Chapter 27
PLUMBING¹

Sec. 27-1. Plumbing contractor defined.

A plumbing contractor shall mean any person who is engaged in the business of plumbing at an established place of business who does or who sets himself out as willing to do, himself personally, if he has been issued a plumber’s certificate of competency by the state of Idaho or through his qualified employees, any work or service in the installation, alteration or repair of plumbing, water and drainage systems or parts thereof and who is registered as provided in this chapter. (Code 1960, § 26-1; Ord. No. 3898, § 14, 1-4-88; Ord. No. 3945, § 1, 5-30-89; Ord. No. 4086, § 1, 1-3-94; Ord. No. 4232, § 1, 6-21-99)

Sec. 27-2. Adoption of Uniform Plumbing Code; incorporation by reference.

(a) The 2006 edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code, as adopted by the city council and as amended herein, including the installation standards compiled by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, is hereby adopted by reference and made a part of this chapter as though fully set forth herein, except as amended hereinafter.

(b) Not less than three (3) copies of the adopted edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code, shall be retained by the city, one (1) copy of which shall be filed in the office of the city clerk for use and examination by the public during normal business hours, as provided by Idaho Code, Section 50-901. (Ord. No. 3190, § 1, 1-14-74; Ord. No. 3661, § 2, 8-2-82; Ord. No. 3786, § 14, 8-26-85; Ord. No. 3826, § 5, 7-7-86; Ord. No. 3945, § 2, 5-30-89; Ord. No. 4086, § 1, 1-3-94; Ord. No. 4456, § 3, 1-8-07)

State law reference – Power to incorporate codes by reference, Idaho Code, § 50-901.

Sec. 27-3. Amendments to Uniform Plumbing Code.

(a) Definitions. The following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them below:

Commercial shall mean any residential unit consisting of five (5) or more residential units and shall apply to any new construction, additions and remodels for all commercial and industrial school, hospital, church, hotel and motel structure.

Residential shall mean any structure with four (4) or fewer residential units. A residential permit fee shall be paid for each individual living unit.

(b) Fees.

(1) Permit fees. All plumbing fees shall be assessed as set forth in the plumbing fee schedule adopted by resolution from time to time by the city council. Beginning October 1, 2006, and each succeeding October 1st, thereafter, plumbing permit fees shall be increased by the same percentage as the increase in the consumer price index as published by the United States Department of Labor or other federal agency for the preceding twelve (12) months ending on the prior May 31st.

(2) Plan review fees. When submittal documents are required a plan review fee shall be paid upon application for a permit. Said plan review fee shall be twenty-five (25) percent of the plumbing permit fee as shown in the fee schedule. Plan review fees specified in this section are separate fees from the permit fees and are in addition to the permit fees. When submittal documents are incomplete or changed so as to require additional plan review an additional plan review fee shall be charged as shown in the fee schedule.

(3) Refunds. Upon written application within one hundred eighty (180) days of permit issuance, the building official may refund up to eighty (80) percent of the permit fees paid pursuant to this section if no work is performed on the permit. (Ord. No. 3190, § 2, 1-14-74; Ord. No. 3661, § 3, 8-2-82; Ord. No. 3786, § 15, 8-26-85; Ord. No. 3826, § 6, 7-7-86; Ord. No. 4086, § 1, 1-3-94; Ord. No. 4151, § 1, 12-18-95; Ord. No. 4232, § 2, 6-21-99; Ord. No. 4333, § 3, 8-25-03; Ord. No. 4456, § 4, 1-8-07)

Sec. 27-4. Violation.

Any person, firm or corporation who shall willfully violate any provision of the Uniform Plumbing Code as adopted herein shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed three hundred dollars ($300.00) or by imprisonment in the Nez Perce County Jail for not to exceed ninety (90) days, or by both fine and imprisonment. Each separate day or any portion thereof during which any violation of this code occurs or continues shall be deemed to constitute a separate offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable as herein provided. Any violation is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and, in addition to any other remedies available to the city, the city shall have the right to seek relief by injunction, abatement, or other appropriate action against such violation from any court of competent jurisdiction. (Ord. No. 3190, § 3, 1-14-74; Ord. No. 3661, § 4, 8-2-82; Ord. No. 3786, § 16, 8-26-85; Ord. No. 4086, § 1, 1-3-94)

Sec. 27-5. Board of appeals created.

