Montebello, CA Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

Chapter 15.24 adopts the 2019 California Electrical Code, based on the 2014 National Electrical Code, as the city's electrical regulations under § 15.24.010, with the building official designated as the electrical safety engineer for the code under § 15.24.040. Section 15.24.110(a) requires a separate electrical permit for each building, structure, system or equipment before any covered work begins, except where the code specifically exempts the work. Subsection (b) requires a separate permit for each building or structure, though R-1 and R-3 residential occupancies may fold in accessory buildings of U occupancy under one residential permit.

Subsection (c) bars a permittee from letting anyone outside the permittee's own employ perform work under that permit. Under § 15.24.130, minor repairs such as replacing lamps, switches, receptacles or sockets, reconnecting portable motors and appliances to existing outlets, temporary theater or television wiring, and low-voltage systems under twenty-five volts and fifty watts do not require a permit. A permit issued under § 15.24.110 expires and becomes void if work does not start within one hundred eighty days, or if work is suspended or abandoned for one hundred eighty days, per § 15.24.120, and a new permit is then required.

The electrical safety engineer may order work stopped under § 15.24.080, disconnect electrical service for uncorrected violations under § 15.24.050, and inspect properties under the right-of-entry procedures of § 15.24.100.