Our city council is considering an ordinance that would allow homeowners to pull permits for DIY electrical work in their residence. The rationale is that they’re doing it anyway, so why not get it inspected afterward? This is the same city council that buys property for $100,000 and then sells it to a developer for $1.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Fine Homebuilding's editorial director has some fun news to share.
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
Electrical ordiance is not new.
Electric fuses for explosives have been in use for a long time.
About DIY electrical a vast majority of the areas allow HO to do there own work.
A few place do require them to take a basic test.
Unenforceable laws are generally a bad idea. My guess is the new ordinance won't see a much higher compliance rate than the old one did.
It sounds like a good idea. Homeowners who wish to work on their own home should be able to do it legally, and be required to do it safely for the sake of the occupants and all future owners.
allow homeowners to pull permits for DIY electrical work in their residence. The rationale is that they're doing it anyway, so why not get it inspected afterward? This is the same city council that buys property for $100,000 and then sells it to a developer for $1.
ALLOW? it's my frigg'n house or building... if it's mine I d%^m sure should be able to work on it... I fight city hall every time... stupid but... right is right... so far i've won... but it's not cheap...
This is the same city council that buys property for $100,000 and then sells it to a developer for $1.
then buys a building permit... hires people like are on this board builds a building... starts a business hires/employs people who pay taxes... invests a million or more into the property now pays tax on the property... sounds like a wise city council for a 100k investment... they now have a million+ on the tax roll... maybe 20 new jobs... one building usually spurs more...
have'n been on the good end of deals like this... it's usually good for everyone but the news usually likes to blast councils for make'n investments in the city... or blast'n em for "why are all the jobs going out of town"
pony
A sense of home ownership and lifelong association with a property is a good thing. I suppose a long time ago people tended to more buy a house and live in it for generations. Screwed up trade work mostly maimed those in the family. The general public remained blissfully unaware and unconcerned.Things have changed. 'Your' house often becomes 'our' problem in just a few weeks. Some people make it a regular game plan. Buy a down and out house. Cobble it together with spit and duct tape and flip it for big money to unsuspecting buyers. Often with the collusion of a home inspector whose spontaneous blindness and ignorance can be triggered by the sight of a few Benjamins.This then becomes a blight and liability to the locality who often have to pay for increased fire services, rescues and police as the house becomes a center for the entire neighborhood going south. Injured parties get their medical cost paid for by the state. Happens all the time. Like it or not local and state governments have had to address this issue. Allowing, shooting for demanding, homowners to get inspections is an attempt to deal with this issue and limit the liabilities the authorities are forced to accept.
this is not a code issue but a home owner assoc issue.... bought a spec house in 2001, the back deck was completly closed in with railing.....had a door bell at the sliding glass door but no access to the deck. This year decided to open it up and install steps .....only 3 risers......assoc said i needed a plan..... the hell with that..... build them and no one has complained yet. by the way glad i built them.... best steps in the devl with a concrete pad and they dont lean, like the neighbors do
Dan
I have no problem pull'n permits and getting things inspected... but when a city tells me i can't install my own hot water heater or change a light fixture or in my area even run a phone line... i have a problem... I accept the fact that there are those who shouldn't even attempt even the most minor of repairs and should be barred from own'n tools... but that goes for most things... there are those who can... those who think they can... and those who shouldn't even try... I just have a basic problem with laws being made to protect us from ourself... and using the lowest level of person to set the "self" standard...
the average person... is below average.... mark twain
pony
What state are you in? The only one I'm aware of that doesn't allow diy electricians is Mass.
Andy
Andy Engel
Senior editor, Fine Woodworking magazine
Other people can talk about how to expand the destiny of mankind. I just want to talk about how to fix a motorcycle. I think that what I have to say has more lasting value. --Robert M. Pirsig
People have reported here that Chicago also doesn't allow DIY electricians. Although that's probably not the town BARMIL is talking about.
And some other IL cities, I think generaly in the Chicago area.
What state are you in?
Good question.
Texas just changed the lisencing law (1 Sep 04), no one but a licenced journeyman or better may contract to perform any electrical work. The current working interpetation is that means line voltage, or connected to line voltage. But, an HO can work on their own house, subject to "reasonable" standards & knowledge, etc. To pull a permit for electrical work still requires (as it has for some time) some sort of electrican's license. So, it's chicken-egg-chicken; or catch-22, depending on your outlook of it.
Seems dumb to have to waste a licensed electrician's time to install a dimmer switch, or to swap out a lamp fixture. Sure, those are things "the average HO" can screw up, too. Kind of seems like it goes against the big boxes' "u can do it" too (had to disappoint some previous customers since September--not a pleasant experience).Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
I haven't had problems doing DIY work in Mass. The two times I did work significant enough to be inspected (bathroom remodel and garage add-on) the inspectors were ok with it. Light fixtures, outlets. fixing stuff messed up before - I usually haven't had them inspect.The bathroom remodel in my town, the inspector was great. He gave me some tips on the one or two errors I had made and was very accomodating. In my dad's town, the inspector was a bit more touchy, but once he saw that I had at least a basic level of competence, he backed off. I passed that inspection with no errors. As usual, there's a big problem with common sense out there. People tackle jobs that are way above them without understanding the basics. Personally, I think the new law is a good idea - it might get some inspectors in the loop a bit more where they can actually stop people from messing things up royally. I wish the guy who had done work in my house before me had some oversight, that's for sure. Well, as long as I keep the batteries charged in the smoke detectors....
i THINK its worse in Switzerland. i saw a show on fire codes and they mentioned the town had a drawing on every home showing where all the elect and piping was and if u wanted to add you had to pay to update the drawing then get the permits etc.Over control
but they claimed needed due to so many common wall buildings
Our town has ordinances that a HO (unless licensed for that trade) can't pull any electrical, plumbing, or HVAC permits on their own houses. They also just passed an ordinance stating that you you can't be an owner/builder. If you want to build yourself a house, a licensed contractor has to do it for you.
Wow! That's draconian. Penalizing the competent for the sins of the not.
AndyAndy Engel
Senior editor, Fine Woodworking magazine
Other people can talk about how to expand the destiny of mankind. I just want to talk about how to fix a motorcycle. I think that what I have to say has more lasting value. --Robert M. Pirsig
Here in LA, as an owner-builder, the city lets me do anything myself, subject to permit and inspection. To qualify as an owner-builder, I have to agree to keep the house and live in it for at least two years after the C of O. This weeds out the quick flip crowd.
My inspector likes owner-builders, because the ones who meet the two year test generally want to do things right and bother to find out how. Your council should consider the track record of owner-builders in other jurisdictions. (I think LA has some kind of fine for selling before the two years are up.)
-- J.S.