Chapter 479 — Chapter 479
106 sections in this chapter.
ORS 479.450 [Repealed by 1959 c.406 §34]
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ELECTRICAL SAFETY LAW
ORS 479.510 Short title. ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and 479.995 may be cited as the Electrical Safety Law. [1959 c.406 §1; 1981 c.815 §2]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.520 Purpose. The purpose of the Electrical Safety Law is to protect the health and safety of the people of Oregon from the danger of electrically caused shocks, fires and explosions and to protect property situated in Oregon from the hazard of electrically caused fires and explosions. To accomplish this purpose the Legislative Assembly intends to provide a procedure
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(1) For determining where and by whom electrical installations are being made and where electrical products are sold in this state. (2) To assure the public that persons making electrical installations in this state are qualified by experience and training. (3) To assure the publ…
ORS 479.525 Application of Electrical Safety Law; uniformity. Except as provided in ORS 479.854, the Electrical Safety Law shall be applicable and uniform throughout this state and in all municipalities, and no municipality shall enact or enforce any ordinance, rule or regulation relating to the same matters encompassed by the Electrical Safety Law. [1983 c.580 §3]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.527 [1985 c.826 §2; repealed by 1987 c.874 §1]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.530 Definitions for ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and 479.995. As used in ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and 479.995, unless the context requires otherwise
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(1) “Approved testing laboratory” means a testing laboratory that meets criteria for electrical product evaluation established by the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services with the approval of the Electrical and Elevator Board under ORS 479.730. (2) “Board”…
ORS 479.540 Exemptions; rules. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a person is not required to obtain a license to make an electrical installation on residential or farm property that is owned by the person or a member of the person’s immediate family if the property is not intended for sale, exchange, lease or rent. The following apply to the exemption established in this subsection
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(a) The exemption established for a person under this subsection does not exempt the work performed by the person from having to comply with the requirements for such work under ORS chapter 455 or this chapter and rules adopted thereunder. (b) If the property is a building used a…
ORS 479.545 License required of state employee; letter of authority. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, no person is exempted by ORS 479.540 from the requirements under ORS 479.510 to 479.945 to have a license to make electrical installations solely on the basis the person is employed by an agency of this state
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(2) Any person issued a letter of authority under ORS 479.545 (1985 Replacement Part) may continue to make electrical installations under ORS 479.510 to 479.945 on property owned or controlled by an agency of the state. [1981 c.815 §7; 1985 c.568 §1; 1987 c.414 §34a; 2003 c.14 §3…
ORS 479.550 No work on new electrical installation until permit issued; temporary permit; rules. (1) Except as provided in ORS 479.540, no person shall work on any new electrical installation for which a permit has not been issued
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(2) The Electrical and Elevator Board shall adopt by rule provisions to require a city or a county to issue a temporary permit to be used for emergency or unanticipated work which will be valid for seven days to a licensed electrical contractor prior to the start of an electrical…
ORS 479.560 Issuance of permit; when permit becomes void; master electrical inspection permit; rules. (1) The Department of Consumer and Business Services or a designated agent shall issue a permit to
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(a) Any applicant who has complied with ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and the rules issued thereunder, covering an electrical installation to be made on residential or farm property owned by the applicant or a member of the applicant’s immediate family as allowed under ORS 479.540 (1). …
ORS 479.565 Master individual inspection permits; fee. Notwithstanding ORS 479.560 (3), if a municipality does not elect to provide master electrical inspection permits, the municipality shall, upon request of the owner or operating manager or electrical contractor of the facility otherwise entitled to master permit services under ORS 479.560 (3), issue a master individual inspection permit and provide electrical inspection before any installation is covered or placed into service and charge for the inspection at the municipality’s hourly inspection rate. [1995 c.553 §2]
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Note: 479.565 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 479 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
ORS 479.570 Energizing of electrical installations; rules. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a person who sells electricity may not energize an electrical installation unless the installation is first approved by an inspector authorized to perform inspections under ORS 479.510 to 479.945
