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Can a homeowner perform electrical work in MA?

125K views 77 replies 37 participants last post by  AtlanticWBConst. 
#1 ·
A question on Massachusetts electrical code... Can a homeowner perform electrical work (and pull a permit) in their single family owner occupied home?

I see some MA town websites saying all electrical work must be performed by a licensed electrician. I see other MA town websites that say that a homeowner can perform work... as long as the homeowner is working on his/her house and it is a single family primary residence.

Anyone know the truth?

Thanks...
 
#69 ·
MA General Laws, Part I, Title XX, Chapter 143, Section 3L, Paragraph 4, states:

No person shall install for hire any electrical wiring or fixtures subject to this section without first or within five days after commencing the work giving notice to the inspector of wires appointed pursuant to the provisions of section thirty-two of chapter one hundred and sixty-six. Said notice shall be given by mailing or delivering a permit application form prepared by the board, to said inspector. Any person failing to give such notice shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars. This section shall be enforced by the inspector of wires within his jurisdiction and the state examiners of electricians.
 
#4 ·
I actually called the State of MA Electrical Board... and the receptionist said that a homeowner can do work on their own home. This just seems so contrary to what a majority of the town websites say... so I am looking to get some opinions from people with MA knowledge.

I am wondering if the state allows homeowners to do electrical work... but the towns dont want homeowners to do it.
 
#7 ·
I actually called the State of MA Electrical Board... and the receptionist said that a homeowner can do work on their own home. This just seems so contrary to what a majority of the town websites say
The state DOES allow homeowners to do their own electrical work (unlike plumbing), but some towns (who can make their own code modifications) do NOT allow it. So you need to check with your town.
The state does in fact not only allow homeowners to do there own work, they also don't need to pull permits.
I can't see how this could be true. A licensed electrician needs to get a permit and pass inspections, but a homeowner to install a new panel and rewire an entire house without the CEO even knowing about it? That can't be true.

In the town where I lived, (lawrence) my understanding was that you could pull your own permits for electric work.
 
#19 ·
Clutchcargo said:
I went to the building office to pull permits for electrical. The inspector said he doesn't give homeowners permits but if I could get the state electrical inspector to say it's OK, then he would give me a permit. I think he expected me to drop it but I did check with the state electrical inspector. He said flat out, "homeowners don't need to pull permits [for electrical.]" I went back to the building office and told him who I talked to and he called someone to confirm. He came back and said, "I guess you don't have any use for me then." The truth is I wanted to pull a permit and get inspected.
Towns may have their own ordinances but generally in Massachusetts, homeowners can do their own electrical work.
Clutchcargo said:
Like you said it's up to the town, but there is nothing in the state law that says that homeowners are required to pull permits for electrical.
These statements are absolutely incorrect and whoever told you this does not know what they are talking about.
I am an electrician in Massachusetts, and I can tell you that the only thing electrically that can be done without pulling a permit in the state of Massachusetts is to change a light bulb.

Every job, no matter how small, even down to changing 1 receptacle outlet is required to have a permit.

Obviously that would be a little ridiculous and is not how things work in reality, but technically that is the law.

Home owners may or may not be allowed to do their own work, the decision resides with the electrical inspector who has jurisdiction, however HOME OWNERS ARE NOT EXEMPT FROM PERMIT LAWS!
 
#6 ·
Do you mean... now allow?

ClutchCargo... you wrote...

The state does in fact not only allow homeowners to do there own work, they also don't need to pull permits.

I assume you you mean...

The state does in fact NOW only allow homeowners to do there own work, they also don't need to pull permits.

Do you know where this is documented?

Thanks...
 
#8 ·
Each town is different. Generally, if a professional electrician needs to pull a permit and get inspections, a homeowner allowed to do his own work must also pull a permit and get inspections for the same scope of work.
 
#9 · (Edited)
I went to the building office to pull permits for electrical. The inspector said he doesn't give homeowners permits but if I could get the state electrical inspector to say it's OK, then he would give me a permit. I think he expected me to drop it but I did check with the state electrical inspector. He said flat out, "homeowners don't need to pull permits [for electrical.]" I went back to the building office and told him who I talked to and he called someone to confirm. He came back and said, "I guess you don't have any use for me then." The truth is I wanted to pull a permit and get inspected.
Towns may have their own ordinances but generally in Massachusetts, homeowners can do their own electrical work.

http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/143-3l.htm
The key words to look for are "for hire."
 
