Article 1707
PLUMBER LICENSING CODE
Sections:
1707.03 License required for business of plumbing.
1707.05 Licensing and registration requirements.
1707.06 Coordination of plumber licensing and Uniform Construction Code of Pennsylvania.
1707.07 Revocation of registration or license.
1707.08 Appeal relating to licensing.
Prior legislation: Ord. 3277.
1707.01 Authority.
This plumber licensing code is adopted pursuant to the authority of the Act of June 7, 1901, P.L. 493, as amended and found at 53 P.S. Section 4591 et seq. (Ord. 3691 § 1, 2011)
1707.02 Administration.
This plumber licensing code shall be administered by a person designated by the city manager who shall be referred to as the plumber licensing code official. For purposes of this code, the term “code official” shall mean the designated plumber licensing code official. (Ord. 3691 § 1, 2011)
1707.03 License required for business of plumbing.
No person, partnership, corporation or other entity shall engage in the business of plumbing within the territorial boundaries of the City of Meadville unless licensed to conduct such activity by the City of Meadville in accord with the terms of this article. For the purpose of enforcement of the terms of this article, the term “plumbing” shall mean the performance of any work subject to regulation under the plumbing code as adopted from time to time by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania as part of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code. The term “business of plumbing” shall mean the performance of (or offer to perform) plumbing for the general public for a fee or any other payment, benefit or compensation of any nature whatsoever. The term “business of plumbing” does not include performance of regulated work by an employee of the owner of any premises nor shall such term be deemed to include the installation of appliances by employees of the vendor of such appliances. (Ord. 3691 § 1, 2011)
1707.04 Licensing standards.
Licenses to engage in the business of plumbing within the City of Meadville shall be issued in the following categories and subject to the following restrictions:
A. Apprentice.
1. Qualifications. Any person employed by a licensed master plumber in the business of plumbing but who holds no other license to perform plumbing work within the City of Meadville.
2. Limited License. The license issued to an apprentice plumber shall be in the nature of a registration. Applicants for a license as an apprentice plumber shall submit a written application therefor to the code official. All such applications shall indicate the name and address of the master plumber by whom the applicant proposes to be employed and shall be signed by the said master plumber. A license to work as an apprentice plumber shall expire upon termination of the licensee’s employment with the master plumber who signed the application for such license. It shall be the duty of both the apprentice plumber and the employing master plumber to notify the code official in writing of the termination of the employment of any apprentice plumber within 48 hours of the last hour worked by the apprentice plumber or the subject master plumber.
3. Limitations. Persons holding a license to work as an apprentice plumber shall only work in the employ of a licensed master plumber or under the direct supervision of a licensed journeyman plumber also employed by the employing master plumber. “Direct supervision” shall mean that the supervising master plumber or journeyman plumber shall be present at the site of any and all work performed by an apprentice plumber at all times while such apprentice plumber is engaged in plumbing work.
B. Journeyman Plumber.
1. Qualifications. A person who has attained the following education and experience may, upon successful completion of the journeyman plumber examination, be licensed to work as a journeyman plumber in the City of Meadville.
(a.) Three or more years of practical experience in the performance of plumbing work within or without the city or two or more years of employment as a licensed apprentice plumber for one or more licensed master plumbers; or
(b.) Completion of a vocational/technical school curriculum in plumbing in an institution licensed by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania or by any other state plus one year of practical experience in the performance of plumbing work within or without the city or employment for one year as a licensed apprentice plumber for one or more licensed master plumbers; or
(c.) Completion of a trade school curriculum in plumbing at an institution not licensed by any state but which is reasonably comparable with the curriculum at a vocational/technical school licensed by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania plus one year of practical experience in the performance of plumbing work within or without the city or employment for one year as a licensed apprentice plumber for one or more licensed master plumbers.
2. Limitations. A licensed journeyman plumber shall only engage in the business of plumbing as an employee of a licensed master plumber. A licensed journeyman plumber may engage in plumbing work under the general rather than the direct supervision of the employing master plumber. “General supervision” shall mean under and upon the direction, guidance, and responsibility of a licensed master plumber who may or may not be at all times present at the work site at which the licensed journeyman plumber is engaged in the plumbing business.
C. Master Plumber.
1. Qualifications. A person who has attained the following licenses and experience may be licensed to work as a master plumber in the City of Meadville.
