Kings County, CA Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- 2013 California Electrical Code
- Auto-updates
- 180 days after new edition
- Permit required
- Sec. 5-7, before wiring starts
- Chief electrical inspector
- The building official
Summary
Kings County adopts the 2013 California Electrical Code, minus appendices, as its electrical code for the unincorporated area, with newer triennial editions taking over automatically 180 days after publication.
Excluding appendices thereto, the 2013 edition of the California Electrical Code, as published by the California Building Standards Commission, is hereby referred to, adopted and made a part hereof with the same effect as if fully set forth herein and hereby declared to be the electrical code of the county, and the provisions thereof shall apply to the unincorporated area of the county. Notwithstanding the foregoing, 180 days after the publication of any subsequent triennial edition of the California Electrical Code, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, that subsequent triennial edition of the code shall replace the previous edition of the code as the adopted electrical code for Kings County.
(Ord. No. 567.4, § 1, 8-25-15)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 5-71 adopts the 2013 California Electrical Code as the operative electrical code for unincorporated Kings County, and a separate electrical permit is required under Sec. 5-7 before any wiring work begins. The county doesn't need to pass a new ordinance every code cycle: Sec. 5-71 replaces the adopted edition automatically 180 days after the state publishes each new triennial edition. Sec. 5-1 names the building official as the chapter's chief electrical inspector.
Violations & Fines
Wiring without a permit is prosecuted as an infraction under Sec. 5-2, and starting the work before the permit issues can double the fee under Sec. 5-8, with each day of unpermitted work a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which electrical code does Kings County enforce?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kings County
California rules heatmap·Compare Kings County to another location·View the California building safety overview
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