(a) Required. Except as provided in section 17-1 of this Chapter, no electrical equipment which is subject to the provisions of this Chapter may be installed, repaired or maintained until a permit therefor has been issued by the Department. (b) Application generally. Except as provided in subsection (c), all applications for permits must be in writing and in such form as may be prescribed by the Department. All applications must be signed by a master electrician licensed by the State Board of Electricians except those signed by homeowners under section 17-13(c). Each application must describe the work to be done and the location thereof and must be accompanied by such plans, specifications and schedules as may be necessary to determine whether the installation conforms with the provisions of this Chapter and, if necessary, the provisions of Chapter 8 of this Code. (c) Application for installation of photovoltaic systems. The Director may accept reports and recommendations from qualified and approved photovoltaic system plan review service providers that have demonstrated that the photovoltaic system plans reviewed reliably conform to all requirements of this Chapter. Under this subsection, photovoltaic system includes or incorporates one or more of the following: photovoltaic panels, energy storage, or residential electric vehicle charging systems, and any of their related systems or components. (d) Action on application. The Director must examine or cause to be examined each application, or report and recommendation, for an electrical permit or an amendment to a permit within a reasonable time after the application is filed. If the application or the plans do not conform to all requirements of this Chapter, the Director must reject the application in writing and specify the reasons for rejecting it. If the proposed work conforms to all requirements of this Chapter and all other applicable laws and regulations, the Director must issue a permit for the work as soon as practicable. Before issuing a permit, the person who will perform the work must demonstrate that he or she is qualified to perform the proposed electrical work in a capable manner so as not to endanger the life and property of occupants or neighbors, or property belonging to any public utility. (e) Contents; conformity with permits; conditions; expiration upon noncommencement of work, etc. Each permit must describe with particularity the installation to be done thereunder, and no person may install any electrical equipment other than in accordance with the permit. The permit is a license to proceed with the work and may not be construed as authority to violate, cancel or set aside any of the provisions of this Chapter. Each permittee must perform all electrical services as required by this Chapter and the electrical code and regulations adopted under it. The issuance of a permit does not prevent the Department from thereafter requiring a correction of errors in plans or in installation or of violations of this Chapter and all other applicable laws or ordinances specifically referring thereto. The issuance of any permit is expressly conditioned upon the applicant’s prompt compliance with all stop work orders issued by the Director. All permits expire and are null and void unless the work authorized thereunder is commenced within 180 days from the date of issuance or after commencement of work if more than 180 days pass between inspections; provided, that the Department may upon good cause shown extend a permit one or more times for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days. (f) Repairs exempted. No permit shall be required to repair portable electrical equipment or lighting fixtures, or to repair or replace sockets, receptacles or snap switches, or to make other minor repairs at existing outlets, or to repair motors, or to replace motors with motors of the same nameplate rating. (g) Supervision. It shall be unlawful for any licensee to allow the installation, repair or maintenance of any electrical equipment requiring a permit from the department unless under the immediate and personal supervision of either a licensed master or journeyman.

When necessary to make emergency repairs or replacements to electrical installations, or to make branch circuit extensions for switches, receptacles or the like, incidental to such emergency work, such work may be done without a permit; provided, that the person doing the same must possess all licenses required under Article III of this Chapter and first inform the Department either orally or in writing if the Department’s office is open at the time of such emergency giving the person’s name and address and the address where the work is to be done, the nature thereof and when it is to be started. Such person shall file an application for a permit covering such emergency work on the first business day following the performance thereof.

A temporary permit is required in connection with electrical equipment installed for a temporary use for a period not to exceed 180 days. Such permit may be extended for an additional period of 180 days by the Department.

(a) In addition to the other provisions set forth in this Chapter, whenever the Director determines that electrical services are being prosecuted in violation of the provisions of this Chapter, including those conditions upon which the permit has been issued or in a manner which threatens the safety, health and welfare of the public, the Director may order the work to be immediately stopped. (b) The stop work order described herein must be in writing and served upon the owner of the property involved or the owner’s agent or to the person doing the work. (c) It is unlawful for any person to continue or permit the continuance of work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as the person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition.

The Director may revoke a permit or approval issued under this Chapter in case of any false statement or misrepresentation of fact in the application or on the plans on which the permit or approval was based or in case of any violation of the conditions upon which such permit was issued.