PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS

Omaha Municipal Code ch. 44, art. IV

in effect

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-121 Permit required.

Sec. 44-121. - Permit required. Before proceeding to install, alter, repair, relocate, affix or suspend any electrical wiring, or to install or connect any equipment or apparatus which requires electrical wiring to be installed, affixed or suspended to make the same operable, for either interior or exterior wiring, a permit shall be obtained by an electrical contractor or a master electrician from the electrical official at the permits and inspections division. (Code 1980, § 44-121; Ord. No. 32967, § 1(44-121), 4-20-93)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-122 Homeowner's permit.

Sec. 44-122. - Homeowner's permit. Nothing contained in this chapter shall prohibit a homeowner from obtaining a permit for electrical wiring and performing electrical work on a single-family dwelling of which he/she is the owner and in which he/she resides, if the capability to do such work has been demonstrated by such homeowner to the satisfaction of the chief electrical inspector. Permits must be obtained before the commencement of electrical work, proper fees must have been paid, and all work will be subject to all inspections required in this chapter. For the purpose of this section, electrical wiring and performing electrical work does not include the repair or replacement of the electrical services, panelboards, or feeders, to the home. Only licensed electricians may repair or replace electrical services, panelboards, or feeders. A homeowner who holds an electrical license may repair or replace the electrical service to the home in which he/she owns and resides. (Code 1980, § 44-122; Ord. No. 32967, § 1(44-122), 4-20-93; Ord. No. 37242, § 11, 12-13-05; Ord. No. 38788, § 6, 8-17-10)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-123 Quadruple fees for commencing work without permit.

Sec. 44-123. - Quadruple fees for commencing work without permit. Any person who fails to obtain the necessary permit before starting any work for which a permit is required by the provisions of this article shall, upon being granted a permit for such work, be required to pay quadruple the amount of the regular fees hereinafter set forth. (Code 1980, § 44-123; Ord. No. 33438, § 14, 12-20-94)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-124 Emergency work.

Sec. 44-124. - Emergency work. In the event of any emergency endangering the life, health, safety or property of any person necessitating immediate repairs to any electrical wiring or wiring systems governed by this chapter, the owner or his agent may engage a person qualified by this chapter to do the work without first obtaining a permit hereunder and shall take or cause to be taken immediate emergency action for the protection of life, health, safety and property through such appropriate measures as may be required to cure or remedy the dangerous conditions. Not later than the next succeeding business day such owner or agent shall have a licensed electrical contractor or master electrician apply for a permit as required hereunder. Franchised electric and communication utility corporations shall be exempt from this section. (Code 1980, § 44-124; Ord. No. 32967, § 1(44-124), 4-20-93)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-125 Time limit for commencing and completing work; extension of time limit.

Sec. 44-125. - Time limit for commencing and completing work; extension of time limit. When the operation called for by an electrical work permit shall not have been started within six months, or completed within 30 months after the date of issuance thereof, then such permit shall be void and no operation thereunder shall be started or completed until a new permit shall be obtained by an electrical contractor or a master electrician; provided, however, that the electrical contractor or master electrician shall have, prior to the expiration of six months from the date of such electrical permit, made application to the administrative appeals board for an extension of time thereunder. The administrative appeals board is hereby authorized to grant extensions of time for commencement of wiring operations controlled by electrical permits upon clear and convincing proof of a practical hardship, inadvertent delay in financial arrangements, defects in legal titles, inability to obtain competent workmen, material shortages, or other cogent reasons not due to the fault, negligence or failure to act on the part of the electrical contractor or master electrician. (Code 1980, § 44-125; Ord. No. 32967, § 1(44-125), 4-20-93)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-126 Application for permit.

Sec. 44-126. - Application for permit. (a) Application for permits shall be made to the permits and inspections division on forms prescribed by the division. The application shall contain information such as, but not limited to, the name of the party to whom the permit is to be issued, the exact location by street number, the nature of the work to be done, and the applicant's name and address, together with all stipulations of the permit, if any. (b) Before commencing any new electrical work or modernization of any kind, the electrical official may require plans and specifications in triplicate, together with the wiring diagrams, the plan of construction, the materials and the type of wiring to be used, to be submitted with the application for a permit. (Code 1980, § 44-126)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-127 Review and approval of plans.

