Chapter 15.06 - Electrical Code Adopted
Chapter 15.06 - Electrical Code Adopted15.06.010 Adoption of the 2023 National Electrical Code.
The following code section was adopted by Resolution No. 25-303 by the Pueblo County Board of County Commissioners on December 22, 2025, with an effective date of December 31, 2025 and pursuant to C.R.S. 30-28-201 hereby adopts the 2023 National Electrical Code published by the National Fire Protection Association, One Batterymarch Park, Quincy Massachusetts 02169-7471, with amendment and the 2003 International Code Council Electrical Code Administrative Provisions published by the International Code Council, Inc.. 4051 Flossmoor Road, County Club Hills, Il 60478-5795, with amendments and providing penalties and remedies for the violation thereof.
The ordinance and code adopted in this resolution shall be a part of and cited as the "Pueblo County Electrical Code," and are referred to in this resolution as "the Code."
The purpose of the Code is to provide minimum standards to protect the public health and safety by controlling and regulating buildings, structures, and equipment including, but not limited to electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation comfort cooling, refrigeration systems; signs and sign structures; elevators, dumbwaiters and escalators; boilers and pressure vessels; plumbing and drainage systems; single and multiple dwellings; business and commercial buildings and structures; electrical conductors and equipment; and the storage and handling of hazardous materials in the County of Pueblo.
The provisions of the Code and the other codes adopted by reference shall apply to the construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, removal, conversion, demolition, occupancy, use, storage, height, area, maintenance, installation, inspection, design, operation, testing, handling, erection and fabrication of equipment, structures, and buildings within the County of Pueblo, except work located in a public way, public utility towers and poles, mechanical equipment not specifically regulated in the Code, and hydraulic flood control structures. Where, in any specific case, different sections of the Code, the County zoning resolution, or any other resolution of the County or other governmental body specify different requirements, the most restrictive provision shall govern.
The State Electrical Board adopted the National Electrical Code, 2023 edition without exempting agricultural buildings and structures. Pursuant to §12-115-107(2), a county may only adopt and enforce standards more stringent than the minimum standards adopted by the State Electrical Board. Therefore, the Code applies to buildings and structures used for the sole purpose of providing shelter to agricultural implements, farm products, livestock, or poultry, without regard to §30-28-201(1).
The code shall apply to all unincorporated areas in Pueblo County.
The adoption of this resolution shall not create any duty to any person, firm, corporation, or other entity with regard to the enforcement or non-enforcement of this resolution or the Code. No person, firm, corporation, or other entity shall have any private right of action, claim, or civil liability remedy against the County of Pueblo or their commissions, boards of review, or officers, employees, or agents of such bodies or entities, for any damage arising out of or in any way connected with the adoption, enforcement or non-enforcement of this resolution or the Code. Nothing in this resolution or in the Code shall be construed to create any liability, or to waive any of the immunities, limitations on liability, or other provisions of the Governmental Immunity Act, C.R.S. § 24‑10‑101, or to waive any immunities or limitations on liability otherwise available to the County of Pueblo or their commissions, boards of review, or officers, employees, or agents of such bodies or entities.
If any part, section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this resolution or the Code is held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution or the Code.
All ordinances, resolutions, regulations and building codes of Pueblo County are repealed and superseded to the extent the same are inconsistent or in conflict with any term or provision of the Code. However, if the Code, this resolution, or any part of either is declared invalid, so that after such declaration of invalidity a building code for any matter covered in the Code shall not be in effect, the previous building or plumbing code covering the same matter shall not be deemed to have been repealed and shall be deemed reenacted and in effect.
As provided in C.R.S. § 30-28-210, any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of the Code may be subject to a civil infraction. Each day after issuance of the county court order during which such unlawful activity continues shall he deemed a separate violation subject to a continuing. Any civil penalty ordered by the county court may be collected as provided in C.R.S. § 30-28-210. In case any building or structure is, or is proposed to be, erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, or remodeled, used, or maintained in violation of any provision of the Code, the Pueblo County Attorney, pursuant to C.R.S. § 30-28-209 and in addition to other remedies provided by law, may institute an injunction, mandamus, abatement, or other appropriate action or proceeding to prevent, enjoin, abate, or remove such unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, remodeling, maintenance, or use.