#11 · (Edited)
Absolutely the state of MA allows you to do your own electrical work BUT requires a permit for almsot everything. I'm surprised they don't require one for shutting off a breaker or repairing holes in walls with spackle. You do have to make sure your city allows it, that state is very strict. The one thing you can't do is plumbing, as mentioned. That has to do with many streets & houses of that state have 2 drain pipes they connect to in the street... one ends up dumping into a river another a treatment plant. You attach your gutters to the one that dumps into the river, and your bathrooms etc. to the one that goes to the treatment plant. However, many people "added" a bathroom and attached the drainage to the wrong line which dumped their human waste & soaps into the rivers which the EPA has been having a field day with penalty fees to that state. MA has been spending lots of money trying to locate these houses plumbed into the wrong lines. You also have people tying their gutters into the treatment plant line, causing treatment for water which wasn't used. Wasn't just homeowners, builders were also making the mistake but now, no plumbing allowed in that state by the homeowner plumbing in that state has turned into an environmental fiasco. I remember the days in that state the old mills bathrooms "extended" some feet over the rivers. When you wanted to go to the bathroom you could look through the opening of the toilet to see the river some 20 or so feet below. I used to hold going to the bathroom when I was a tiny one, and visit my father at the mill and then excitedly tell him I had to go. I'd yell torpedo away as I watched it drop some many feet into the river and be taken. Ah... the good old days.

Check your city if they allow it, the state does. It goes City codes 1st, State codes 2nd, Federal last for order of priorities. If your city says you can't but your state says you can... you have to follow what your city says. If Federal says you can, but your state says you can't you have to listen to your state. Federal sets the minimums, state can only be more strict, and city more stricter than either of the above.

*EDIT* ClutchCargo posted was interesting saying you can do it without permits. It doesn't sound like the two departments are talking to each other, or confused about what it is the task. You need a permit whenever adding or modifying a circuit which, practically everything modifies or adds so needs a permit. Though, I didn't get one when I added an outlet on the other side of my vanity tying it into the GFCI outlet already there. I'm guilty.
 
#12 ·
*EDIT* ClutchCargo posted was interesting saying you can do it without permits. It doesn't sound like the two departments are talking to each other, or confused about what it is the task. You need a permit whenever adding or modifying a circuit which, practically everything modifies or adds so needs a permit. Though, I didn't get one when I added an outlet on the other side of my vanity tying it into the GFCI outlet already there. I'm guilty.
Like you said it's up to the town, but there is nothing in the state law that says that homeowners are required to pull permits for electrical.
 
#13 ·
fire and co detectors in MA

Anyone please that can provide correct info it would be appreciated.

I have applied for an electrical permit as a home owner single family owner occupant, ok no prob there. Now I go to install smoke and co detectors and the fire capt is saying under fire code only a licensed electrician can do the electrical work. basically we're talking one of the simplest branch circuits far less complex then most household wiring in general. So does anyone know for a fact weather I can or can't install my own smoke and co system in my own home especially if the elctric inspector has said I can do my own work. The fire capt seems to be of the impression there is some fire code MA law prohibiting me doing the work and is rather vague and generalising. Please someone any insight would really be appreciated as the building is large and the cost of hiring someone to run what I am more then capable of doing and have done in the past would run into the thousands hiring a licensed person. I would need to site some specific code data for the cptian to budge.

help Eva
 
#14 ·
I'd suggest calling your town's building official and asking him. The local municipality or county adopts the code and makes the permitting requirements.

For the record, as a codes official, it is my opinion that jurisdictional rules prohibiting people from doing their own work are ridiculous and counterproductive. The intent should be to ensure that the work is done safely, and causing people to circumvent the permit/inspection process is nothing short of screwy thinking. Just because someone is licensed isn't a guarantee that they are good at what they do or consciencious, and just because they're a DIYer doesn't mean they can't do professional quality work.

Here, a homeowner can do their own work and can get a permit. In order to do work for others (as a contractor), you need a license. That keeps most of the hacks at bay.
 
#15 ·
Most places the homeowner can do their own work as KCtermite said. Also you can have someone else do the work as long as it passes inspection. However a person the does work that requires a lic. like electrical can not make you pay. This also keeps the hacks at bay.
 
