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Washington County, UT Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Adopted code
National Electrical Code, State of Utah amended version
Governing section
County Code § 9-1-4
Enforcing office
Washington County building inspector
Appeal body
5-member Board of Building Appeals, 5-year terms
Default penalty
Class B misdemeanor, up to $1,000 fine

Summary

Washington County adopts the National Electrical Code, as amended by the State of Utah, as part of its Building Code under County Code section 9-1-4. Anyone wiring, altering, or repairing electrical systems in the unincorporated county needs a permit from the county building inspector before starting work.

City-specific rules exist: St. George has its own electrical permits rules that differ from Washington County's county-level regulations. If you live in St. George, check the city-specific page instead.

The most recent version adopted by the State of Utah of the following codes and the appendices and the State's amendment are incorporated by reference and adopted as the Building Codes of Washington County: International Building Code including appendix J, International Mechanical Code, International Fuel Gas Code, International Residential Code including appendix J, International Fire Code including appendices A, B, C, and D as amended by the State of Utah, International Energy Conservation Code, International Plumbing Code, National Electrical Code, HUD Code, and the Model Manufactured Home Installation Standard.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-17: Code current through: Ord. 2026-1329-O, passed 8-18-2026).

Full Breakdown

Section 9-1-4 of the Washington County Code adopts by reference the most recent State of Utah version of the National Electrical Code, alongside the International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Fire, Energy Conservation and Plumbing Codes, the HUD Code, and the Model Manufactured Home Installation Standard, as the county's Building Codes. Three copies of each adopted code are kept on file at the Office of the Washington County Clerk for public review. Under section 9-1-7, no building permit, including one covering electrical work performed as part of construction, alteration or repair, can be issued unless the project meets the adopted building codes, the county zoning ordinance, the subdivision ordinance and the groundwater protection ordinance.

Permit, plan review and investigation fees are set in the fee table adopted by the county commission under section 9-1-8, and no certificate of occupancy can be issued under section 9-1-9 until the wiring passes inspection for compliance with the adopted National Electrical Code. The county building inspector administers and enforces the chapter under section 9-1-10, and has no discretion to impose requirements beyond what the adopted codes and county ordinances specify, per section 9-1-11. A property owner who disputes how the building inspector applied the code can appeal to the five-member board of building appeals created under section 9-1-12, whose members serve staggered five-year terms, or appeal in the manner set out in Title 10, Chapter 2, under section 9-1-13.

Violations & Fines

Wiring work performed without the required permit, or work that ignores the adopted National Electrical Code, violates section 9-1-5's ban on constructing, altering or repairing any structure without complying with the adopted codes. Because Title 9 sets no separate penalty, a violation defaults to the county's general penalty clause, section 1-4-1: a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine up to $1,000.00 for an individual.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Washington County require an electrical permit for new wiring?
Yes. Section 9-1-7 bars issuance of any building permit, which covers electrical work, unless it meets the codes adopted in section 9-1-4, including the National Electrical Code as amended by the State of Utah. The county building inspector reviews plans and issues the permit before wiring can begin in the unincorporated county.
Which electrical code edition applies in unincorporated Washington County?
The county adopts whichever National Electrical Code edition the State of Utah has most recently adopted, along with the state's amendments, rather than naming a fixed year in its own ordinance. Three copies of the current adopted code are on file at the Washington County Clerk's office for public inspection.
What happens if electrical work is done without a permit?
It violates section 9-1-5's requirement that all construction and repair comply with the adopted building codes. Since Chapter 1 sets no special penalty, the county's general penalty clause in section 1-4-1 applies: a class B misdemeanor carrying up to six months in jail and up to a $1,000.00 fine.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Washington County

All Washington County rules

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