From
Rob Ard
Title
Ordinance amending sections of the City of Grand Prairie Code of Ordinances by adopting the 2017 National Electrical Code and modifying building permit fees
Presenter
Steve Norwood, Director of Planning and Development
Recommend Action
Approve
Analysis
To comply with the State HB3329, City Staff proposes eliminating the registration fees for electrical permits and only issue permits to licensed electrical contractors and homeowners. Staff proposes raising the building permit fee for electrical work from $50 to $60. The City of Grand Prairie has recognized that the 2017 National Electrical Code concerning construction, design and safety for buildings, structure, and the necessary infrastructure have been amended and updated. The City staff has worked with North Texas Council of Governments to promulgate amendments to the Codes to make the international codes workable and appropriate in the North Texas area. It is appropriate for the City of Grand Prairie to adopt these revised industry standards for construction in the City,
Financial Consideration
None
Body
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, DELETING SECTION 7-47 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES PERTAINING TO FEES CHARGED FOR ELECTRICAL REGISTRATION, AMENDING SECTION 7-54 OF THE PERTAINING TO BILLING OF PERMITS AND SECTION 7-56 PERMITS FEES TO DO ELECTRICAL WORK, AND AMENDING SECTION 7-67 BY ADOPTING THE 2017 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE BY REFERENCE WITH THE NORTH TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS AND AMENDING SECTION 22.2.16 OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE PERTAINING TO BUILDING PERMIT FEES; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; PROVIDING A CUMULATIVE CLAUSE, A SAVINGS CLAUSE, AND A PENALTY CLAUSE; AND TO BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE, APPROVAL, AND PUBLICATION.
WHEREAS, the City must establish reasonable fees to cover the costs of administration, inspection, publication of notice and similar matters and may charge such fees to applicants for zoning, specific use permits, site plans, subdivision plat approval, zoning amendments, variances, annexation requests, sign permits, building permits, floodplain permits, and other administrative relief; and
WHEREAS, the City staff has reviewed certain fees and determined that the fees currently charged do not adequately cover all the costs, and that such fees are relatively low compared to other similarly situated cities in the North Texas area; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate for the City of Grand Prairie to keep the fees such that they recover the approximate costs of the program and are therefore appropriate for applicants that develop and build within the City; and
WHEREAS, the City staff is also recommending adopting the 2017 National Electrical Code to stay consistent with the State of Texas recommendations and industry standards;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. That the provisions of Section 7-47 of the Code of Ordinances will hereby be deleted from the Code of Ordinances.
SECTION 2. That the provisions of Section 7-54 of the Code of Ordinances relative to Billing for permits shall be amended as follows:
All electrical permit fees and reinspection fees shall Upon approval, building permit fees for electrical work may be billed to the contractor if desired and a statement will be mailed out monthly. Failure to pay such charges as herein provided shall cause the forfeiture of the right of such person, firm or corporation to obtain other permits, request inspections, or otherwise engage in the installation, repair or maintenance of electrical conductors or equipment until such charges are paid. All fees billed shall be considered past due upon sixty (60) days. Homeowners authorized to obtain a permit shall pay at the time of applying for the permit.
SECTION 3. That the provisions of Section 7-56(b) of the Code of Ordinances relative to Permit and Inspection Fees shall be amended as follows:
Sec. 7-56. - Building Permit and inspection fees.
