(1) Except as provided by 50-60-602 , MCA, an electrical permit is required for any installation in any new construction or remodeling or repair.

(2) Prior to the commencement of any electrical installation, in an area where the electrical code is enforced by the department, the installer or owner shall submit an official request for electrical permit to the department in Helena with fee(s) as provided in ARM 24.301.461. Request for electrical permit forms will be made available by the department and may also be available at any power supplier or the electrical inspector. At the time of application for a permit, the applicant shall indicate on the application for a permit whether or not the applicant will be the permittee for the entire project. Owners shall designate which electrical contractor will be performing work on the project.

(a) The department may issue a provisional electrical permit authorizing electrical installations for a period not to exceed 14 days when the applicant remits an application with fees that exceed the current fee required. The department will notify the applicant of the correct fee due and retain the original permit fee until the applicant remits the correct fee. If the applicant fails to remit the correct fee within 14 days, the department will return the incorrect fee and application and request the power supplier disconnect the electrical service until such time as the required electrical permit is issued.

(3) The term "owner" listed in ARM 24.301.431 applies to owners doing electrical work on their own residence, farm, or ranch property provided that said property is maintained for their personal, private use. The property or residence shall not be built on speculation of resale or intended as rental property. On farm and ranch installations used in conjunction with an agricultural or livestock raising operation, the term "owner" applies to the owner, owner's agent and/or person(s) employed by the owner on a full time basis as a farm or ranch employee(s) at the farm or ranch involved.

(4) A local government certified to enforce the electrical code may require, in addition to the electrical permit required by 50-60-605 , MCA, the power supplier be provided with proof of an approved inspection before the power supplier can energize the electrical installation. The local government shall provide the power supplier with written notice of this requirement if it wishes to enforce this option.

(5) The requirements listed in 50-60-605 , MCA, requiring an "electrical permit" before the energizing of an electrical installation by a power supplier means the power supplier may energize said installation, before an inspection has been performed by the department, after issuing a power supplier limited service certificate as allowed in ARM 24.301.472, or upon receipt of the power supplier's copy of the electrical permit issued by the department.

(6) Upon receipt of the application for an electrical permit with the applicable fee(s) , the department will issue the official electrical permit covering the installation.

(7) The permittee shall be responsible for all work performed under the electrical permit, and shall ensure that all work meets the requirements of the National Electrical Code, as amended by the version of ARM 24.301.411 in effect at the time the permit was issued. No permittee shall allow any other person to do, or cause to be done, any work under an electrical permit issued to the permittee, except the permittee or the permittee's employees who are licensed as an electrician or registered as an electrical apprentice.

(8) Electrical permits on which the fees, as provided in ARM 24.301.461, are under $350 are valid for a period of 18 months from the date of issuance. Renewals of one year may be granted by the department as long as the application for renewal is made not more than 30 days following expiration of the original permit.

(9) The electrical permit is transferable one time, with application for permit transfer being made in writing on forms provided by the department. The permit transfer shall be completed prior to the subsequent permittee commencing work under the permit.

(10) The exception to permit requirements listed in 50-60-602 (2) , MCA, for regularly employed maintenance personnel doing maintenance work on the business premises applies to personnel on the regular payroll rather than personnel under contract. Maintenance work includes ordinary and customary in-plant or on-site installations, modification, additions or repairs which shall be limited to: relamping fixtures, replacing ballasts, trouble shooting, motor controls, replacing motors, breakers, magnetic starters, in a kind-for-kind manner. Also included are connection of specific items or specialized equipment that can be directly connected to an existing branch circuit panel by means of factory installed leads. However, if a new circuit is required to operate the equipment, or if the size of the supply conductors need to be increased, this will be considered new work.

(11) No electrical permit shall be issued for a building or structure under the jurisdiction of the department until the building permit has been issued for said building or structure or it has been determined that a building permit is not required or special circumstances exist which make issuance of the permit appropriate.