Article I. Administration.
Sec. 22.1-1. Repealed by ordinance passed 6-4-73.
Sec. 22.1-1.1. Adoption of Plumbing Code.
Those certain documents known and designated as the BOCA
Basic Plumbing Code, 1970 edition and 1972 Accumulative
Supplement, published and adopted by the Building Officials and
Code Administrators International, Inc., is hereby adopted as the
Plumbing Code of the city for regulating the design and
installation of plumbing systems, including sanitary and storm
drainage, sanitary facilities, water supplies, storm water and
sewage disposal in buildings within the city, provided for the
issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor, and providing
for enforcement thereof. Three copies of such documents shall be
kept on file in the office of clerk of the council for public
reference. (6-4-73, § 1.)
Sec. 22.1-2. Repealed by ordinance passed 6-4-73.
Sec. 22.1-2.1. Amendments to Plumbing Code; filling in
blanks.
The following blanks left in the Plumbing Code adopted in the
preceding section for the insertion of local requirements are
hereby completed as follows:
(a) The blank in section P-308.2 shall read "500 feet."
(b) The blanks in section P-313.3 shall read "one foot, six inches"
for water piping and "one foot" for sewer piping. (6-4-73, § 1.)
Sec. 22.1-3. Plumbing inspector—Powers and duties generally;
engaging in business; obstructing inspector.
There shall be employed a plumbing inspector who shall be
under the direction and control of the superintendent of
inspections in the public works department. The plumbing
inspector shall be charged with the duty of enforcing the
Plumbing Code and other regulations imposed by this chapter and
such other duties as may be assigned to him from time to time.
The plumbing inspector shall not engage in the business of
plumbing, pipe fitting or any other business pertaining thereto, or
be interested, directly or indirectly, in any firm or corporation
engaged in such lines of business during his term of office.
The plumbing inspector or his duly authorized representative is
hereby authorized and empowered to enter upon any building or
premises in the city for purpose of seeing that the provisions of
this chapter and the Plumbing Code are being complied with. No
person shall prevent the plumbing inspector or his duly
authorized representative from entering any building or premises
in the performance of his official duties, or obstruct or hinder him
in the performance of such duties. (10-19-64; 6-4-73, § 2.)
Sec. 22.1-4. Same—Duty as to notices and certificates;
records and reports; inspections generally.
It shall be the duty of the plumbing inspector, under the
direction of the city manager, to sign and issue all notices and
certificates, to keep a daily record of his work, including all
notices and applications received, all violations of this chapter,
and all other matters pertaining thereto, and make monthly
reports to the city manager. He shall inspect all buildings in
course of erection, alteration or repair so often as may be
necessary, and shall see that all plumbing, drainage and sewerage
work is done in accordance with this chapter or other applicable
city ordinances. The plumbing inspector shall promptly condemn
and order the removal of any defective material or any work not
done in accordance with this chapter or other city ordinances.
(10-19-64.)
Sec. 22.1-5. Plumbing board.
There shall be a plumbing board, consisting of the director of
public works, the plumbing inspector and two master plumbers,
appointed by the city manager. The master plumbers shall serve
for terms of two years or until their successors are appointed or
until one or both are reappointed. The plumbing board shall select
its own chairman. Three members of the plumbing board shall
constitute a quorum. Meetings shall be held at the call of the
chairman, or any member of the plumbing board after at least
twenty-four hours notice to each member. The members of the
plumbing board shall serve without pay. The plumbing board
shall examine applicants for registration as master plumbers and
journeyman plumbers as hereinafter provided and shall grant
registration to successful applicants. The plumbing board shall
also from time to time make recommendations to the city council
with respect to changes considered desirable by the plumbing
board in this Code or other ordinances of the city affecting
plumbing. The plumbing board, exclusive of the plumbing
inspector, shall serve as an appeal board to hear and decide any
appeals pertaining to the enforcement of this chapter or to any
decision rendered by the plumbing inspector. (10-19-64; 11-20-67;
3-11-68; 7-3-72.)
Sec. 22.1-6. Qualifications for registration as master
plumber.
(1) It shall be required of anyone desiring to be registered in
the city as a master plumber, to be examined as to their
knowledge of the requirements and regulations governing the
installation of plumbing in the city.
(2) Master plumbers currently registered in places other than
this city, which have a published Plumbing Code and registration
system similar to that of this city, shall be eligible to be examined
for registration in this city.