(b) The building permit fee for installation of electrical equipment in all instances shall be as follows:
(1) Minimum fee:
(a) Dwelling ..... $50.00 $60.00
(b) Non-dwelling ..... 50.00 $60.00
(2) Re-inspection ..... 50.00
(3) Services...Rated capacity of service equipment or switch per ampere, each ..... 0.10
(4) Lighting and power circuits:
(a) First 4 circuits ..... 4.00 each
(b) 5 to 50 circuits, each ..... 0.40
(c) All over 50 circuits, each ..... 0.15
(5) Feeders: By rating of the overcurrent device, per ampere ..... 0.10
(6) Fixtures:
First 50 fixtures ..... 2.00
All over 50 fixtures, each ..... 0.05
(7) Current consuming outlets
First 25 outlets, minimum ..... 2.00
26 to 50 outlets, each ..... 0.15
All over 50 outlets, each ..... 0.08
(8) Electric heating, per kilowatt ..... 0.75
(9) Water heater circuit ..... 4.00
(10) Neon or cold cathode transformers, each ..... 20.00
(11) Electric sign circuits, per circuit ..... 4.00
(12) Temporary poles or service (unless included in a building validation process), each ..... 30.00
(13) Domestic range circuit, each ..... 4.00
(a) Circuit burner top, each ..... 4.00
(b) Circuit oven, each ..... 4.00
(14) Electric dryer circuit, each ..... 4.00
(15) Air conditioner:
Up to 5 tons ..... 4.00
>5 to 7.5 <https://library.municode.com/tx/grand_prairie/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH7.5SPEV> tons ..... 6.00
over 7.5 <https://library.municode.com/tx/grand_prairie/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH7.5SPEV> tons ..... 10.00
(16) Transformers, each ..... 10.00
(17) Motors:
(a) 1 H.P.-3 HP ..... 2.00
(b) >3-5 hp ..... 4.00
(c) >5-7 HP ..... 6.00
(d) >7.5 HP ..... 10.00
For any inspection not herein prescribed, a minimum charge of twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be paid for each inspection.
(The remainder of Section 7-56 shall remain in full effect.)
SECTION 4 - That the provisions of Section 7-67 of the Code of Ordinances relative Adoption of the National Electrical Code shall be amended as follows:
Sec. 7-67. - National Electrical Code-Adopted by reference.
(a) The rules and requirements of the NFPA 70, known as the National Electric Code, 2014 2017 Edition, together with the recommended amendments of the North Central Texas Council of Governments incorporated herein as if set out in full, as hereinafter amended, is hereby adopted as the Electrical Code of the City of Grand Prairie. One (1) copy of such National Electrical Code is incorporated herein by reference and shall have been filed for permanent record and inspection in the office of the city secretary.
(b) Any person, firm or corporation that violates the provisions or terms of the code or amendments that are adopted by reference in subsection (a) of this section shall be subject to a fine for each offense in accordance with section 1-8 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Grand Prairie.
SECTION 5 - That the provisions of Section 22.2.16 of the Unified Development Code Fee Schedule as follows be amended as follows:
Sec. 22.2.16 Inspection Building Permit Fees for:
|
Electrical or Mechanical Inspection Fee |
$50 |
|
Plumbing Inspection Fee |
$60 |
|
Electrical Fee |
$60 |
SECTION 6. Severability.
If any article, section, sub-section, sentence or phrase of this Ordinance should be held to be invalid for any reason whatsoever, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining portions of this Ordinance which shall remain in full force and effect and to this end the provisions of this Ordinance are declared to be severable.
SECTION 7. Cumulative Clause.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances not consistent or conflicting with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed. Provided 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 in this Ordinance.
SECTION 8. Governmental function
That all of the regulations provided in this ordinance are hereby declared to be governmental and for the health, safety, and welfare of the general public. Any member of the City Council or any City official or employee charged with the enforcement of this ordinance, acting for the City of Grand Prairie, Texas, in the discharge of his or her duties, shall not thereby render himself or herself personally liable; and he or she is hereby relieved of all personal liability for any damage that might occur to persons or property as a result of any act required or permitted in the discharge of his said duties.
SECTION 9. Penalty Clause
Any person, firm, association of persons, company, corporation, or their agents, servants, or employees violating or failing to comply with any of the provisions of this article shall be fined in an amount not to exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000.00), and each day any violation of noncompliance continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. The penalty provided herein shall be cumulative or other remedies provided by state law, and the power of injunction as provided in V.T.C.A. Local Government Code Section 54.016 and as may be amended, may be exercised in enforcing this article whether or not there has been a complaint filed.
SECTION 10. Effective Date
This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication as provided by law.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS ON THIS THE 1ST DAY OF AUGUST, 2017.