#16 · (Edited)
smoke alarms

The problem here is that the electrical inspector has no problem with this, it is the fire marshal saying he has jurisdiction over electrical installations when it comes to any fire related equipment. nec code makes a distinct differentiation on fire alarms meaning a panel system and smoke alarms meaning an interconnected branch circuit. The marshal is claiming smoke alarms are fire alarms though both systems function differently and have drastically different wiring. I have done both type systems where I formerly lived. I have worked for electricians and electrical manufacture companies as well as my family owning a GC business before my father passed away that I did the bulk of this work for family under pops E license. What I need is someone versed in nefp code for fire to possibly assist me with hard data I can hand this guy to demonstrate I should be allowed to do a residential system of smoke alarms. here a panel system is regulated for electricians only to install but smoke I can find absolutely no reference to and this is why he is trying to group both together.

Further what is extremely annoying is initially the guy was saying he did not want a panel system reactivated which is already in place in the building to be used-- period. He insisted on the residential system installed at a town meeting. Now because of the square footage and such he feels a panel is better after us spending well over a thousand in materials and having obtained the electrical permit to do the install.Then he changes his mind again about the type detectors from ionized to photoelectric, again we oblige run back to the supply house and ask them to exchange them. Now he talking about using the old panel system and changing all the sensors and having to hire a licensed person to do that work though everything is already run and in place and working. It's pure obstructionism in my view and if I can site code by the book that I can in fact do a residential system myself then he has to allow me. Anyone who can help with this , it would be greatly appreciated as I have been bending over backward to comply and they keep changing the requirements. Thus far he hasn't been able to quote any law prohibiting me but he's dragging this out for no reason.

Anyone that could give me a solid answer as to quote code (fire code) whether I can do a residential smoke and co alarm system myself I would be very much obliged.There should be a prescient somewhere in code to clarify this I just haven't yet found it myself.

thanks Eva
 
#17 ·
The state says that you can pull your own permit and do your own work if it is a single family home. Most of the local inspectors try to deny the permits and will give you a hard time. They count on you not being patient and appealing it to the state. If you are persistent then they will have to go by the law and allow it.
 
#20 ·
This is also an incorrect statement!

There is no law in the state of Massachusetts that allows an unlicensed person to do electrical work of any kind.

Some inspectors will allow home owners to do their own electrical work on a single family dwelling in which they reside (not a multi-family or rental property), however they are not required to allow any unlicensed person to do electrical work. If they feel you are not qualified to safely and correctly perform the work they can deny the issuance of a permit, and as I stated before, home owners are subject to the same permit and inspection rules as licensed electrical contractors are.

Home owners are only allowed to do electrical work based on precedence and not on any legal rights. NO SUCH LAW EXISTS!
 
#18 ·
A question on Massachusetts electrical code... Can a homeowner perform electrical work (and pull a permit) in their single family owner occupied home?

I see some MA town websites saying all electrical work must be performed by a licensed electrician. I see other MA town websites that say that a homeowner can perform work... as long as the homeowner is working on his/her house and it is a single family primary residence.

Anyone know the truth?

Thanks...
Yes a homeowner can pull a permit and do electrical work without a electrical license in Massachusetts
 
#21 ·
The fire inspector shouldn't be enforcing the fire code in a single family residence. He should be enforcing the International Residential Code in your home, and there isn't any need to enforce more than that. I'd start there.

He is obligated to provide you applicable code sections that permit him to enforce the requirements he's enforcing. Ask for a meeting at his office and request that he cite specific code to qualify his requirements. If he won't do that, file a written complaint with the City Manager or Mayors office.
 
#22 ·
inspectors

As a follow up to the fire marshal situation. He did check I suppose with his superiors or the fire code book itself or maybe was inspired by a religious revelation but he is allowing me to do the work and signed the permit. Interesting fact is the code book for fire isn't even in the library but I did manage to find someone who had one and it's like ten times the size of the NEC book and way too many chapters. it sort of resembles a Thomas dieectory. His only hitch is that he wants the electric inspector to sign off on it when it's done. That would be normal anyway since the electrical inspector has to sign off on the job overall. My point of contention was me being allowed to do the labor since the building is very difficult to run anything in . The cost of hiring someone would have been monumental. The fire code which he sited has some wording that a "qualified" person do the work, but makes no define of what qualified means, it does not specifically state a licensed person. The marshals interpretation of that clause is that it need be supervised by someone licensed meaning the inspector follow up. I see it more as a CYA polocy and little more. I can live with it the way it is and have no beef doing it this way. I was going to go balistic if I was told I had to pay a few thousand to deal with this simply circuit where the cable running in this was the bulk of the expense. So problem basically solved for the moment and we'll see what other monsters rear their head, hopfully none. Thanks everyone for their comments and time, wish me luck.

