Title
Consider and take action on an ordinance amending Section 22-60, entitled "Amendments to National Electrical Code" of the Code of Ordinances of the City of League City to allow the use of copper clad aluminum wire (Chief Building Official)
Background:
Approval of this item will allow for the use of copper clad aluminum wire within the City. Chapter 22, Article III, Section 22-60 details local amendments to the National Electrical Code (NEC) that League City has adopted. Following the adoption of the 2023 NEC in December 2023, a question was raised whether to allow the use of copper clad aluminum wiring for new construction within the city.
In 2019, Texas passed House Bill 2439 which in general notes that a governmental entity, including a city, may not adopt or enforce a rule, charter provision, ordinance, building code, or other regulation that prohibits or limits the use or installation of a building product or material if the building product is approved for use by a national model code published within the last 3 cycles. This bill also notes that a City can not establish a more stringent standard for building materials than a national model code allows. See further background information in the attached Legal Q&A information from the Texas Municipal League website.
In 2023, Copper clad aluminum wire was included as a permissible product in the National Electric Code. In compliance with House Bill 2439 and to provide further clarification to the development community, Staff is proposing to revise Section 22-60(2) to the following:
(2) No aluminum wire shall be used in the city for electrical purposes in residences, apartments, commercial buildings, or other buildings. No aluminum wire shall be used past the supply side of a meter at any premises, except for temporary services and feeders for construction purposes. Copper clad aluminum wire may be used in compliance with state law.
If this amendment is approved, it will give the Chief Building Of...
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