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HomePublic Utilities CodeDiv. 4Ch. 5Art. 2§ 8027 Electrical Wire Pole Clearance

§ 8027 Electrical Wire Pole Clearance

Public Utilities Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 8027 Electrical Wire Pole Clearance

Key Takeaways

  • •Keep electric wires and poles at least 13 inches apart from each other.
  • •If a wire or pole is added later and is too close, it’s the one breaking the rule.
  • •This rule doesn’t apply to signal wires or poles with only signal wires, unless they’re in a city.
  • •Long-distance phone lines can sometimes ignore this rule if following it would mess up phone service.

Example

A company puts up a new electric wire next to an old pole.

If the new wire is closer than 13 inches to the pole, the company broke the rule because the wire was added last.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 8027 Electrical Wire Pole Clearance

No person shall run, place, erect, or maintain in the vicinity of any pole (and unattached thereto) within the distance of 13 inches from the center line of the pole, any wire or cable used to conduct electricity, or place, erect or maintain any pole (to which is attached any wire or cable used to conduct electricity) within the distance of 13 inches (measured from the center of such pole) from any wire or cable used to conduct or carry electricity. As between any wire or cable and any pole, only the wire, cable, or pole last in point of time run, placed, or erected, shall be held to be run, placed, erected, or maintained in violation of the provisions of this section. This section does not apply to signal wires, or cables on poles to which are attached no other wires, as between such wires and poles to which are attached no other wires or cables than signal wires if such wires, cables, and poles are not within the corporate limits of a city. Telephone toll lines may be exempt from this section if proper evidence introduced before the commission proves to the satisfaction of the commission, that compliance would seriously interfere with long distance telephone transmission. (Enacted by Stats. 1951, Ch. 764.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

compliancedistancecommissionelectricityno onevicinityviolationevidence

Related Statutes

  • § 8026 Electrical Wire Pole Clearance
  • § 8028 High Voltage Wire Clearance
  • § 1031 Passenger Stage Certificate Requirement
  • § 8030 Guy Wire Insulation Requirements
  • § 8033 High Voltage Wire Safety

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Public Utilities Code. Section 8027.
View Official Source