The town code was more interesting when I looked that up. I didn't make an issue of it but there is "no" town requirment for the fire inspector to be involved at all in a residential smoke or co alarm nor any state requirment from what the state said. I suppose if I wanted to waste my time in court I could contest his involvment in the matter, but I doubt it would win me community points or make political friends for sure. Basically the issue is solve the problem and not be the poster girl for law, renovating the house is enough work for this old gal..

regards Eva
 
#25 ·
Unresolved permitting question MA

This thread stopped a year ago on a strong point of contention. The DIYer seemed sure that the State of Mass allowed the home owner to do their own electrical work. The electrician said no way. I have owned many homes in many jurisdictions and it is rare for a tradesperson to actually know what the rules are when it comes to permits. The norm is for them to believe whatever the local inspector tells them. This is an obvious case of self interest at play. What is really annoying is the belligerent know it all attitude of some tradespeople.
In Mass the homeowner does have rights enshrined in Mass general Law that allow them to do a significant amount of work to their home. I have heard of numerous contracters telling people otherwise. It is my understanding that electrical work falls within the work allowed. My local inspector disagrees.
 
#26 · (Edited)
I would have to say, my local inspector also disagrees homeowners can do their own work in MA. I went to do my due diligence to pull a permit to add a simple outlet to a utility room and was denied, only a licensed electrician can pull permits I was told. So I do exactly as thekctermite says people will do and just do **** on my own without pulling permits and with no inspections so it's counterproductive for both the state financially and my safety. I'm sorry but I am not hiring an electrician to install an outlet in a utility room especially since the breaker panel is right there. I do hire electricians for stuff I prefer like I hired an electrician to wire hard wired smoke detectors in my house, hired him again to replace my service :), and wire my solar.

Meanwhile my coworker who lives in the next town over in MA just pulled the permit as a homeowner to add a subpanel and do all the electricals himself to finish his basement and the electrical inspector is assisting him with his plans and educating him on the rules. Wow... wish I lived in the next town over :yes:
 
#27 ·
2 different Towns & I've pulled my own electric permit in both
To deny a homeowner the ability to pull a permit & have work completed & inspected will just force people to do the work without inspections

It's counter productive & defeats the whole purpose of permit/inspection process IMO
 
#28 ·
Is it legal for home owners doing electrical work in Massachusetts.

From what I know as an electrical inspector for 30 years for three different towns in Mass is that the State Attorney General's office may state that they would allow a homeowner to do their own electrical work, but unless there is a licensed electrician who has applied for a "permit to perform electrical wiring" and has had a "Certificate of Liability" insurance issued to the "Inspector of Wiring" office, then the inspector has the right to refuse an inspection.
The State Licensing Board states that the local municipal inspector is not required to inspect unless a licensed qualified person files a permit with him. This was from the head of the board in the early 90's.
I see no reason why not allowing non qualified people to do electrical work infringes upon peoples rights. These laws protect children and innocent people from these so called "I know what I'm doing" non professionals.
People have been killed as a result of these types of people. Robc.
 
#29 ·
And people have also been killed by work done by "certified/licensed electricians"
A company only needs one certified electrican & then any yahoo untrained person can work for them
I spent 3 days cleaning up after the "electricians" that installed my new Service Feed & 200a panel
Pathetic job & even the Inspector did not like it after I talked to him & wen over the issues

I trust the work I do better then electricians
It's my house that might burn down
So I check it multiple times before the drywall goes up

And refusing to issue permits to homeowners only makes them do it without a permit or inspection
Which is even worse

So they don't have to inspect it.....that's idiotic if they don't
I'd rather have the inspection
 
