. Such license shall be issued by the city clerk, upon payment of the fees hereinafter provided after approval of the governing body. All applicants for an electricians or an electrical contractors license shall possess an equivalent license issued by a city of the first class or city of the second class in Kansas, an equivalent certificate or license from the State of Kansas, or shall have passed appropriate examination given by Block and Associates Construction Examination Services.

(Code 2010)

(a)   It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to contract for any kind of work covered by this article without having a valid license issued by the county or state to perform such contacts.

(Code 2010; Ord. 2023-07)

An electrician or electrical contractor must procure and maintain a liability insurance policy in the amount of $100,000 for the death or injury of any one person and $300,000 for the death or injury of any number of persons in any one accident and $50,000 for property damage in any one accident. Such policies of insurance shall be issued by some insurance company authorized to do business in the State of Kansas. An electrician or electrical contractor may qualify as to the insurance requirements by filing a certificate with the city clerk executed by the resident agent of such company stating that the required policy of insurance has been issued by such company for the purpose required by this article and that such insurer will not cancel the policy except upon giving 30 days notice in writing to the city; and that the certificate shall be filed for an annual period beginning January 1 and ending December 31 of such year.

(Code 2010)

(a)   The license of any electrician or electrical contractor may be suspended temporarily, for a period of not to exceed 30 days at any one time, by the chief building official upon his or her own motion or upon a complaint of the city electrical inspector. Notice shall be given in writing to such electrician or electrical contractor giving reasonable notice of a time of hearing of the complaint or the matter alleged against such electrician or electrical contractor involving any one or more of the following:

(1)   Misrepresentation of a material fact by applicant in obtaining a license;

(2)   Use of license to obtain an electrical permit for another;

(3)   Failure or neglect to observe conditions of permit authorizing encumbering of streets or sidewalks for safety of public;

(4)   Performance of any electrical construction work without a permit where one is required by law; or

(5)   Willful disregard of any violation of the electrical construction laws, or failure to comply with any lawful order of the city electrical inspector.

(b)   Any licensee may within 15 days appeal in writing to the governing body from any order of the chief building official suspending his or her license for its final decision thereon. The governing body may upon such hearing terminate such suspension within not more than 30 days thereafter, or may revoke such license. If any license shall be revoked, the electrician or electrical contractor shall not be eligible for a new license during a period of six months thereafter. No fee shall be refunded in event of the suspension or revocation of any electricians or electrical contractor’s license.

(c)   It shall be unlawful to engage in the occupation or trade of electrician or electrical contractor during the time any license of such electrician or electrical contractor has been suspended or revoked.

(Code 2010)