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(2) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to: (a) An installation for which a written request to energize has been made by a licensed supervising electrician qualified pursuant to ORS 479.630 (2) and to which the appropriate electrical permit has been attached; (b) A temp…
ORS 479.610 Installation of uncertified electrical product prohibited. Except as provided under ORS 479.540, a person may not install an electrical product in connection with the person’s business unless the product is certified under ORS 479.760. [1959 c.406 §9; 1981 c.815 §12; 1995 c.706 §2; 2003 c.14 §325; 2003 c.299 §4; 2005 c.435 §4]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.620 Certain electrical license required; electrical installations by unlicensed persons prohibited. Subject to ORS 479.540, a person may not
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(1) Without an electrical contractor’s license, engage in the business of making electrical installations, advertise as or otherwise purport to be licensed to make electrical installations or purport to be acting as a business that makes electrical installations. (2) Except as pr…
ORS 479.630 Requirements for obtaining licenses; rules. If a person pays the applicable application fee required under ORS 479.840 and complies with ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and the rules adopted under ORS 455.117 and 479.510 to 479.945, the Department of Consumer and Business Services shall issue
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(1) An electrical contractor’s license to a person engaging in or carrying on a business of making electrical installations. (2) A general supervising electrician’s license to a person who: (a) Passes a written examination prepared by the Electrical and Elevator Board and adminis…
ORS 479.632 Applicant training or experience obtained in another state. Notwithstanding any other provision of ORS 479.510 to 479.945 or any rule adopted by the Electrical and Elevator Board under ORS 455.117, the board may not administer an examination to, and the Department of Consumer and Business Services may not issue any license to, a person whose practical experience qualification for the license is based upon training or experience in another state if the board determines that the training or experience is not equivalent to the standards for electrical training programs prescribed in this state. [2005 c.758 §31]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.633 [1997 c.209 §3; 1999 c.721 §1; repealed by 2005 c.758 §56]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.635 [1981 c.815 §17; 2001 c.728 §9; repealed by 2005 c.758 §56]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.640 [1959 c.406 §12; 1975 c.429 §4; 1977 c.873 §1; 1981 c.815 §18; 1985 c.646 §1; 2003 c.14 §327; repealed by 2005 c.758 §56]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.650 [1959 c.406 §13; 1963 c.151 §2; 1981 c.815 §19; 1985 c.646 §2; 1993 c.744 §122; 2003 c.14 §328; repealed by 2005 c.758 §56]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.655 [1985 c.646 §7; repealed by 1987 c.414 §172]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.660 [1959 c.406 §14; 1971 c.753 §20; 1977 c.322 §1; 1981 c.815 §20; 1993 c.744 §123; 2003 c.14 §329; repealed by 2005 c.758 §56]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.670 Maintenance of action or suit by unlicensed person prohibited. Except to appeal from an act or determination of the Electrical and Elevator Board, no person carrying on, conducting or transacting business regulated by ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and 479.995 is entitled to maintain a suit or action in the courts of this state involving such business or work in connection therewith, without alleging and proving that the person was licensed to perform such work or transact such business. [1959 c.406 §15; 1971 c.753 §21; 1981 c.815 §21; 1993 c.744 §124]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.680 Adoption of rules by Electrical and Elevator Board; establishment of continuing education program. The Electrical and Elevator Board
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(1) Shall establish, by rule under ORS 455.117, a program of continuing education necessary for renewal of licenses. The board may approve programs for continuing education that meet standards for continuing education established by the board under this subsection. (2) Shall adop…
ORS 479.710 Electrical installations must meet minimum safety standards. (1) Except as provided in ORS 479.540, no person shall make, supervise or direct the making of an electrical installation which does not meet minimum safety standards
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(2) Except for a person authorized by the jurisdiction having authority, no person shall remove, transfer, alter or otherwise tamper with an inspection permit, label, tag or other indicia of inspection placed on or at an electrical job site, electrical installation or electrical …
ORS 479.720 [1959 c.406 §17; repealed by 1981 c.815 §40]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.730 Adoption of rules by Director of Department of Consumer and Business Services. In compliance with ORS chapter 183 the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, with the approval of the Electrical and Elevator Board, shall adopt reasonable rules
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(1) Establishing, altering or revoking minimum safety standards for workmanship and materials in various classifications of electrical installations. (2) Establishing, altering or revoking electrical product safety standards for design and construction of electrical products to b…