The National Electrical Code, 2023 Edition (September 1, 2022), promulgated and published by the National Fire Protection Association, One Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169-7471, referred to as the "N.E.C.," is adopted in its entirety, including Informative Annexes A through G inclusive and Informative Annex I, but excluding Informative Annexes H and J, together with the International Code Council Electrical Code Administrative Provisions, 2003 Edition (December 2002), except the sample ordinance form contained therein, promulgated by the International Code Council, Inc., 4051 West Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, IL 60478-5795, hereinafter referred to as the "I.C.C.E.C.A.P.," as amended by this Chapter, are adopted and enacted by reference; provided, however, that the following portions of the I.C.C.E.C.A.P. are not adopted and are expressly deleted:
Paragraph 5 of Section 401.3, entitled "Work Exempt From Permit,"
Section 404.2, entitled "Schedule of Permit Fees,"
Section 1102, entitled "Membership" and
Section 1103, entitled "Procedures."
Section C405.2.4, of the IECC, Controlled Receptacles, (deleted in its entirety by Res. 26-018)
Copies of the N.E.C., including adopted Informative Annexes A through G and Informative Annex I and the I.C.C.E.C.A.P., are available in the office of the Pueblo Department of Planning and Development
Any reference in this Chapter to the "N.E.C." shall mean the National Electrical Code, 2023 Edition, adopted by this Section.
(a) Section 230.70(A) of the N.E.C. is amended by the addition of a new Subparagraph (4), to read as follows:
"(4) Meter Base. The length of service entrance conductors from the load side terminals of the meter base to the main disconnecting means shall be located immediately back-to-back, side to side, or top to bottom of the meter."
(b) Section 110.26 of the N.E.C., Spaces About Electrical Equipment, is amended by the addition of a new Subparagraph (6)(B)(1), to read as follows:
"(1) Above finish grade. Clearances shall be provided between bottom of panel and finish grade a minimum of twenty-four (24) inches above finish grade."
(c) Section 408.54 of the N.E.C. is amended by the addition of a new Paragraph (A) thereto, to read as follows:
"(A)Additional Space in Panelboards. A new panelboard shall have sufficient ampacity and space for at least four (4) full-size circuit breakers for future usage."
15.06.130 Administrative Provisions Code Amendments.
(a) Section 301.1 of the I.C.C.E.C.A.P., entitled "Creation of enforcement agency," is amended to read as follows:
"301.1. Creation of enforcement agency. Whenever the terms 'Building Official' or 'Department' or 'Code Official' are used in the I.C.C.E.C.A.P., in the N.E.C. or in Title 15 of the Pueblo County Code, such terms shall be construed to mean the Lead Building inspector or, in the absence of a Lead Building inspector, then the Building Official, or the Building Official's authorized representative(s), of the Department. Whenever the phrase 'Authority Having Jurisdiction' is used, such phrase shall mean the County of Pueblo.
"The building official is hereby authorized and directed to enforce all the provisions of this Code. For such purposes, the building official shall have the powers of a law enforcement officer.
"The building official shall have the power to render interpretations of this Code and to adopt and enforce rules and regulations supplemental to this Code as may be deemed necessary in order to clarify the application of the provisions of this Code. Such interpretations, rules and regulations shall be in conformity with the intent and purpose of the Code."
(b) Section 401.1, Permits required, of the I.C.C.E.C.A.P. is hereby amended by the addition of two (2) new paragraphs, to read as follows:
"Permits for low voltage control and signaling systems, as defined in Articles 724 through 830 of the N.E.C., may be issued to persons not licensed as electrical contractors, provided such persons register with the Pueblo County Building Division and otherwise comply with all codes with respect to installation and permits.
"All systems supplying power that may normally be supplied by an electrical utility, such as, but not limited to, solar, wind, hydro and other generated sources, shall require a permit and inspection."
