Definition:
An Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) is an organization, office, or individual responsible for enforcing compliance with applicable codes, regulations, and standards within a given jurisdiction. This is often a U.S. term. The AHJ is a key entity to interface with early in projects.
In the U.S., an AHJ is often simply called the “Inspector.”
Key Points:
- AHJs may include regulatory agencies, insurance inspectors, or fire marshals.
- This is a different entity, with a different setup and authority, than a Notified Body (NoBo) common in Europe.
- A typical AHJ from a local city is likely to know nothing or very little about Functional Safety, PSM, RMP, or IEC 61511-1. In some of these cases, OSHA may act as the AHJ.
Example:
For a chemical plant, the local OSHA representative may act as the AHJ during a Process Safety Management (PSM) compliance audit. Thus the more typical city or county AHJ would not be involved.
See Also: notified body (NoBo), accreditation body
Cited Source:
- NFPA 70:2026, National Electrical Code®, Article 100
- NFPA article on AHJ