In order to determine the suitability of alternate materials, to permit reasonable interpretation of the provisions of the most current adopted edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code, and in order to provide a method of appeals from the decision of the building official, there is hereby created a board of appeals, which board of appeals shall be the same board of appeals established by Section 204 of the Uniform Building Code, as amended by section 10-3 of this code. (Ord. No. 3190, § 4, 1-14-74; Ord. No. 3661, § 5, 8-2-82; Ord. No. 3826, § 7, 7-7-86; Ord. No. 3945, § 3, 5-30-89; Ord. No. 4086, § 1, 1-3-94)

Editor’s note – Ord. No. 3786, §§ 1, 14, enacted Aug. 26, 1985, provides for the adoption of the Uniform Building Code, 1985 Edition, and the Uniform Plumb-ing Code, 1985 Edition, respectively. Section 3 of said Ord. No. 3786 specifically amends Section 204 of the Uniform Building Code, pertaining to a board of appeals, as codified herein at section 10-3(a).

Secs. 27-6 – 27-12. Reserved.

Editor’s note – Ord. No. 4232, § 3, approved June 21, 1999, repeals §§ 27-6 – 27-12, regarding licensing requirements for plumbing contractors. These provisions derived from Code 1960 §§ 26-4, 26-5 and 26-7 – 26-10, as amended by Ord. No. 2834, § 1, Ord. No. 3013, § 1, approved Feb. 22, 1971, Ord. No. 3593, § 18, approved Oct. 26, 1981, Ord. No. 3613, § 1, approved Dec. 21, 1981, Ord. No. 3898, § 15, approved Jan. 4, 1988 and Ord. No. 4086, § 1, approved Jan. 3, 1994.

Sec. 27-13. Registration.

Before any person shall carry on or engage in the business of plumbing, he or she shall first register his or her name and address and show proof of appropriate state license with the community development department, together with such other information as may be required. (Code 1960, § 26-11; Ord. No. 3898, § 16, 1-4-88; Ord. No. 3945, § 4, 5-30-89; Ord. No. 4086, § 1, 1-3-94; Ord. No. 4232, § 4, 6-21-99)

Sec. 27-14. Display of sign; false advertising.

(a) Every person conducting or engaging in the business of plumbing in the city shall display a sign at his place of business, which sign shall have printed thereon in large letters his name, the same as appears on his license, and the words licensed plumber.

(b) No person, not in legal possession of a valid plumbing contractor’s license issued by the state of Idaho, shall engage in, carry on or represent himself as engaged in or carrying on the business of plumbing contractor in the city or use the words master plumber, plumber or plumbing in any advertising or display or expose a sign having similar import for the purpose of implying the advertiser to be so engaged. (Code 1960, § 26-12; Ord. No. 4086, § 1, 1-3-94; Ord. No. 4232, § 4, 6-21-99)

Sec. 27-15. Certified journeyman plumber to be in charge of work.

(a) A holder of a plumbing contractor’s license shall have a certified journeyman plumber in actual charge and physically present during any work or services in connection with the installation, alteration or repair of plumbing, water and drainage systems or parts thereof.

(b) The licensee shall see that all apprentices and helpers used on any job are licensed through the state of Idaho. (Code 1960, § 26-13; Ord. No. 3898, § 17, 1-4-88; Ord. No. 4086, § 1, 1-3-94; Ord. No. 4232, § 5, 6-21-99)

Sec. 27-16. Certain persons exempt from licensing requirements.

Nothing in this code shall be construed so as to deny a permit for plumbing work to a person who does plumbing work in a single- or duplex-family dwelling of which said person is the owner or contract purchaser; provided, however, that such person shall comply with the minimum standards, rules and regulations applicable to plumbing practices provided by this code. (Code 1960, § 26-15; Ord. No. 3029, § 1, 7-12-71; Ord. No. 3898, § 18, 1-4-88; Ord. No. 3945, § 5, 5-30-89; Ord. No. 4086, § 1, 1-3-94)

Sec. 27-17. Protection of piping.

Water and drainage piping, when installed within or under a structure, shall be provided with adequate protection to prevent freezing. Water service pipe and traps for drainage pipe may not be installed in exterior walls. (Ord. No. 4086, § 1, 1-3-94)

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Footnotes

¹Cross references – Buildings and building regulations, Ch. 10; electricity, Ch. 14; gas, Ch. 18; manufactured homes, manufactured home parks and tourist facilities, Ch. 23; oil-burning equipment, Ch. 25; subdivisions, Ch. 32; swimming pools, Ch. 33; water and sewers, Ch. 36; zoning, Ch. 37.

State law reference – Plumbing and plumbers, Idaho Code, § 54-2601 et seq.