(a.) Ten or more years of practical experience in the performance of plumbing work whether within the City of Meadville or elsewhere; or
(b.) An unrestricted license as a master plumber issued by any duly constituted governmental body in the United States; or
(c.) A license as a journeyman plumber issued by any duly constituted governmental body in the United States plus employment for two years as a journeyman plumber by a master plumber licensed by any duly constituted governmental body in the United States.
D. Temporary Master.
1. Qualifications. Any person who holds a current and unrestricted license as a master plumber, which is issued by any duly constituted governmental body in the United States, shall upon application and proof of such licensure be issued a temporary registration to act as a master plumber within the City of Meadville for specific projects as shall be disclosed upon application.
2. Registration. Registration shall be on a form provided by the city, submitted to the designated code official along with the applicable registration fee established from time to time by resolution of city council. Temporary master plumber registrations shall continue only for the duration of the projects listed upon the application and shall only be valid for so long as the license subject to reciprocity shall remain in full force and effect in accord with its terms and without limitations or restrictions. Upon completion of the project or contract in the city, the registration shall expire and no further work shall be permitted without new registration.
E. Calculating Qualified Years. For purposes of determining satisfaction of work experience requirements under this section, a “year” shall be deemed to be a minimum of 1,920 hours of actual plumbing work regardless of the calendar year or years in which such hours were accumulated. (Ord. 3691 § 1, 2011)
1707.05 Licensing and registration requirements.
A. An application for examination, registration, and licensure shall be made in writing on a form provided by the city and submitted to the designated code official along with a fee established by resolution of the city council as amended from time to time.
B. Examinations shall be conducted by the International Code Council in accordance with the standards and procedures of the International Code Council at such times and places as may be arranged. Persons who meet the examination requirements and other requirements of this code shall be licensed.
C. Every licensed or registered apprentice, master or journeyman plumber who desires to continue to work in or at the business of plumbing in the city from year to year shall, before December 31st of each year, re-register for the ensuing year. Failure to do so may require a re-application and examination at the fees specified for original application.
D. The city manager shall establish from time to time a schedule of fees for the examination, licensing, registration and re-registration of plumbers, and this schedule of fees shall be effective upon approval by resolution of city council. (Ord. 3691 § 1, 2011)
1707.06 Coordination of plumber licensing and Uniform Construction Code of Pennsylvania.
Regulations applicable to plumbing installations in the City of Meadville are and shall be those adopted from time to time under the authority of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act found at 35 P.S. Section 7210.101 et seq. as amended rather than those set forth in the Act of June 7, 1901, P.L. 493, as amended, governing plumbing in Third Class Cities, found at 53 P.S. Sections 4600 to 4668. Furthermore, the plumbing inspector referred to in Section 2 of the Act of June 7, 1901, as amended and as found at 53 P.S. Section 4599 is and shall be such inspectors as retained by the City of Meadville to perform building and plumbing inspections in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Act 45 of 1999, as amended and found at 35 P.S. Section 7210.101 et seq. and Article 1701 MMC. (Ord. 3691 § 1, 2011)
1707.07 Revocation of registration or license.
In addition to other penalties provided herein, if it is determined by the code official that any licensed or registered plumber is not complying with the provisions of the laws and ordinances or regulations of the applicable plumbing code of the Uniform Construction Code adopted under the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, his license or registration may be revoked, making a re-application and re-examination necessary for new registration. (Ord. 3691 § 1, 2011)
1707.08 Appeal relating to licensing.
Any person aggrieved by any action, order or decision of the health officer or the board of examiners relating to the licensing and registration requirements may appeal to the board of health. Any such appeal shall be filed in writing with the secretary of the board of health within 10 days of the date of the action, order or decision giving rise thereto. (Ord. 3691 § 1, 2011)
1707.09 Penalty.
Any person who fails to comply with any provisions of this article relating to the requirements for licensing, certification or registration to engage in or work at the business of plumbing shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs, and in default of payment shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 30 days. After notice of the requirement, each day a person engages in or works at such business without first having obtained such certificate, license or registration shall constitute a separate violation. (Ord. 3691 § 1, 2011)
1707.10 Repealer.
All ordinances and parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. (Ord. 3691 § 1, 2011)
1707.11 Severability.
Should any section, part or provision of this article be declared by appropriate authority to be unlawful or unconstitutional, all other terms, conditions, provisions and parts hereof, and of any code of which this article may be or may be considered to be part, shall continue in full force and effect as if the provision declared to be unlawful or unconstitutional had been omitted as of the date of final enactment hereof. (Ord. 3691 § 1, 2011)