Key facts
| City | Electrical permit | Owner wiring | Other rule to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | Required, with inspection | State exclusion for own residence; still inspected | Listed spa; disconnect 5 ft from inside wall, in sight |
| Fargo, ND | Required for electrical projects | Own and occupy; permission number first | Decks need a permit; bare slabs do not |
| Sioux Falls, SD | State homeowner permit or contractor | Homeowner permit, apply 2 weeks ahead | Barrier exemption with ASTM F1346 cover; swim spas are pools |
| Billings, MT | Required | City says most electrical permits go only to licensed electricians | 2021 ISPSC and 2020 NEC adopted |
| Cheyenne, WY | Required; pools listed too | State Home Owner Wiring permit, $50 waived with paid inspection | Building Department 307-637-6265 |
| Charleston, WV | Building Department issues electrical permits | No license needed on own property (29-3B-3) | Permit Coordinator, 915 Quarrier St |
Sources: Anchorage Handout E.07; AS 08.40.190; Fargo Inspections FAQ; North Dakota self wiring requirements; Sioux Falls pools, hot tubs and spas guide; South Dakota homeowner wiring; Billings Building Division FAQ and adopted codes; Cheyenne building FAQ; Wyoming wiring permits; Charleston Building Department; W. Va. Code 29-3B-3.
Anchorage: Handout E.07
Anchorage's handout on pools, spas and hot tubs says all electrical wiring requires a permit and inspection. A package spa must carry third party certification from UL, CSA or ETL, or be field evaluated by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. Bonding covers metal parts 4 inches or larger within 5 feet horizontally and 12 feet vertically of the water. Following NEC 680.13, the disconnect must be within sight of the spa and at least 5 feet from its inside wall, and other receptacles at least 10 feet away. Alaska's AS 08.40.190(b)(3) lets owners do electrical work on their own residential property not intended for sale, but subsection (c) keeps that work subject to inspection.
Fargo and Sioux Falls
Fargo's Inspections FAQ says permits are required for electrical projects and for decks, while a bare patio or slab with nothing built on it needs none, which matters if the tub goes on a new deck. North Dakota's self wiring handout requires that you own and occupy the home and get a permission number before you start. In Sioux Falls, a self-contained spa or hot tub is one holding water more than 24 inches deep. The city applies pool barrier rules to spas, at least 48 inches tall with no gaps over 4 inches and self-closing, self-latching gates, but exempts a spa or hot tub with a safety cover meeting ASTM F1346. South Dakota needs no license to wire your own residence, but requires an approved homeowner permit applied for two weeks ahead with proof of ownership, and not for rental property.
Billings and Cheyenne
Billings has adopted the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, the 2020 National Electrical Code and the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code. Its Building Division FAQ says that, by law, most electrical and plumbing permits can only be issued to licensed electricians and plumbers, so call 406-657-8270 before planning to wire the tub yourself. Elsewhere in Montana, the state issues homeowner electrical permits outside certified cities, counties and towns. Cheyenne's FAQ lists pools and electrical systems among work that needs permits. Wyoming's Home Owner Wiring permit is applied for through the State Fire Marshal portal, and the $50 permit fee is waived when an inspection is requested and paid.
Charleston, West Virginia
West Virginia's 29-3B-3(a)(1) says no license is required for electrical work on property owned or leased by you or your immediate family. Charleston's Building Department issues permits for electrical work and accessory structures through its Permit Coordinator at 915 Quarrier Street, Suite 5. File before the work starts and schedule the inspection.
Worked example: hot tub or swim spa in Sioux Falls
Take two buyers in Sioux Falls. One buys a 6 person hot tub with a lockable cover listed to ASTM F1346. Under the city guide, that tub is exempt from the barrier rules, so no 48 inch fence is needed for it, though the electrical work still needs a homeowner permit applied for two weeks ahead or a licensed electrician. The other buys a swim spa. The city regulates swim spas as swimming pools, so the cover exemption does not apply, and the yard needs a barrier at least 48 inches tall with no gaps over 4 inches and self-closing, self-latching gates. Price the fence before choosing a swim spa.
Related guides
- Hot tub permit rules in Louisville, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Oklahoma City, Boise and more
- Do you need a permit for a hot tub? What 10 cities and counties require
- Hot tub fence and safety cover laws by state
- Hot tub disconnect and GFCI: the 5 foot rule
- Hot tub on a deck: weight per square foot
Frequently asked questions
Does a hot tub need a permit in Anchorage?
Yes for the wiring. Anchorage's Handout E.07 on pools, spas and hot tubs says all electrical wiring requires a permit and inspection, and a package spa must carry third party certification such as UL, CSA or ETL or be field evaluated by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.
How far does the hot tub disconnect have to be in Anchorage?
Handout E.07 cites NEC 680.13: the disconnect must be within sight of the spa and at least 5 feet from its inside wall. Other receptacles go at least 10 feet away, and metal parts within 5 feet horizontally and 12 feet vertically fall under the bonding rules.
Does Sioux Falls require a fence around a hot tub?
Not if the spa or hot tub has a listed safety cover. Sioux Falls applies its pool barrier rules (at least 48 inches tall, no gaps over 4 inches, self-closing and self-latching gates) to spas, but exempts a spa or hot tub with a safety cover meeting ASTM F1346. Swim spas are regulated as swimming pools.
Who can pull an electrical permit for a hot tub in Billings?
Billings' Building Division FAQ says that, by law, most electrical and plumbing permits can only be issued to licensed electricians and licensed plumbers. Call the Building Division at 406-657-8270 before planning to do the wiring yourself. Billings has adopted the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code and the 2020 NEC.
Can I wire my own hot tub in Fargo?
North Dakota's self wiring handout requires that you both own and occupy the residence and get a permission number from the state electrical inspector or the State Electrical Board before starting. Fargo's Inspections FAQ says electrical projects need permits.
What does a homeowner wiring permit cost in Wyoming?
The State Fire Marshal's Home Owner Wiring permit carries a $50 wiring permit fee that is waived when an inspection is requested and paid. Cheyenne's building FAQ lists pools and electrical systems among work that needs permits.
Can I wire a hot tub myself in Charleston, West Virginia?
W. Va. Code 29-3B-3(a)(1) says no electrician license is required for electrical work on property owned or leased by you or your immediate family. Charleston's Building Department still issues electrical permits, so apply before the work starts.
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