Vestavia Hills, AL Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

Code of Ordinances § 5-141 adopts the 2020 National Electrical Code as the electrical code of the City of Vestavia Hills, governing design, construction, installation, alteration, repair and maintenance of electrical systems, with copies on file at the city clerk's office, the Vestavia Hills Library and the Department of Building Safety. The section then adds local requirements. Item (5), Electrical Permit Required, bars anyone from installing, altering or repairing wiring, devices or equipment for electrical energy without first applying to the Department of Building Safety and obtaining a permit.

Item (4), Qualification of Electricians, requires anyone doing non-exempt wiring work to show the Building Official sufficient evidence of competence, defined as a master electrical license from the State of Alabama. Item (1) exempts only minor repairs and certain low-voltage or utility-regulated installations from the permit requirement. Item (6) requires copper wiring throughout a structure, including range, washing machine and dryer circuits, with an exception allowing aluminum conductors only from the meter socket to the panel. Item (7) separately mandates emergency backup power, capable of running life-safety systems such as fire alarms, exit lighting and elevator egress, in new retirement and assisted-living buildings and in Institutional Group I-1 through I-4 and independent senior-living R-2 occupancies, with existing such buildings brought into compliance within three years under the section adopted by Ordinance No. 2080 effective March 7, 2005. These provisions were adopted by Ord. No. 2329 (3-22-10) and updated by Ord. No. 3070 (12-20-21).