13.4 Permits, Inspections, Class A & Class B Work, and Plan Review

Why this section matters

Permit and inspection questions are among the most practical items on the WA Codes section. The rules are in Part C of WAC 296-46B. Tab -900 (plan review), -901 (permits, inspections, corrections), and -908 (Class B).

When a permit is required (WAC 296-46B-901(7))

An electrical work permit is required to install, alter, or maintain all electrical systems or equipment, except:

• travel trailers;
• Class A basic electrical work, which is like-in-kind replacement of items such as lamps; a single set of fuses; a single battery smaller than 150 amp-hours; contactors, relays, timers, starters, or circuit boards; one household appliance; circuit breakers; single-family residential luminaires and line-voltage smoke or CO alarms; up to five snap switches, dimmers, receptacles, thermostats, heating elements, or ballasts/drivers; and one motor of 10 hp or less. Class A also covers gate induction loops, heat cable repair, embedding listed heat mats, and disconnecting circuits so equipment can be removed;
• certain exempt low-voltage systems: thermocouple circuits; residential garage door and built-in vacuum circuits; and underground sprinkler, landscape lighting, and pet-fence antennas powered by listed Class 2 supplies, with conditions.

Telecommunications: a permit is required for projects of more than 10 outlets, for all backbone work, and for work that penetrates fire barriers or passes through hazardous locations. Telecommunications work inside individual dwelling units needs no permit (WAC 296-46B-901(8)).

Buying and posting the permit

Inspections

• Request timing: no later than three working days after the installation is complete, or one working day after any part is energized, whichever comes first (WAC 296-46B-901(9)(a)).
• After-hours, weekend, or short temporary jobs (energized less than 48 hours): contact the inspection supervisor at least three working days ahead. Portal-to-portal fees apply.
• No inspection until all fees are paid (WAC 296-46B-901(10)).
• Access at inspection: wiring must be accessible for visual inspection. The only exception is not more than 8 feet of service-entrance conduit in the foundation of a one- or two-family dwelling or residential outbuilding (WAC 296-46B-010(4)).
• Rough-in cover inspection: all required equipment grounding conductors in concealed cable or flexible conduit must be installed and made up (WAC 296-46B-010(5)). Framing, plumbing, and ducting must be complete in the area. Before an exterior wall is covered, either the building inspector has passed the shear-panel nailing, or wiring and boxes are at least 2-1/2 inches from the exterior face of the framing, or they are protected by 1/16-inch steel plates (WAC 296-46B-010(6)).
• Open trenches: request the inspection in writing at least two working days ahead (WAC 296-46B-010(20)).

Covering or concealing work before inspection is a civil infraction: $250, then $1,000, then $2,000 (WAC 296-46B-915(9)).

Corrections

When an installation doesn't comply, the owner or operator is notified and must make the corrections within 15 days, or a longer reasonable time granted on request (RCW 19.28.101(3)). WAC 296-46B-901(15) says 15 calendar days and posts correction notices electronically with the permit's inspection results. Missing the deadline costs $250, then $1,000, then $2,000 (WAC 296-46B-915(10)).

Class B random-inspection labels (WAC 296-46B-908)

Class B labels let qualified entities do small jobs without a full permit. The work is inspected at random.

Who may use them: licensed electrical or telecommunications contractors, and health care, commercial, or industrial facilities using certified electrician employees with the chief electrical inspector's written permission.

Rules:

• The label must be validated in L&I's online Class B system and the label or number posted before work begins, at the main service or feeder location or on the equipment.
• Labels are sold in blocks and are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
• A separate label is needed for each type of work item. No more than two labels per week per job site.
• Work must be finished within 15 days of validation. In a one- or two-family residence, a label stays valid 120 days if the purchaser does all the work.
• Inspections are random. If an inspection finds corrections, a progress inspection fee is charged.

Class B work includes (WAC 296-46B-908(10)):

Class B is never allowed in Class I, II, III, or Zone locations; in areas covered by NEC 517 or 680; on work that needs plan review; or on fire alarm, nurse call, lighting control, industrial automation or control, or energy management systems (WAC 296-46B-908(11)).

Electrical plan review (WAC 296-46B-900)

• Required for new or altered electrical projects in educational, institutional, and health or personal care occupancies as defined in the WAC, with limited exceptions (low-voltage systems, lighting-only or HVAC retrofits with no load increase, small modifications at or below 400 A and 250 V, and similar).
• Plans must be submitted and accepted before work begins. L&I gives a preliminary review within seven business days. No inspection proceeds on a rejected plan.
• Plans for educational facilities, hospitals, and nursing homes must be prepared by or under a Washington-registered engineer and stamped.
• Outside plan review, a nondwelling service or feeder larger than 400 A or over 600 V needs a signed one-line diagram on site before the first inspection can be approved (WAC 296-46B-215(2)).