According to the City of Los Angeles Electrical Code section 93.0402, as well as section 110.2 of the State of California and National Electrical Code, only the conductors and equipment required or permitted (by the code) are acceptable when they are approved.

If an unlisted electrical product is inadvertently installed in the City of Los Angeles, the installer can request for a field evaluation of the product from the City of Los Angeles Electrical Test Lab or from a recognized testing agency, however, the equipment would not be permitted to be energized to operate until either an approval is obtained from the Electrical Test Lab, or an acceptable field evaluation by a recognized test lab is completed and a satisfactory report is submitted to the Department electrical inspection in order to obtain approval from them.

The City of Los Angeles Electrical Test lab (or LADBS-ETL) was established in 1925 to provide assistance to the industry, local manufacturers, business, inspection authorities, hospitals, importers, construction projects and the citizens of the City of Los Angeles in obtaining product approval at a low cost. As such, the test lab tests electrical products for compliance with the established safety standards as well as the requirements of the electrical code. A product is considered approved by the LADBS-ETL, when it conforms to the accepted, established, or amended safety standard(s), as well as the electrical code.

At times, where there are no specific standard, or an existing safety standard lacks in evaluation or testing of an electrical product, the electrical test lab develops or expands safety standards in conformance with the electrical code and evaluates the product to assure protection from fire, shock and personnel hazard.

In general yes; however, if fraudulent, counterfeited, or non-applicable listing mark or logo is used on the electrical products, or if the installer misapply or use the product for other than its intended purpose, or if the installer does not follow the installation instructions of the product, the Department would treat them as an unlisted electrical product, and will notify the testing agency of the problem. The installer will be required to resolve the matter with the listing agency, or submit the product to City of Los Angeles Electrical Test Lab for evaluation and approval or any other recognized testing agency, or remove the product.