ORS 479.740 Factors to be considered in adopting rules; incorporation of standards by reference. (1) In adopting rules under ORS 479.730 the Department of Consumer and Business Services shall consider
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(a) Technological advances in the electrical industry. (b) The practicability of following the standards under consideration, if adopted. (c) The probability, extent and gravity of the injury to the public or property which would result from failure to follow the standards under …
ORS 479.760 Certification of electrical products; safety indicators. (1) An electrical product may not be certified unless the product meets electrical product safety standards established in rule by concurrence of the Electrical and Elevator Board and the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services
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(2) Any person may apply to have the Department of Consumer and Business Services certify an electrical product. The department shall certify an electrical product if the product is shown to meet electrical product safety standards by one of the following methods: (a) An equipmen…
ORS 479.770 Approved electric ignition pilot required on certain appliances. No person shall sell or offer for sale in this state any new gas-fired, forced-air central space heating equipment, clothes dryer, domestic range or new gas-fired swimming pool heaters, unless such equipment, heater, dryer or range is equipped with an electric ignition pilot that complies with the rules of the Department of Consumer and Business Services adopted pursuant to ORS 479.740. [1977 c.630 §2; 1979 c.197 §1; 1981 c.815 §27]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.800 [1971 c.753 §23; 1977 c.748 §3; 1981 c.815 §28; 1983 c.740 §192; 1987 c.383 §1; repealed by 1993 c.744 §101]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.810 Administration and enforcement; Chief Electrical Inspector; inspector qualifications; rules. (1) The Electrical and Elevator Board shall administer and enforce ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and 479.995. The Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services shall appoint an adequate staff of competent persons experienced and trained to serve as electrical inspectors. The board shall assist the director in reviewing determinations made by the staff involving electrical installations or products and to assist in formulating rules under ORS 479.730
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(2) The director, in consultation with the board, shall appoint a representative of the department’s staff of electrical inspectors who shall serve ex officio as secretary of the board. This person shall be known as the Chief Electrical Inspector. (3) The director shall certify a…
ORS 479.815 Inspector conflicts of interest; rules. The Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, with the approval of the Electrical and Elevator Board, may adopt rules regulating or prohibiting conflicts of interest for electrical inspectors in regard to any work performed by an inspector or a related party under a license issued under ORS 479.630. [2003 c.675 §64]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.820 Duties and powers in enforcing law. (1) The Department of Consumer and Business Services shall
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(a) Check the authenticity, appropriateness and expiration dates of licenses issued under ORS 479.510 to 479.945. (b) Inspect electrical installations and products for which a permit or license is required by ORS 479.510 to 479.945. (c) Inspect permits attached to electrical inst…
ORS 479.830 [1959 c.406 §26; 1981 c.815 §32; 1991 c.734 §46; 1993 c.744 §128; 1999 c.846 §2; repealed by 2001 c.411 §31]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.835 Recovery of purchase price of product not meeting applicable laws. Any person who purchases an electrical product may recover the purchase price from the seller if the electrical product does not meet all applicable state and federal law and the purchaser returns the electrical product within 90 days from the date of purchase. [1981 c.815 §14; 2001 c.411 §25; 2005 c.435 §6]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.840 Fees; rules; means to guarantee payment. (1) Upon receiving payment of the applicable application fee, the Department of Consumer and Business Services may issue or renew a license or permit applied for under ORS 479.510 to 479.945. The fee to apply for or renew a license is
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(a) $125 per year for an electrical contractor license for each place of business operated by the applicant. (b) $125 per year for a limited energy contractor, restricted energy contractor or limited sign contractor license. (c) $25 per year for a pump specialty contractor or lim…
ORS 479.845 Limitation on use of local government fees. Fees collected by a city or county for the enforcement or administration of the electrical specialty code and rules adopted under ORS 479.730 (1) shall be used only for the enforcement and administration of those laws. [1977 c.874 §5; 1981 c.815 §34; 2001 c.573 §18; 2005 c.435 §7]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.850 Disposition of receipts. All receipts from civil penalties, fees, charges, costs and expenses provided for in ORS 455.895 (1)(b), 479.510 to 479.945, 479.990 and 479.995 when collected shall be
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(1) Paid into the Consumer and Business Services Fund created by ORS 705.145; and (2) Used only for the enforcement and administration of ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and 479.995. [1959 c.406 §28; 1971 c.753 §57; 1973 c.528 §18; 1973 c.834 §48; 1981 c.815 §35; 1987 c.905 §33; 1993 c.74…
