Electrical Inspection on Farm Structures

[Detrick Easley]

Farm structures are exempt from building permits per the USBC; however,  when electrical service is put on a farm building our local power companyrequires a building inspector approval before connection. Is a locality permitted to charge for electrical permit for farm buildings and should we be doing inspection?

[Sean P. Farrell]

Detrick: if the building has been deemed a farm structure in accordance with the exemption criteria AND the definition criteria contained within the USBC, it is exempt from code period. That means the code provisions do not apply and there is no legal authority to regulate. If deemed a farm structure by the locality, I would offer the exemption determination to the utiilty company and defer any further debate to the untility company to address with the customer.

Sean P. Farrell

[Jamie Wilks]

Detrick: In my jurisdiction, very few buildings meet the definition of a farm structure and are exempt. However a few do meet the definition and are exempt. When they want electrical service, Dominion Energy will not connect power with out an inspection from the local Building Department. We do not perform inspections unless a permit has been issued. In these cases, the owner/contractor/etc will apply for and receive an electrical permit, and then we perform the required inspection. We have not found another way to handle it; it may be exempt, but we handle it similar to section 108.2 (when an owner or an owner’s agent requests that a permit be issued then a permit shall be issued and any related inspections shall be required). 

[Bob Orr]

Culpeper county requires a Farm Exemption affidavit and duly notarized.

Dominion along with REC has been accepting this instead of a permit and inspection.

Farm structures are exempt from the code, we as Building Officials have no authority over any aspect of these structures, if permitted  and inspection fails, they are under no obligation to satisfy the inspection deficiency, then what?

Good Luck.

Thank you,
Bob Orr
Building Official
Culpeper County

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