(3) Journeyman plumbers currently registered in this city for a
period of at least three years, desiring to be registered as master
plumbers, shall be eligible for examination.
(4) A journeyman plumber who has been registered for a
period of at least three years in places other than this city, such
places having a published Plumbing Code and registration system
similar to that of this city, after having been registered in this
city for a period of one year as a journeyman plumber, shall be
eligible to be examined for a master plumber's registration.
(5) A journeyman plumber who has been duly registered in the
city for a period of two years, and having worked in
the city as an apprentice for a period of eight years prior to
obtaining a journeyman registration, shall be eligible for an
examination for a master plumber's registration.
(6) The plumbing board may permit a person who has
worked in the city under the direct supervision of a master
plumber for a period of ten years, and who is currently registered
as a journeyman plumber in the city, to take an examination
for registration as a master plumber.
(7) Any person holding an appropriate engineering degree,
who has worked under the direct supervision of a registered
master plumber for a period of two years may be allowed to
take an examination for registration as a master plumber.
(8) Any person who has successfully completed a course of
instructions in plumbing offered by an accredited vocational-technical
school and who has been currently registered as a
journeyman plumber in this city for two years shall be eligible
for examination for certificate as master plumber. (10-19-64;
7-3-72.)
Sec. 22.1-7. Bond for master plumbers or persons engaged in
plumbing business.
A master plumber, or any person engaged in the plumbing
business, shall furnish bond in the sum of five thousand dollars
to indemnify and save harmless the city, its citizens, residents
and property owners against any and all loss by reason
of his failure to comply with the requirements of this chapter
or from neglect or carelessness in his work. Such bond shall
be renewed annually and placed in the hands of the plumbing
inspector on or before the first day of May of each year.
The increase in the sum of the bond shall apply to bonds required
to be filed on or before May 1, 1973. (10-19-64; 7-3-72.)
Sec. 22.1-8. Qualification for registration as journeyman
plumber.
An applicant for registration as a journeyman plumber shall
have served at least three years as an apprentice plumber in
the city or in a locality with a published Plumbing Code and
registration system similar to that of the city, and shall be
examined as to his knowledge of the practice of the trade of
plumbing, his knowledge of the requirements and regulations
governing the installation of plumbing in the city and his
knowledge of mechanics insofar as they are applied to plumbing
design and construction, and he shall generally demonstrate
to the plumbing board his fitness to properly perform
and execute plumbing work; provided, that any such apprentice
plumber who has successfully completed a course of instructions
in an accredited vocational-technical school shall be
eligible for examination after serving as an apprentice plumber
for two years. (10-19-64; 7-3-72.)
Sec. 22.1-9. Re-examination of applicants for registration.
In case of the failure of an applicant to pass the examination
for a master or journeyman plumber, he shall be eligible
for re-examination six months after such failure; but if he
fails at such re-examination he will be ineligible for another
examination until a further lapse of one year. (10-19-64.)
Sec. 22.1-10. Certificates of registration for plumbers.
Certificates of registration for plumbers shall be issued
for a period of one year only, from May 1 to April 30 of the
next year, and may be renewed without re-examination at the
end of the period. Anyone failing to apply for renewal of registration
for a period of one year after registration has expired
shall not be issued a certificate of registration until
qualified by re-examination.
The plumbing board shall have the authority to revoke any
certificate of registration upon written charges setting forth
that the holder of such certificate is incompetent or guilty of
breach of the provisions of this Code or other ordinances,
rules or regulations relating to sanitary plumbing, or the rules
and regulations adopted by the plumbing board, or for other
cause satisfactory to the plumbing board. However, before
such registration is revoked, the holder thereof shall be given
written notice of such charges and of time and place where
the plumbing board will proceed to hear evidence in regard
thereto, and he shall be entitled to be present at such meeting
and present evidence on his behalf.
The fee for each original certificate of registration shall be
two dollars and each renewal thereof one dollar, which shall
be paid into the city treasury before such registration shall
be effective. (10-19-64.)
Sec. 22.1-11. Plumbing permits to be granted only to master
plumbers; who may do plumbing work.
Plumbing permits shall be issued only to a duly registered
master plumber or to an authorized employee of a business
employing such a master plumber. All permits shall be signed
by a master plumber or on his behalf by an authorized employee.