ORS 479.853 Appeal procedure; distribution of major code interpretation decisions. If any person is aggrieved by a decision made upon inspection under authority of ORS 455.148, 455.150 or 479.510 to 479.945 and 479.995 of an electrical product or electrical inspection, the person may appeal the decision. The following apply to an appeal under this section
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(1) An appeal under this section is subject to ORS chapter 183. (2) An appeal under this section must be made first to the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. The decision of the Chief Electrical Inspector may be appealed to the Electri…
ORS 479.854 Authority of municipality to require license; approval of ordinance. (1) A municipality may enact and enforce an ordinance requiring a municipal general supervising electrician’s license upon the approval of the Electrical and Elevator Board and the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services
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(2) The Electrical and Elevator Board and director may approve an ordinance under subsection (1) of this section only if electrical installations within the municipality’s jurisdiction are of a unique character beyond the education or experience of a general supervising electrici…
ORS 479.855 City and county inspection and enforcement programs. (1) In addition to the provisions of ORS 455.010 to 455.310 and 455.410 to 455.740, any inspection and enforcement program established by a city or county under ORS 455.148 or 455.150 is subject to the provisions of this section. Where the provisions of this section conflict with provisions under ORS 455.010 to 455.310 and 455.410 to 455.740, the provisions of this section shall control
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(2)(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, any city or county that wishes to establish a program under ORS 455.150 to enforce and administer ORS 479.510 to 479.945 and 479.995, including a program for inspection under a master permit pursuant to ORS 479.560 (3), must fi…
ORS 479.860 Persons authorized to design, plan and lay out electrical installations; rules. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person who is the holder of a supervising electrician’s license
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(a) Who is employed by the holder of an electrical contractor’s license may design, plan and lay out electrical installations for customers of the electrical contractor without obtaining any other license, permit or certificate; or (b) Who is employed by an industrial plant may d…
ORS 479.870 Electrical and Elevator Board to prescribe uniform fee calculation and permit format; review; rules. (1) The Electrical and Elevator Board shall provide by rule for a statewide uniform method of calculating permit fees and a standardized permit application format
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(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the board shall provide by rule for a separate limited energy electrical activity permit and the conditions that apply to the permit. (3) The board shall adopt rules setting standards for timely review, personn…
ORS 479.905 Definitions for ORS 479.870 and 479.905 to 479.945. For the purposes of ORS 479.870 and 479.905 to 479.945, except where the context requires otherwise
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(1) “Class A limited energy technician” means a person licensed to install, alter and repair all limited energy systems. (2) “Class B limited energy technician” means a person licensed to install, alter and repair all limited energy systems that do not include protective signalin…
ORS 479.910 Limited energy technician license; compliance with other laws; fees; continuing education. (1) Upon payment of an application or renewal fee, the Department of Consumer and Business Services shall issue a Class B limited energy technician license to a person who qualifies under ORS 479.915. A person licensed under this section may perform limited energy electrical activity except protective signaling as defined in ORS 479.905
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(2) A person licensed under this section shall comply with the permit and code compliance requirements under ORS 479.510 to 479.945. (3) The application fee, and the renewal fee, for a Class B limited energy technician license are the same as those for a Class A limited energy te…
ORS 479.915 Limited energy technician license requirements. (1) An applicant for a Class B limited energy technician license must
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(a) Submit proof satisfactory to the Electrical and Elevator Board that the person has: (A) At least two years of experience as an apprentice in limited energy electrical activity; or (B) At least two years of experience equivalent to an apprenticeship in limited energy electrica…
ORS 479.920 [1991 c.529 §5; repealed by 2001 c.728 §10]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.930 [1991 c.529 §6; 1993 c.497 §2; repealed by 2001 c.728 §10]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 479.940 Activities not subject to licensure under ORS 479.510 to 479.945; identification cards. (1) The licensure provisions of ORS 479.510 to 479.945 do not apply to the following activity on Class II and III systems in one and two family dwellings regulated under the Low-Rise Residential Dwelling Code
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(a) Prewiring of cable television and telephone systems owned by the owner of the residence; (b) Garage door openers; (c) Vacuum systems; (d) Audio and stereo systems; (e) HVAC; (f) Landscape sprinkler controls; (g) Landscape lighting; and (h) Doorbells. (2) The provisions of sub…