1. A. An electrical permit must be obtained prior to commencing any work for which an electrical permit is required.
2. Exception: Emergency or unanticipated electrical work may be started under a temporary permit provided the nature of the work, and the procedure followed by the contractor, meet the requirements of ORS 479.550 and OAR 918-309-0080.
3. B. Electrical permits are not required for the following electrical installations:
   1. 1. Work performed under a valid electrical Master Permit (Industrial Plant) Program in accordance with OAR Chapter 918 and Chapter 26.08 of this Title;
   2. 2. Work defined as a minor installation in OAR Chapter 918 for which a minor label has been obtained from the Bureau;
   3. 3. Repair or replacement of light fixtures, light switches, lighting ballast, electrical outlets or smoke detectors in a building used for housing purposes that is owned, leased, managed or operated by a housing authority;
   4. 4. Repair, alteration or replacement of existing electrical products at an industrial plant, a commercial office building, a building that is owned, leased, managed or operated by the state or a local government entity or other facilities designated by the Electrical and Elevator Board when the owner, operating manager or electrical contractor of the facility who meets the provisions of ORS 479.630(1) and (2) obtains a master permit for inspection under ORS 479.560(3).
   5. 5. Replacing light bulbs, fluorescent tubes, or approved fuses, or connecting approved portable electrical equipment to permanently installed and properly wired receptacles;
   6. 6. Experimental electrical work or testing of electrical products in testing laboratories of electric shops, educational institutions, industrial plans, or recognized testing laboratories;
   7. 7. Installing heating, ventilating, air conditioning and/or refrigeration components exempted by OAR 918-261-0020, Exemption for HVAC/R Electrical Components.
   8. 8. Any other work exempted from permit requirements under ORS and OAR.

Applications for electrical permits must be made on forms furnished by the Bureau. For one- and two-family dwellings, the electrical subcontractor inspection sticker will be considered part of the application form. The applicant must provide all information required in a complete and legible manner. The application must be signed by the appropriate person as required by OAR. Permit fees and/or plan review fees must be paid at the time of application. Failure to properly complete the permit application may result in a delay or prevention of permit issuance until required information has been submitted.

Exception:Any jurisdiction’s electrical permit application may be used for temporary permits (see Section 26.04.070) as long as fees are paid in accordance with Title 26.

A permit to perform electrical work in or about a residential or farm building may be issued to the owner of that building, subject to the following conditions:

1. A. All wiring must be installed in accordance with the Electrical Code and this Title.
2. B. All work done under such permit must be performed by the owner or by a member of the immediate family of the owner as defined in the OAR.
3. C. The owner does not intend to sell, exchange, lease or rent the property. If the City Administrator determines that the property is offered for sale, exchange, lease or rent within six months of final approval of permitted work, this will create a rebuttable presumption that the owner intended to offer the property for sale, exchange, lease or rent at the time the permit was issued. In such case the City Administrator may assess a penalty of up to $500.
4. D. If any of the above conditions are not met, the permit may be revoked in accordance with Section 26.04.090.

1. A. Installations requiring Plan Review. Plans and specifications must be submitted to the City Administrator for all complex structures as set forth in OAR 918-311-0040 (1), cert ef. 10-01-06.
2. B. Submittal requirements. When plan review is either required or requested, prior to the issuance of a building permit, two sets of electrical plans and specifications providing the information as prescribed by the City Administrator must be filed with the Electrical Section, Portland Permitting & Development. Plans must be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature and extent of the work proposed.

When the City Administrator finds that the work described in the permit application, plans and specifications and other data filed therewith conforms to all requirements of this Title, that the electrical permit application has been signed as required, and that the specified fees have been paid, the City Administrator may issue an electrical permit to the applicant. All permits issued will be subject to the following conditions:

1. A. Plans, specifications and other data approved at permit issuance may not be altered without the City Administrator’s authorization.
2. B. All work must be done in accordance with approved plans.
3. C. The issuance of a permit and/or approval of plans and specifications will not prevent the City Administrator from thereafter requiring the correction of errors or omissions in plans, specifications, other data, actual electrical work or installations when in violation of this Title or other laws and ordinances.

