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Board reduces penalty for unpermitted emergency electrical repairs after life-safety inspections
Summary
Sophie Lau appealed a nine-times penalty assessed after emergency electrical repairs following a March fire. DBI said inspections found incomplete or noncompliant work requiring multiple visits; the board reduced the penalty to five times the regular fee (4-1 vote).
Property owner Sophie Lau appealed a nine-times investigative penalty imposed for electrical work carried out after a March 10 fire at 1430 Larkin Street. Lau said she acted promptly, obtained a contractor and attempted to follow DBI instructions, and argued the penalty was unfair given the emergency.
DBI's Lawrence Kornfield reported the department—s inspections found only partial, noncompliant repairs initially, that the work required multiple correction notices and life-safety testing (including smoke-detector testing and verification of feeder sizes and conduit supports), and that the permit was not finalized until several visits. DBI said state law requires emergency work to be permitted within one business day and that, for multi-family housing, permits must be pulled by a licensed electrician.
Commissioners weighed the department—s investigative costs and the appellant—s efforts to comply. The board reduced the penalty from nine times to five times the regular fee, concluding DBI was entitled to recover inspection costs but acknowledging the appellant—s mitigating circumstances. The final roll call was 4-1 to reduce the penalty.
