BMF, yea, i'd be happy to talk to you about my experiences. I currently have an electrician and a plumber set up but haven't worked with them enough yet to have a fully formed opinion. feel free to hit me up though as you start planning out your project and I'll share what i have learned from mine at that point. also, i started a separate thread to document all aspects of my project here that i will keep up periodically with all of my mistakes, and learnings throughout this if it is any help to you.

Bump to remind myself to post the list of exceptions to permitting.

http://edocs.publicworks.houstontx.gov/division-files/planning-and-development-services-division/enforcement/forms-and-publications/houston-amendments-and-code-related-documents/4182-2014-nec-houston-amendments.html

Download and see pg. 11, I am not making any recommendations or assumptions based on what is here, but you can read it yourself and decide.

quote:

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301.2 Exempt Work. Exemption from the permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant
authorization for any work to be done in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or
ordinances.
An electrical permit shall not be required for the following:
1. Motors, office furnishings (as defined by NFPA 70, Article 605) or other appliances energized by
means of a cord or cable having an attachment plug end to be connected to an approved receptacle when
the cord or cable is permitted by this code. Note: This exception does not apply to manufactured wiring
systems as defined in NFPA 70, Article 604.
2. Repair or replacement of fixed motors, transformers or fixed approved appliances of the same type
and rating in the same location.
3. Temporary decorative lighting, which shall not be in place more than 90 calendar days.
4. Repair or replacement of current-carrying parts of a switch, contactor or control device.
5. Reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles, but not the outlets therefor.
6. Repair or replacement of any overcurrent device of the same capacity in the same location.
7. Installation of temporary wiring, apparatus, devices, appliances or equipment used by a recognized
electrical training school or college for the purpose of training, which installation shall not be in place
more than 90 calendar days.
8. Electrical wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus or equipment operating at less than 50 volts and
not capable of supplying or controlling more than 50 watts of power.
9. Sound equipment, private or public telephone system, thermostat wiring or burglar alarm system,
provided, however, a permit shall be required to wire any such system to the source of electricity.
10. Installation and maintenance of railway crossing signal devices, when performed by due
authority of the railroad in accordance with the standards of the American Railroad Association, and in
collaborration with and with the approval of the Director of the Department of Public Works and
Engineering of the city.
11. The installation, maintenance or alteration of electrical wiring, apparatus, devices, appliances or
equipment to be installed by an electric utility company for its own use in the generation, transmission,
distribution, sale or utilization of electrical energy. However, no electric utility company shall do any
wiring on a customer's premises other than wiring that is a part of the company's distribution system,
which shall be construed to include metering equipment, wherever located, and transformer vaults in
which the company's transformers are located; nor shall any of its employees do any work other than that
done for said company as provided for herein by virtue of this exception.12
12. Erection, assembly, installation, repair, maintenance or servicing of elevator equipment, X-ray
equipment, proton therapy equipment, and medical electronic equipment, other than for the power wiring
connection of the first component, provided that the components of the equipment can be rendered safe
from fire and shock hazards during operation by disconnection from electrical power sources.
13. Removal of electrical wiring.

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