Re: Do you always get a permit??
In NJ, persons working w/o the neccessary permits are fined (when caught).
Here is some PUBLIC information that illustrates the , sometimes, severe penalties:
State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
Minutes Page
The penalties range from about $1000.00 to over $31,000.00. The more persons that get fined, the less will assume they can do whatever they like - which creates a hazard for not only the property owner, but also the EC that must eventually straighten the mess out, and the EMS crews and fire personnal who must respond to 911 calls.
In NJ, in conjunction with the NEC, we have the Rehab Code. The Rehab Code is NOT a substitute for pulling a permit or following established guidelines in the NEC. It is a code that allows(basically) for replacement of like items - meaning the entire property may not actually need to be brought up to current code in certain applications.
Not obtaining a neccessary permit could also result in the property owners ins. co. NOT paying out on a claim. Imagine the outlets/feeders you install fail and a fire starts...the ins. co. determines the cause of fire to be faulty wiring...they investigate who did the work to find NO PERMITS were pulled...claim denied. The property owner in turn sues your company for the damage you caused. Your ins. co. may deny you representation because you did not have the job inspected as required through the permit process. The property owner now sues you personally. Is the $45 permit fee really that much of a burden?
I live in a (almost)major city in NJ. For me to get a permit takes about 20 minutes. Larger cities, such as Jersey City (one of the largest in NJ) may take 45 minutes. I see NO substanial issue to encourage me to NOT get the permits when neccessary or as required.
Granted, not all cities within a given State have the same requirements for what determines what requires a permit and what doesn't. When in doubt, err on the side of caution, and call that particular town/city's building dept. In my own city, I can replace a 15/20A recept. w/o a permit...BUT...if that replacement outlet is a GFCI, a permit is required.
Let me remind you:
90.1 Purpose.
(A) Practical Safeguarding. The purpose of this Code is the practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity.
Not obtaining a permit, when required, violates the purpose of the NEC....which is enforced by the EI. Calling yourself an EC, implies that you understand and will adhere to the provisions in the NEC and the req's of the State/county/town you work in. You charge a premium for your knowledge - are you willing to forego your reputation (and livelyhood) to save a few dollars?
NOTE: I stress that this IS public information, as the contents of this post may have been previously deleted.