Sec. 44-127. - Review and approval of plans. (a) The permits and inspections division shall not issue any permit required by the provisions of this article until the plans and specifications therefor, if required, have been carefully examined and found to be free from any apparent violations of the provisions of this chapter. (b) All plans and drawings for which permits are desired shall be drawn to a scale, on paper or cloth, in ink or by some approved process that will not fade or obliterate. All distances and dimensions shall be accurately figured. The electrical official may require the entire layout of the electrical wiring, together with switches, lighting, power, outlets, panel type, and location for the setting of all electrical equipment or apparatus. (c) All electrical plans shall have marked thereon the name of the architect or engineer and the equipment or apparatus the wiring is intended to serve. (d) When approved the plans shall bear the official stamp of the permits and inspections division and be signed or initialed by the electrical official. Said plans shall be kept on file in the permits and inspections division for a period of three years, after which time they shall be destroyed. (Code 1980, § 44-127)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-128 Alteration of plans.

Sec. 44-128. - Alteration of plans. It shall be unlawful for any person to in any manner alter, erase or modify any line on plans which would result in a substantial change in drawings filed or stamped by the permits and inspections division without the consent of the electrical official. (Code 1980, § 44-128)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-129 Responsibility of owners and agents for compliance.

Sec. 44-129. - Responsibility of owners and agents for compliance. (a) Approval of plans by the permits and inspections division shall not relieve the owner and agent of responsibility of compliance with the terms of this chapter, and the fact that drawings so stamped by the permits and inspections division contain matter contrary to the terms of this chapter shall not be held as a bar to the strict enforcement of this chapter. (b) Neither the owner nor the electrical contractor or master electrician, jointly or severally, shall be relieved of responsibility for compliance with the terms of this chapter until the building or structure has been completed, and the wiring inspected and approved by the electrical official or his assistant. (Code 1980, § 44-129; Ord. No. 32967, § 1(44-129), 4-20-93)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-130 Fee schedule.

Sec. 44-130. - Fee schedule. The following fees shall be charged by the permits and inspection division for the issuance of electrical work permits. The minimum fee on all electrical work shall be $25.00. (a) New residential: (single-family, two-family, and town homes) (1) Temporary pole, each .....$25.00 (2) Pre-connect, each .....25.00 (3) Square foot, each .....00.06 The square foot fee covers installation of all electrical wiring, electrical service, all major appliances, and electric heat. The fee does not include temporary poles or service pre-connects. Square footage is based on total area as determined by the permits and inspection division, to include each level, hallways, stairways, and attached garages, and excluding unattached garages. (b) Commercial, apartments, existing residential, and all other permits: (1) Branch circuits and feeders, each .....2.00 (Includes new, extensions, and working on existing) Exception 1: This fee does not apply to existing circuits on a service panel replacement. (2) Existing electrical service .....20.00 (Includes repairs or working on existing electrical service) (3) New service: ..... 1—100 ampere .....25.00 101—200 ampere .....25.00 201—400 ampere .....65.00 401—600 ampere .....105.00 601—800 ampere .....145.00 801—1,000 ampere .....185.00 Services larger than 1,000 ampere: First 1,000 ampere .....185.00 Each additional 100 ampere .....20.00 (4) Re-connect, each .....25.00 (5) Pre-connect, each .....25.00 (6) Multiple pre-connects at same building: ..... 1—10, each .....25.00 Each additional, each .....10.00 (7) Temporary pole/service, each .....25.00 (8) Outage, each .....25.00 (9) Low voltage, each .....25.00 (10) Re-inspection fee: In case the electrical inspector is required to make more than one trip from their office for the purpose of inspecting any work on account of violation of rules, wrong address, or any other irregularities caused by the contractor or any employee, the following charges shall be paid before the certificate of inspection is issued: (1) First additional trip .....No charge (2) Second additional trip and each additional trip thereafter .....50.00 All permits must include an existing service fee or a new service fee, except for temporary pole/service, outage, and low voltage. (Code 1980, § 44-130; Ord. No. 32838, § 1(44-130), 11-10-92; Ord. No. 33740, § 1, 12-12-95; Ord. No. 34302, § 1, 9-9-97; Ord. No. 35472, § 2, 2-6-01; Ord. No. 35911, § 6, 4-2-02; Ord. No. 38289, § 7, 11-18-08; Ord. No. 38571, § 3, 11-10-09)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-131 Payment of fee prerequisite to issuance of permit.

Sec. 44-131. - Payment of fee prerequisite to issuance of permit. No permit required by the provisions of this article shall be issued until the applicant therefor shall have paid the required fee therefor to the city. (Code 1980, § 44-131)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-132 Copy of plans and permit to be kept at work site.

