Hawthorne, CA Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- 2022 California Electrical Code (CEC)
- Legal basis
- Govt. Code §§ 50020, 50022.1-.10
- Service conduit
- 1-1/2 in. rigid galvanized steel min.
- 100-amp exception
- 1-1/4 in. conduit allowed
- Conductors
- Copper required (§15.28.040)
- Adopting ordinance
- Ord. 2239 § 8, 2023
Summary
Hawthorne wires every building to the 2022 California Electrical Code, adopted by reference under Hawthorne Code § 15.28.010, and layers on local amendments requiring copper conductors, underground service laterals for new construction, and a minimum 1-1/2 inch rigid galvanized steel service conduit.
Pursuant to the provisions of Sections 50020, and 50022.1 to 50022.10, inclusive of the Government Code of the state ... the rules, regulations, provisions, and conditions set forth in those certain codes entitled "2022 California Electrical Code" ("CEC"), including the annexes and tables therein contained, promulgated and published by the National Fire Protection Association of Quincy, Massachusetts and the California Building Standards Commission ... are hereby established and adopted as the rules, regulations, standards, provisions, and conditions to be observed and followed in the installation, arrangement, alteration, repair, use, and operation of electrical wire connections, fixtures, and other electrical appliances ... said code with its annexes and tables ... is hereby established and adopted by reference, and the same shall be designated, known, and referred to as the "electrical code" of and for the city.
Full Breakdown
10; a filed copy sits with the city clerk. Hawthorne layers several local amendments onto the CEC. 020 amends Section 230-30(A) to require new main and accessory buildings to run electrical, telephone, and cable service laterals underground, and requires existing buildings undergoing repairs or expansion exceeding 50 percent of building value to convert to underground service as well; the Building Official can grant a written waiver where topography or soil makes underground service impractical, subject to installing conduit for future conversion. 030 amends Section 230-62 to set a minimum service-entry conduit of 1-1/2 inches, rigid galvanized steel, except a 100-amp service may use 1-1/4-inch conduit.
15(B)(16) through (21). All of these amendments were adopted together under Ordinance 2239, Section 8, in 2023. The Electrical Code sits alongside seven other 2022 model codes Hawthorne adopted in the same 2023 omnibus update, including the Building Standards, Administrative, Mechanical, Energy, Plumbing, Historical Building, Existing Building, Residential, and Green Building Standards Codes, all administered by the same building and safety department under Title 15.
Violations & Fines
The building and safety department enforces the Electrical Code through the same Title 15 mechanism as the rest of the building codes: under Section 15.75.010 the director withholds permits and certificates of occupancy whenever plan checks or inspections show electrical work will not conform, including the underground-service, conduit, and copper-conductor amendments. Installing or altering wiring without a permit, or against the adopted CEC as locally amended, is a misdemeanor under Section 1.20.010, punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, six months in jail, or both, with each day charged separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hawthorne require underground utility service for new homes?
Can I use aluminum wiring in Hawthorne?
What size conduit does a new electrical service need?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hawthorne
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