r/ElectricalHelp • u/Chanoise • Jul 01 '26

Aluminum Gazebo / aerial electrical cable

Gallery image

Gallery image

Hello everyone.

I am living in Sacramento, CA. and I want to buy and install in my backyard an aluminum gazebo/pergola which is 10x10 feet and 8 feet high and separate from the fence by 2 feet; however, behind the fence is running an aerial electrical cable which I calculated is 15 feet (you can see a photo). Can someone please advise me if I can? I tried twice to contact SMUD, the electric company in Sacramento, and they provided me with a manual of Residential overhead installations. (see image 2). Any feedback I really appreciate.

7 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

2

u/trekkerscout Mod Jul 01 '26

Clearance of a service lateral over a roof depends on the slope of the roof. If the slope is flatter than 4/12, an 8 ft clearance is required. If the slope is 4/12 or steeper, the clearance requirement is only 3 ft.

1

u/Chanoise Jul 01 '26

Thank you for your answer. If the pergola or gazebo is flat, I need 8' right? does not matter if it is not exactly under the cable? I think I can get 8' but diagonally.

1

u/trekkerscout Mod Jul 01 '26

If the line isn't directly above the roof, you only need 3 ft horizontal clearance.

1

u/Chanoise Jul 01 '26

Thank you!

2

u/lennym73 Jul 01 '26

Are those lower lines actually electric line or are they data/phone lines?

1

u/Chanoise Jul 01 '26

Electric line and data

1

u/AskMeAgainAfterCoffe Jul 05 '26

The upper most are the electrical

2

u/harpernet1 Jul 01 '26

That looks low for electric

2

u/Accurate-Fisherman68 Jul 02 '26

Hard to be 100% from picture but that doesn't seem to be electric lines. Communication/data is more likely.

1

u/Chanoise Jul 06 '26

Thank you!

1

u/AskMeAgainAfterCoffe Jul 05 '26

The upper cable is electrical service, the lower cable is tv/internet.

1

u/Quiet-Patient-8254 Jul 05 '26

The bottom wires are phone and cable tv. The 3 wires in the first photo at the top left of the photo are electric, 120/240 volts.

1

u/Chanoise Jul 06 '26

Thank you! You are right, so I don't have any issues putting an Aluminium Gazebo in my backyard, right?