New home const

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Don Corey

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Tonkawa,OKLA
I know it's in the book but can't fine it.My question is,can a home owner do his own wiring from the meter box and his house,or does he have to have a license elec do the works. thanks don.
 
If it's "in the book," then the book it's in is not the NEC.

The ability of non-licensed persons to perform electrical installation work in their own homes is a matter of local law. Some states allow it, others do not.

To that I will add that if a non-licensed person wanted to do electrical installation work at home, that person would not be permitted to seek information and advice from this Forum.
 
In Massachusetts a property owner may do electrical work on that property.

As the inspector I refuse to issue a permit or inspect the work.
 
Romeo,

In Utah a homeowner is permitted to do electrical on their own home as well, but I am obligated by law to issue a permit and inspect the work just as if a contractor is pulling the permit. The home owner must fill out an owner/builder certificate and submit it to the building department with the appropriate permit documents, and fees.

In Massachusetts, does the law require that the homeowners work be inspected, and permitted?

Chris
 
I can't speak for all areas that allow HO's to do their own work but any that I know of require permits and inspections the same as if a contractor were doing it.

Some areas require a HO to take and pass a competency test based on the NEC and local codes before he is allowed to do his own work.

-Hal
 
Most places allow a HO to do anything to his own home that a licensed professional is allowed to do. however, this is a local issue. In NJ, a HO can do electrical, plumbing, etc. There are only a few small exceptions. For example, I believe the refrigerant line on a central air unit must be brazed by a licensed person.
 
In Massachusetts a property owner may do electrical work on that property.

As the inspector I refuse to issue a permit or inspect the work.
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How does that work? The law permits the HO to do the work, but you are not required to inspect it if you don't want? Just seems rather odd. Do you work for a government body or a private inspection agency?
 
romeo said:
In Massachusetts a property owner may do electrical work on that property.

As the inspector I refuse to issue a permit or inspect the work.
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Really. I can understand how you might "discourage" home owners by "enthusiastically" inspecting their work and burying them in red tags when you can, but how do you manage to prevent them from performing a legal activity?

In this area a HO can obtain a permit to perform their own work. Electrical requires a separate permit over and above a building permit. All work requires an inspection, and the HO must do it themselves or contract with a licensed and insured entity. No pulling your own permit and then paying a handyman to do the work.
 
I have done 3 - 4 day churches in oklahoma but all where on indian reservations and were permit exempt.Here homeowners can pull any residential permit a contractor can and as long as it passes it`s all good.Most inspectors will go out of thier way to assist them for the most part.Now contractors that should know better to them they are fair game $$$$$$$$$ :twisted:
 
This forum does not give advice to persons not in the trade, that is a good thing. When inspecting HO wiring the inspector becomes an instructor, expected to explain the NEC and almost do layout work for the HO. That is doing just what this forum discourages.

The HO wants an inspection to place the resposability of the work on the inspector so he can sleep nights thinking that all is well. By refusing to inspect I take that away and encourage the hiring of a contractor.

MGL Chapter 143, Section 31 reads in part No person shall install FOR HIRE any electrical wiring without giving notice to the inspector of wires. Said notice shall be given by a permit application. It also reads in part the inspector of wires shall within five days give notification of apporval or disapproval of said work.

The key word is FOR HIRE. The reason HO are allowed to do the work is because they are not being paid and not working FOR HIRE. As I see it the chapter only requiers me to inspect work being done by persons doing it for hire.

I believe it has been challenged at the State level and the inspector has won the argument.
 
Another member here, John E is also a MA inspector and recently filled me in on this.

I was alway under the impression that homeowners in MA had to pull permits and get inspections, I thought that for 20+ years.

It turns out that was entirely wrong it is as Romeo explained.
 
electrofelon said:
In Massachusetts a property owner may do electrical work on that property.

As the inspector I refuse to issue a permit or inspect the work.
Click to expand...

How does that work? The law permits the HO to do the work, but you are not required to inspect it if you don't want? Just seems rather odd. Do you work for a government body or a private inspection agency?
Click to expand...

If I understand correctly he is not stopping them from doing the work. He just will not inspect it, he is not required to.

I guess he could if he wanted but how can you 'fail' a job that did not require a permit and inspection in the first place?

MA inspectors work for the City or Town(s) Govt.
 
Here we will allow the homeowner to wire his own place.

It helps to thin the herd, if you know what I mean..............

The scary thing is he does not even realize he does not know or care that he does not know......
 
Refusing to issue a permit or inspect but legal to do it,LOL now thats a real smart state that i am glad i dont live in.Seems it would be easier to just bypass your licensing.Save money and and no inspections to fail.That could only happen up north.Wow ,what logic. :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
Jim say what you will, I am quite happy to be where I am. I happen to like four distinct seasons. 8)

I can not 'bypass' my licesing unless I want to work for free and I am not ready to give up my high wages. :p

Yes the way the current law is written left a gapping hole that could allow a slum lord to wire a multifamily apartment as long as he was not 'doing it for hire'.

The law is old and there are people trying to change it.

I am sure MA is not the only state that has some badly written regulations. :wink:
 
I happen to like four distinct seasons.
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Sounds nice, where I am at in northern Utah, we have two seasons, winter, and summer. Yesterday it snowed 3 inches here. :(

Thanks for the information on the homeowners laws in Mass, I found it very interesting that you don't inspect homeowners electrical jobs.

Chris
 
I have deleted a post that included an uncomplimentary comment with regard to the IBEW. I also deleted two posts that quoted the first and that criticized the poster.

Discussions of union versus non-union are not permitted on this Forum, by specific direction of the Forum owner. We are not going there.
 
In CA a home owner may pull a permit for anything.

A Commercial/industrial building owner, though, may not.

Tis better to have inspected and failed than never to have inspected at all.
 
romeo said:
In Massachusetts a property owner may do electrical work on that property.

As the inspector I refuse to issue a permit or inspect the work.
Click to expand...
Doesnt this open the door to unlicensed handymen ?Home owner just says go away mr inspector i did it myself and you cant even look at it.
 
In my muni HO can and does pull own permit and gets inspected. 5 miles away in another muni, HO can not do own electrical work. Must be licensed. Another muni, no licensing requirements at all. Resi, Comm, Industrial can all pull own permits; most don't but are allowed by the Village rules.
 
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