Landlord Installed Electric Panels Without Permit

DOB issued a violation notice to landlord for installing electric panels, cables, and outlets throughout the building without a permit. The work was 95 percent completed when DOB issued the violation. Landlord didn't deny doing the work but claimed that the city's electrical code only made it a violation for an electrician to do electrical work without first obtaining a permit from DOB. The ALJ ruled against landlord and fined him $1,600. Landlord appealed and lost.  Code Section 27-3018(b) requires a master electrician business or special electrician to file a work permit before commencing any electrical work at a building, other than low-voltage electrical work. DOB must approve the application and issue a permit before work can begin. This means that the electrician must have a landlord's permission to file for the permit. It doesn't mean that landlord himself can do the work--which is inherently dangerous--without restriction.

Huang: ECB App. No. 130338 (8/29/13) [3-pg. doc.]