Joliet, IL Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

Sec. 8-211 adopts the National Electrical Code/2014 Edition by reference, along with all of its regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms, as if fully set out in the city's own code. The city strikes two pieces of the national code: Article 90 (Administration and Enforcement) is removed entirely, and Article 210 Section 210.12(a) and (b), covering arc-fault circuit interrupter protection on branch circuits, is removed as well. Because a building permit alone does not cover electrical work, Sec. 8-34 requires a separate permit before installing or altering any electrical equipment regulated by Chapter 8, filed in writing with the inspector before work starts.

Electrical contractors performing this work must also be registered with the city under Division 2 of Article III (Sec. 8-217), which requires registration as an electrical contractor before engaging in that business in Joliet, with a reciprocity exception for contractors already registered for the current year in another Illinois city or village. Sec. 8-211(a)(3) sets the enforcement mechanism directly in the electrical article: a person who fails to comply with the National Electrical Code or its local amendments, fails to carry out an order issued under it, or violates a condition attached to a permit, approval or certificate is punished as prescribed by law and under Sec. 1-8 of the Code. Sec. 8-211(a)(4) makes clear that fines do not preclude the city from asking the city's legal counsel to pursue court action to restrain, correct or abate the violation, and that administrative notices seeking voluntary compliance are not themselves the start of a prosecution.