4-2-2004
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Permit Clarification

My good friend, Jim Kendall, made a respectable and appreciated effort in the March edition at addressing the rather confusing issue of when electrical work permits are required and who is authorized to perform specific electrical work in both commercial and residential applications.

To clarify a few key issues, I wish to submit the following:

  • A business/homeowner is indeed allowed by law to perform electrical work without hiring a licensed contractor as long as it is their place of business or residence. A property owner (land lord) renting or leasing space to a tenant is not allowed to perform electrical work (unless they are a licensed electrical contractor as well).

  • The same business or home owner can also perform specific electrical work without a permit, but only if it entails the “like-in-kind replacement” of circuit breakers, fuses, lamps, snap switches, receptacle outlets, heating elements, light fixtures and ballasts, contactors and relays, timers, motor starters, similar control components, thermostats, residential telecommunications systems and commercial systems under 10 outlets, small appliance components, and small motors (under 10 HP).

  • The same business or home owner who lawfully draws a permit for electrical work (other than that described above) can only perform the specific work the permit is drawn for. If, for example, an owner draws a permit to upgrade his electrical service panel and later hires an electrical contractor to help, the electrical contractor is obligated by law to draw another permit to perform the work, even though the authorized owner has already drawn a related permit. The electrical contractor can not work off the owner’s or other electrical contractor’s permits.

  • An electrical permit is always required to be acquired and posted on site prior to starting the related work.

   I hope this information helps the readers (and Jim) form a better understanding of when a permit is required by law and when a licensed electrical contractor should be called upon to perform specific work. When in doubt, contact the local Labor & Industries office at 415-4000.

Ron House
West Sound Electric, Inc.
Bremerton