Washington, Jefferson County Electrician Permit Regulations and County Ordinances for Unincorporated Areas
Jefferson County Electrician Permit Requirements
In Jefferson County, Washington, electrical work generally requires a permit and inspection. The Department of Community Development (DCD) handles building permit applications and inspections to ensure compliance with the International Building Code (IBC) and the Jefferson County Unified Development Code (UDC).
For electrical work, you must obtain the correct electrical permit and inspection from the appropriate governing body. In most cases in Washington, this is the State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). However, if the electrical work is being performed in a city that issues its own permits, you should contact that city directly. For jobs within Tacoma Power's service area, permits and inspections are obtained from Tacoma Power. For all other electrical work in Washington, permits and inspections are issued by L&I.
It is crucial to get an electrical permit before starting any electrical work. Permits help ensure that the planned electrical work is safe and complies with relevant codes and regulations.
Unincorporated Areas
For properties in unincorporated areas of Jefferson County, the county's Department of Community Development is the relevant authority for building permits and inspections. If you are unsure about specific requirements or need assistance with application forms, you can contact the DCD staff at 360-379-4450 or [email protected].
State Licensing Requirements for Electricians
To work as an electrician in Washington State, you generally need to start as an electrical trainee. This involves obtaining a trainee certificate and working under the supervision of a certified electrician. Key requirements for electrician licensing in Washington include:
- Electrical Trainee Certificate: Must be 16 years or older, have a social security number, and complete 48 hours of classroom instruction. This certificate needs to be renewed every two years.
- On-the-Job Experience: Accumulate 8,000 hours of supervised work experience. At least 4,000 of these hours must be in commercial or industrial installation.
- Classroom Instruction: Complete 96 hours of basic classroom instruction for a general journey-level license, or 48 hours for specialty licenses.
- Journeyman Electrician License: After meeting the experience and training requirements, you must pass a licensing exam administered by PSI.
- Master Electrician License: Requires holding a journeyman license for four years and passing a master electrician exam.
- Electrical Contractor License: To operate your own electrical business, you need an electrical contractor license, which requires a master electrician or electrical administrator license, a Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number, and a $4,000 surety bond or assignment of savings.
It's important to note that beginning July 2023, all trainees must complete an electrical apprenticeship program approved by the state of Washington.