Council backs moving residential electrical-inspection fee ordinance to legislative session

Bill 6 of 2025, an amendment to the city's electrical code to implement fees for certain residential electrical inspections performed by the city, was presented and discussed by council.

Anne Montgomery, the city administrator, and Michael Jurovich, the city's new residential electrical inspector, explained that the position was created last year and that the ordinance establishes a fee schedule for in-house inspections of single-family and two-family dwellings. The administration said many third-party inspectors charged more than the proposed city fees and that municipal inspections should improve public safety by giving the city direct oversight over residential wiring work.

Officials gave examples: a 200-amp service inspection for a single-family home would be billed by the city at $100, compared with about $140 charged by some third parties; two-family inspections were compared similarly. Council members asked about scope and logistics; staff said the residential program would start July 1, 2025, and that commercial inspections would continue to be handled by third parties for now.

Councilman Jones asked whether the change would reduce homeowner costs and reduce friction for inspections; staff said it was expected to lower fees and to improve safety oversight. The bill will be returned to the legislative agenda as an amended ordinance to include a fee that had been omitted from the draft.

Next steps: council moved Bill 6 of 2025 to the next legislative session for formal consideration with an amended fee schedule.