It shall be the responsibility of each person to keep on
file with the plumbing inspector a list of employees authorized
to sign the master plumber's name for issuance of a permit,
and the plumbing inspector, so long as such employee's name
is listed, may issue a permit to such employee and hold the
master plumber liable for compliance to this chapter for the
job for which the permit was issued.
Only a master plumber, a journeyman plumber or individuals
under the immediate supervision of a master or journeyman
plumber shall be allowed to make any connection
with sewer, drain, soil, waste, vent or water pipe, or make
any alterations or additions to any sewer, drain, soil, waste,
vent or water pipe; provided, that this shall not prevent the
digging of ditches by individuals without the presence of a
master or journeyman plumber on the job.
Journeyman plumbers, who are duly registered as hereinbefore
set forth, performing plumbing work shall be employees
of a master plumber or of a business employing a master
plumber, to whom a permit has been issued. (10-19-64.)
Sec. 22.1-12. Certificate of proficiency.
(a) Application; examination; certificate prerequisite to
license; expiration of certificate issued to representative of
firm or corporation. Every person desiring to enter the field
of plumbing within the jurisdiction of the provisions of this
Code and other ordinances, rules and regulations concerning
plumbing in the city shall give notice of such fact in writing
to the plumbing inspector. Such person shall be a master
plumber or employ a master plumber in good standing at the
time of such notice. After this notice, the plumbing board
shall issue a certificate of proficiency which shall entitle such
person to obtain from the commissioner of revenue a license[374]
to engage in the business of plumbing contractor in the city,
upon payment of the license tax prescribed by law therefor.
Every such certificate issued to a firm or corporation shall be
valid as long as the individual holding a valid master plumber's
registration card, who applied therefor on behalf of such
firm or corporation, is in the employ or actively engaged in the
business of such firm or corporation. In the event such individual
leaves the employ of such firm or corporation or is no
longer actively engaged in such business, such certificate shall
forthwith become null and void and such firm or corporation
shall not be authorized to engage in such business until some
other individual of such firm or corporation conforms to the
provisions of this section.
(b) Nontransferable; duration. Certificates issued under
the provisions of this section shall not be transferable and
shall continue in force as long as such persons are engaged in
the business of a plumbing contractor or as long as such duly
accredited master plumber is employed by or actively engaged
in the business of such firm or corporation.
(c) Notice of change in place of business; surrender of
certificate upon retirement, etc. It shall be the duty of every
person holding such certificate to give immediate written notice
to the plumbing inspector of any change in the place of
business or retirement from business of such person. If such
person retires from business for which a certificate was issued,
such certificate shall immediately be surrendered to the plumbing
inspector.
(d) Certificates previously issued. All certificates heretofore
issued to any person to engage in the business of a plumbing
contractor shall be valid and effectual until the same becomes
null and void as provided in this section.
(e) Investigation of fitness of certificate holders; revocation or
suspension of certificates. The plumbing board may, on its own
motion, and shall, on receipt of complaint, investigate the fitness
of any certified master or journeyman plumber to continue to
hold such certificate. If, after hearing, the board finds the
individual no longer fit to hold the certificate for which he had
previously qualified, the board may revoke or suspend such
certificate under such conditions as it deems warranted by its
findings. (10-19-64; 7-3-72.)
Sec. 22.1-13. When plumbing permit and inspection required.
A plumbing permit and inspection shall be required whenever
the city furnishes an applicant with water to supply plumbing
fixtures; provided, that owners of property outside the city,
desiring to connect to a city water main, shall make written
application therefor to the city manager. If the city manager
approves such application, he shall grant a permit for such
connection provided that the owner executes a contract with the
city agreeing to comply with all city plumbing ordinances.
A plumbing permit shall be required for the installation,
roughing-in or changing of any sewer, waste, vent, trap, or
fixture. The word "fixture" shall be construed to mean each water
closet, sink, bathtub, shower, lavatory, urinal, wash tray, floor
drain, washing machine connection, disposal or any water using
apparatus which is connected to the waste or drainage system
through a trap.
Except for emergency plumbing work, for which a plumbing
permit would be required, all plumbing permits shall be applied
for and issued before the commencement of plumbing work on the
job. It shall be the duty of the master plumber, as soon after the
emergency as is possible, to notify the plumbing inspector of the
emergency work done and to secure a permit therefor. (10-19-64.)
Sec. 22.1-14. Repealed by ordinance passed 6-4-73.
