§ 898. Municipal inspection
(a) A legislative body may establish inspection procedures and appoint trained and qualified
municipal inspectors to conduct electrical inspections. If the Commissioner determines
that the inspection procedures and the training and qualifications of the municipal
inspectors are sufficient, the Commissioner may assign the Department’s responsibility
for conducting inspections of electrical installations regulated by the Board within
that municipality to the municipality. An assignment of responsibility under this
section shall not affect the authority of the Commissioner under this subchapter.
If the Commissioner assigns responsibility for municipal inspections under this section,
the Commissioner may exempt all electrical installations within the municipality from
inspection by the State under section 893 of this title. The legislative body may establish reasonable fees for inspections for the purpose
of defraying the cost of the same. Such fees will be in lieu of fees established
under subsection 893(a) of this title.
(b) Work notices, certificates of completion, and energizing permits shall be issued by
municipal inspectors in the same manner and subject to the same conditions that they
are issued by the State electrical inspectors under sections 893 and 894 of this title.
(c) A municipal inspector shall have authority to enter any premises in which an electrical
installation subject to rules adopted under section 891 of this title is being installed, replaced, or repaired for the purpose of making such inspection
as is necessary to carry out his or her responsibilities under this subchapter.
(d)(1) If, after inspection of the electrical installation, a violation of the rules of the
Board is found, a municipal inspector may:
(A) issue an order directing the electrician of record or the owner of the premises in
which the violation is found, to correct or remove the violation;
(B) withdraw validation of the work notice; or
(C) order the owner, any public utility, or any private party furnishing electricity to
such installation to disconnect electrical energy from all or any portion of the electrical
system until the violation is removed or corrected.
(2) A municipal inspector may order any one or combination of these options set forth
in subdivision (1) of this subsection, as necessary to effect compliance with the
Board’s rules.
(e) Acceptance of an assignment of responsibility under this section shall not preclude
a municipality from conducting its own electrical inspection program.
(f) A person aggrieved by a refusal of a municipal inspector to issue a certificate of
completion or by any other action of a municipal inspector or the municipality relating
to this section may appeal to the Commissioner by filing a written application for
a hearing with the Commissioner within 15 calendar days after written notice of such
refusal or action. A person filing an application in accordance with this subsection
shall be entitled to notice and an opportunity for a hearing before the Commissioner
within 45 calendar days. Within 30 calendar days after the hearing, the Commissioner
shall issue an order amending, modifying, or affirming the action by the municipal
inspector or municipality.
(g) The results of all inspections conducted by municipal inspectors under this section
shall be reported monthly to the Commissioner. Reports shall include the date of
inspections, locations of the work inspected, the name and license number of the contractor
performing the work, violations found, orders issued, and the date of any completion
certificates or energizing permits issued.
(h) Municipal inspectors shall participate in training provided by the Department of Public
Safety. The Department shall also provide continuing consultation, review, and assistance
as may be necessary to municipal inspectors.
(i) The Commissioner may revoke an assignment of responsibility to a municipality granted
under this section if the Commissioner determines that the training or qualifications
of the municipal inspectors or the inspection procedures adopted by the legislative
body are insufficient. (Added 1969, No. 284 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; amended 1987, No. 274 (Adj. Sess.), § 10; 2003, No. 141 (Adj. Sess.), § 10b, eff. April 1, 2005; 2019, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 273.)