Sec. 44-132. - Copy of plans and permit to be kept at work site. A copy of the permit issued under the provisions of this article, and of the approved plans or drawings, where required, shall be kept on the job while the work is in progress and accessible at all times to any representative of the permits and inspections division. (Code 1980, § 44-132)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-133 Revocation of permit.

Sec. 44-133. - Revocation of permit. If the electrical work in, upon or about any building or premises shall be conducted in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, the permit for such wiring in connection with which such violation shall have taken place shall be revoked by the electrical official. It shall be unlawful thereafter to proceed with such wiring operations until such permit shall have been reinstated or reissued by the permits and inspections division. Before such reinstatement or reissuance, all provisions of this chapter shall first be complied with, and any work or material applied in violation of this chapter shall be removed. (Code 1980, § 44-133)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-134 Alteration of wiring.

Sec. 44-134. - Alteration of wiring. No wiring or wiring system as governed by this chapter shall be altered or repaired in a building or on any premises which after inspection has been found to be unsafe or unfit for its intended use until permission has been granted for such alteration or repair by the electrical official. (Code 1980, § 44-134)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-135 Deviation from approved plans.

Sec. 44-135. - Deviation from approved plans. It shall be unlawful for anyone to install or have electrical wiring installed which deviates from the plans approved by the electrical official. (Code 1980, § 44-135)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-136 Rough-in inspection—When required; request for inspection.

Sec. 44-136. - Rough-in inspection—When required; request for inspection. After all electrical wiring has been installed and before any interior walls or ceilings are covered with insulation, sheet rock, lath, paneling or other materials, the electrical contractor, master electrician or his authorized representative shall notify the electrical official at the permits and inspections division, requesting a rough-in inspection of the wiring to determine whether all requirements relative to rough-in wiring have been installed to comply with this chapter. (Code 1980, § 44-136; Ord. No. 32967, § 1(44-136), 4-20-93; Ord. No. 35472, § 3, 2-6-01)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-137 Same—Removal of covering placed prior to inspection.

Sec. 44-137. - Same—Removal of covering placed prior to inspection. The electrical official shall have the authority to remove or cause to be removed, at the contractor's or builder's expense, all covering which has been placed over any wiring which has not been inspected and approved in its roughed-in state. (Code 1980, § 44-137)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-138 Same—Standards for rough-in work.

Sec. 44-138. - Same—Standards for rough-in work. All joints must either be soldered and taped or joined by an approved mechanical connector and, where fixtures or devices are to be connected, a single wire tap of not less than six inches in length must be provided. All exposed joint wire ends shall be taped before the rough-in wiring is approved and service connection is made. (Code 1980, § 44-138)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-139 Same—Disapproval.

Sec. 44-139. - Same—Disapproval. Should it be found upon examination of the rough-in work in any building or on any premises that the same or any part of the same does not comply with the provisions of this chapter, the electrical official shall attach to such work a tag or label stating that the work has been inspected and is not approved. Such rough-in work shall not be covered until approval of the same has been obtained. (Code 1980, § 44-139)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-140 Same—Failure to attach tag to unapproved work.

Sec. 44-140. - Same—Failure to attach tag to unapproved work. Failure on the part of the electrical official to attach a tag or label indicating the disapproval of any work shall not be construed as an acceptance by the permits and inspections division of such defective work. (Code 1980, § 44-140)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-141 Same—Approval.

Sec. 44-141. - Same—Approval. If, upon inspection of the rough-in installation, it is found that all provisions of this chapter have been complied with, the electrical official shall affix to such work a tag or label stating that the work has been inspected and approved and may be covered. (Code 1980, § 44-141)

Omaha Municipal Code § 44-142 Request for final inspection.

Sec. 44-142. - Request for final inspection. After all electrical wiring has been installed and all interior walls are covered with insulation, sheet rock, lath, paneling or other approved materials, the electrical contractor, master electrician or his authorized representative shall notify the electrical official, requesting a final inspection of the wiring to determine whether all requirements relative to a final wiring have been installed to comply with this chapter, for permanent power connection. A tag or label stating work has been approved shall be attached to the electrical panel cover. When violations are noted for repairs, a tag or label stating work that has not been approved shall be attached to the electrical panel cover. All repairs must be completed, and a call for reinspection must be received, within 30 days of the date of the tag or label. A tag or label shall not be removed by anyone other than the electrical official. (Code 1980, § 44-142; Ord. No. 32967, § 1(44-142), 4-20-93; Ord. No. 35911, § 7, 4-2-02)

Source: City of Omaha, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ne/omaha/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=OMMUCOCHGEORVOII_CH44EL_ARTIVPEINFetched: 10/28/2026