Scattered throughout standards like the National Electrical Code, you'll find reference to an entity known as "The Authority Having Jurisdiction". In fact, this same language is common beyond the codes; you'll see references to The Authority Having Jurisdiction (often shortened to AHJ) in project contracts, electrical textbooks and more. The term is ubiquitous and sounds like a comic book villain, but what does it really mean?
The Authority Having Jurisdiction is a placeholder term for the person with ultimate authority on the installation. The reason why the Code began to use references to the AHJ is because of the Code's scope. In different cities, counties, and states across the United States of America, electrical installations are subject to different kinds of permitting and approval requirements. The AHJ is simply the person or entity responsible for enforcing the Code and certifying plans for construction and/or installation. This could be an inspector, a qualified government official, or even an engineer of record who stamps the design. Requirements vary, often from city to city. Wherever you are planning on working, it's always important to reach out to the local government at the onset of the project and determine who will be the AHJ.
Understanding the expectations of the AHJ is exceptionally important. The AHJ should always be included on design set review, both preliminary and final. It can be easy to get ahead of yourself as the Engineer of Record on a design; However, getting to the Issued for Construction stage and realizing that your project won't be signed off by the governing authority is bad news for everyone involved.
You may be tempted to avoid working with the AHJ, especially if you feel confident in your abilities as a designer. Unfortunately, the NEC is subject to interpretation. The Code is notoriously complex and filled with cross-references between sections. No matter how smart you may be, there are bound to be disagreements around both the intent and the language of the NEC.
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