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Aug 16, 2023

Casper City Council approves updates to national electrical code on 1st read

New home under construction in south Casper in February, 2022 (Gregory Hirst,

New home under construction in south Casper in February, 2022 (Gregory Hirst, Oil City News)

CASPER, Wyo. — To maintain local enforcement authority, City Attornney Eric Nelson has told councilors the City of Casper has to adopt at least the same electrical codes the state has adopted or forfeit the right to regulate its own citizens.

On Tuesday, June 6, the Casper City Council acknowledged the fact by passing unanimously the first ordinance reading of amendments to six sections of municipal code adopting 2023 National Fire Protection Association 70, National Electrical Code. The ordinance becomes law if passed on three readings.

"We literally have no choice," Mayor Bruce Knell said, explaining if the city does not adopt the up-to-date codes, the state has the ability to enforce electrical codes in Casper.

Councilor Steve Cathey, opposed at dictating what people do within their own homes, said he would vote to pass the ordinance against his "better judgement."

"They’re not only telling you what type of outlets you have to put in, but where to put them," Cathey said. … "Enough's enough. But as Mr. Mayor has said, to maintain any sense of local control we have to pass this."

NFPA is a gobal self-funded nonprofit organization established in 1896 to eliminate death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The City of Casper Building Division Community Development Department is responsible for updating and enforcing all City of Casper building codes.

According to a city staff memo, Wyoming law requires the city to adopt the same building codes as the state within the same calendar year. All sections of the city's building codes are on a three-year update cycle, with the National Electrical Code a year ahead of other building code revisions. This year, the state will adopt the 2023 NFPA 70, NEC on July 1, replacing the 2020 version.

Speaking during public comment at the June 6 council meeting, former Natrona County state legislator Patrick Sweeney acknowledged the council has little choice but to adopt the code changes. He asked councilors to visit with some of the newer legislators on the issue in the future, and encouraged the city to work with contractors and realtors on code guidelines regarding older buildings.

Councilor Lisa Engebretsen, a realtor, said a person can purchase a house with old electrical.

"The problem is when they have inspections done, the inspector is inspecting to current codes," she said.

Buyers are not comfortable purchasing a homes with outdated electrical, and so they expect it be brought up to code, Engebretsen said.

"The crutch of it all, is technically we can sell them," she said. "It's just that it's presented as a fire hazard and a safety issue, and so buyers don't want to buy."

This means sellers have to brings the buildings up to code to sell them, she said.

City of Casper Community Development officials are predicting that proposed changes to municipal electrical code on average could add $500–$1,000 to newly built residential homes of typical construction.

Justin Scott, a city building inspector, summarized in writing the significant changes to the 2023 National Electrical Code that will impact residential and commercial structures. They include:

These are a few of many changes that happen every code cycle that will add some cost to construction on homes, motels and some commercial installations, Scott wrote.

"The main costs are in the breakers required for many of these installs," he wrote. "On average it will cost $500–$1,000 more for typical new-residential construction. Surge protection has doubled and will certainly add cost to new motels and hotels."

Another issue is availability of some electrical equipment, and that inability to obtain equipment is leading to longer lead times and increased material costs, Scott wrote.

Read more about the 2023 National Fire Protection Association 70, National Electrical Code proposed amended ordinance here:

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