(c) Section 1003.1, Penalties, of the I.C.C.E.C.A.P. is amended to read as follows:
"1003.1 Penalties. Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this Code shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished as provided in this Title and by Colorado State Statute. The application of any such penalty shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions."
(d) Section 1101 of the I.C.C.E.C.A.P., entitled "Board of Appeals established," is amended to read as follows:
"1101. Board of Appeals established. There is hereby created an Review to perform the functions set forth in Title 15 of the Pueblo County Code."
(e) Section R404.2.1 is hereby amended by deleting the requirement for a switched or controlled receptable. Permanently installed lighting fixtures shall be provided with manual control, but controlled receptacles shall not be required. (Res. 26-018)
15.06.140 Responsibility for damages; nonliability of the County.
The provisions of this Chapter shall neither release or discharge nor be construed to release or discharge any person from any liability imposed by law for any injury to persons or damage to property caused by or resulting from the performance or failure to perform work or furnishing materials covered by this Chapter. Neither the County nor any of their agents or employees will be held liable for any injury to persons or damage to property because of an inspection or failure to perform any inspection authorized or required by this Chapter or by the issuance or failure to issue a certificate of approval.
(a) Whenever in the N.E.C. or I.C.C.E.C.A.P. it is provided that anything must be done to the approval of, required by, acceptable to or subject to the direction of the Pueblo County Building Division, this shall be construed to give only the discretion to determine whether the rules and standards established by the N.E.C. have been complied with. No such provision shall be construed to give any inspector discretionary powers to determine what regulations or standards shall be, or power to require conditions not prescribed by the N.E.C. or the I.C.C.E.C.A.P. in an arbitrary or discriminatory manner.
(b) The provisions of this Chapter shall be held to meet the minimum requirements adopted to promote and protect the public health, safety and welfare. When the requirements of this Chapter are at variance with the requirements of any statute, code, rule, regulation or ordinance, the more restrictive or that imposing the highest standards shall apply.
15.06.160 Offenses; criminal penalties; permit revocation; other enforcement.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly violate, disobey, omit, neglect, refuse or fail to comply with or resist the enforcement of any provision of this Chapter, the N.E.C. or the I.C.C.E.C.A.P.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse or fail to timely comply with any order issued by the Building Official, the Director of the Pueblo County Department of Planning and Development or other designated building inspector pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter, the N.E.C. or the I.C.C.E.C.A.P.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly make any false statement, representation or certification in any application, record, report, plan or other document filed or required to be maintained pursuant to any requirements of this Chapter, the N.E.C. or the I.C.C.E.C.A.P.
(d) Any permits issued pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter, the N.E.C. or the I.C.C.E.C.A.P. may be suspended, terminated or revoked by the Building Official for: (1) any of the reasons stated in Section 403.7 of the I.C.C.E.C.A.P., or (2) any material violation of the terms of said permit or requirements applicable thereto.
(e) In the event any owner or occupant of premises within the County shall refuse entry to the Building Official or any electrical inspector, or any premises are locked and the Building Official or any electrical inspector has been unable to obtain permission of the owner or occupant to enter, the Pueblo County Court is authorized to issue a search warrant authorizing such entry in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Colorado Court Rules.
(f) In the event any owner or occupant of premises within the County, any licensed contractor or any permittee shall fail or refuse to comply with any provisions of this Chapter, the N.E.C., the I.C.C.E.C.A.P., or any license or permit issued thereunder, the County Attorney may initiate an action for injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to compel compliance with said Chapter, N.E.C., I.C.C.E.C.A.P., license or permit.
(g) The enforcement remedies set forth in this Section are hereby expressly declared to be cumulative, and the exercise of any one (1) or more of them is not dependent upon the exercise of any other remedy, nor does the exercise of any one (1) of them constitute any bar or limitation to the exercise of any other.
15.06.170 Unlawful to perform work which endangers person or property.
It shall be unlawful for any person to perform any work on any building or structure in such manner as to endanger persons and property on the street or public property. (Res. 25-303)