The permit for an electrical installation requiring plan review will not be issued, nor may work proceed, until the plans are approved by an electrical plan examiner. However, the City Administrator may authorize the issuance of a partial permit before the entire plans and specifications are submitted or approved. Adequate information must be submitted showing the areas of work to be covered by the partial permit and compliance with pertinent portions of the Electrical Code. Applicants will be notified in writing of which portions of the work may proceed and of the conditions under which work may proceed. Issuance of a partial permit, or authorization to commence an installation, will not constitute assurance to the applicant that a permit on the entire installation will be issued, or that corrections will not be required on the portions of the installation granted preliminary authorization.

The City Administrator may issue temporary permits for emergency electrical work or unanticipated electrical work as those terms are defined in and pursuant to OAR 918-309-0080, provided all of the requirements in OAR 918-309-0080 are met. Temporary permits will only be issued to licensed electrical contractors. Temporary permits are valid for seven days.

When work is done under a temporary permit, the permit application and fees must either be received by the Bureau within seven calendar days of the start of work, or, if mailed, be postmarked within seven calendar days of the start of work.

1. A. Permit applications.
   1. 1. Initial permit application. A permit application that is inactive for a period of 180 days will be deemed abandoned. If an abandoned permit application is not reactivated within 180 days of abandonment, the permit application will be void. If a permit application is void, a new permit application is required for the subject work.
   2. 2. Extensions. The City Administrator may extend a permit application for up to 180 days, with justifiable cause, as determined in the City Administrator’s sole discretion. Extension requests must be in writing and must be received by Portland Permitting & Development before the scheduled permit abandonment date.
   3. 3. Reactivations. The City Administrator may reactivate a permit application that has been abandoned for less than 180 days, with justifiable cause as determined in the City Administrator’s sole discretion. Reactivation requests must be in writing and received by Portland Permitting & Development within 180 days after permit abandonment date. If no activity occurs within 180 days after a permit application is reactivated, the permit application will be deemed abandoned. A permit application may be reactivated only once.
2. B. Issued permits.
   1. 1. Initial issued permit. If no inspection is approved within 180 days after permit issuance, the permit will expire. If an expired permit is not reactivated within 180 days of expiration, the permit will be void. If a permit is void, a new permit is required for the subject work.
   2. 2. Extensions. Each time an inspection is approved, the permit will automatically be extended for 180 days. The City Administrator may also extend a permit for a period of up to 180 days with justifiable cause, as determined in the City Administrator’s sole discretion. Extension requests must be in writing and must be received by Portland Permitting & Development before the scheduled permit expiration date. If no inspection is approved within the extended time period, the permit will expire.
   3. 3. Reactivations. The City Administrator may reactivate a permit that has been expired for less than 180 days, provided no changes have been made to the scope of work, and with justifiable cause as determined in the City Administrator’s sole discretion. A void permit may be reactivated provided there have been no changes to the scope of work and only the final inspection remains unapproved. Reactivation requests must be in writing and received by Portland Permitting & Development within 180 days after permit expiration. If no inspection is approved within 180 days of reactivation, the permit will expire. A permit may be reactivated only once.
3. C. Fees. When a new permit is required, a new permit application must be submitted and new fees must be paid based on the current adopted Portland Permitting & Development fee schedule. Portland Permitting & Development will adopt policies for fee refunds or credits of previously submitted permits. Fees for permit extensions and reactivations may also be charged as adopted in the Portland Permitting & Development fee schedule.

The City Administrator may, in writing, suspend or revoke a permit issued under requirements of this Title whenever the permit is issued in error, or on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or in violation of any law, ordinance, or requirement of this Title.