#31 · (Edited)
A company only needs one certified electrican & then any yahoo untrained person can work for them
What?! You obviously have no idea what you are talking about! A company has to hire licensed electricians. They need to maintain a 1 to 1 ratio of licensed to non-licensed workers on each job. This means every licensed electrician can only supervise 1 unlicensed apprentice. Some states allow 1 licensed guy on the job and the rest can be unlicensed monkeys, Massachusetts does not. Before making ignorant statements do some research.
I spent 3 days cleaning up after the "electricians" that installed my new Service Feed & 200a panel
Pathetic job & even the Inspector did not like it after I talked to him & wen over the issues
The fact that you hired an incompetent electrician does not mean that all electricians are incompetent. You can find good and bad in any profession. A doctor who barely passed his board exam is still a doctor. Do some research and check references before hiring someone to work on your house.
I trust the work I do better then electricians
It's my house that might burn down
Another ignorant statement. Do you honestly think that the little bit of Internet reading and the wiring 1,2,3 book from Home Depot makes you more qualified than the 8000 hr apprenticeship, 600 hrs of code classes, and 12 years of experience doing electrical work everyday that I have. I mean, electrical work isn't brain surgery but, but I would put my qualifications up against yours any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

And refusing to issue permits to homeowners only makes them do it without a permit or inspection
Which is even worse

So they don't have to inspect it.....that's idiotic if they don't
I'd rather have the inspection
This part of your post I agree with, and was what I was trying to convey in my statements a year ago in this thread. I am not against homeowners doing their own electrical work. I am not anti-DIY. I am an electrician, but I do my own plumbing, carpentry, drywall, vehicle repairs, masonry, etc...

My point originally is that whether home owners can do their own electrical work in Massachusetts is a decision of each individual wiring inspector. Some allow it, some don't. My biggest issue in this thread was with the guy who said "home owners don't need to pull permits". That is BS, plain and simple. The permit and inspection process is for everyone, not just licensed contractors. I would argue that inspections are actually more important for DIY projects, because they need their work checked to make sure things were done properly.

I'm not trying to pick on you Scuba Dave but, you said "It's my house that might burn down", while that might be true right now, it is your house, what happens when you sell it in 20 years. Now it's someone else's house, and someone else's family who's lives you are putting in danger. Electrical issues are not always immediately evident. Sometimes it takes years for issues to arise. A staple banged in a little too tight, the wires arc, over years and years of arcing it gets worse and worse, the wire insulation degrades over time until finally the stud catches on fire. This could take 10, 15, 20 years to occur. Yes, AFCI breakers are now required and should prevent this issue. This is just one example of something that could go wrong, there are plenty of other problems that can arise from shoddy workmanship, improper grounding, etc...

This is a touchy subject for me as I had a similar issue last Thursday. I had a chimney fire that spread into my walls. Luckily the fire department got there quickly and the fire was contained to only 3 or 4 stud bays behind the wood stove. The issue was, when the wood stove was installed 20 years ago, by a previous home owner, the stove pipe was not connected to the chimney properly and the fire was able to get out a small space between the thimble and the chimney. I know the previous home owner, I know he did a lot of work on this house himself and I would not be surprised if most of it was unpermitted and not inspected. Because of his shoddy workmanship I could have lost my house a week before Christmas, gee thanks!

My point to this whole rant is, if you're gonna do you're own work (not just electrical, any work) please know what you are doing, pull a permit, and get it inspected. It's not just your families life and property you are putting at risk.

/rant
 
#30 ·
#32 ·
Yes I do better work
I've seen to much crap & had too many electricians tell me what they would do & it was "OK"
Many do not keep up with current code, I do

Why should I pay someone to learn electric while working on my house ?
Yes supposed to be 1:1 ...real world - not

I research what I do, so yes I'm confident what I do meets or exceeds code
I don't own a 1-2-3 book from HD, I have the NEC 2005 & access 2008 online
 
#41 · (Edited)
Scary, I'm a licensed master electrician and "keeping up with the code" hasn't made me a better electrician what-so-ever. What does qualify me is my 35 years of experience. I have 120 some odd electricians working for me and most are pretty poor when it comes to the nitty-gritty code questions (that's my job) BUT, these guys do great work and I've never had to deal with a fire or electrocution.

Merry Christmas!

_Pete

BTW, Scuba-Dave, you are good, I've read a lot of you post and admire your technical know-how.
 
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