§ 6-185. Trades, crafts and contractors.

(a)

Generally. Except as otherwise provided by law, it is unlawful for any person to engage in contracting, trade or craft as specified in this section without a certificate issued by the city for the particular construction, trade or craft engaged in. But a worker, helper or apprentice who is not so certified may work at such a trade or craft if he/she is employed by a contractor qualified in the trade or craft and he/she is working under the direct supervision of a certified craftsman on the job site as provided in section 6-186(b). It is the employing contractor's responsibility to provide certified craftsmen on each job site, and failure to do so is a violation of this article. It is also unlawful and a violation of this article for any person not possessing a valid craftsman certificate issued by the city to represent himself/herself as holding one, or to do any work requiring one except under the direct supervision of a certified craftsman. This article applies only to the trades, crafts and contractors specifically provided for in this section.

(b)

Electrical construction:

(1)

Scope. For purposes of this article, "electrical construction" means the practice, materials and equipment used in the installation, maintenance, extension and alterations of a system of electrical wiring for light, heat, fire alarm systems, burglar alarm systems or power and all appurtenances thereto, and all apparatus and equipment used in connection therewith, within or adjacent to any building or structure, excluding:

a.

A wiring and electrical system in an elevator installation located beyond the elevator disconnect switch;

b.

Wiring and equipment in a signaling, public address or communications system located beyond the branch circuit serving the equipment;

c.

Low voltage control wiring and an electrical system within an air conditioning or heating system and similar equipment, which wiring or system constituted the original equipment installed by the manufacturer.

(2)

Certificate of competency required. It is unlawful for any person required by subsection (a) to have a craftsman certificate to engage in the trade of electrician or to do electrical construction for others unless he/she holds a valid craftsman certificate issued by the city or state as a master, residential journeyman or journeyman electrician. It is unlawful for any person to engage in the business of electrical contractor unless he/she holds a valid contractor certificate in that category issued by the city or by the state.

(c)

Plumbing:

(1)

Scope. For purposes of this article, "plumbing" means the practice, materials and equipment used in the installation, repair, maintenance, extension and alteration of all piping, fixtures, appliance and appurtenances in connection with a sanitary or storm drainage facility, venting of a sewerage system, a liquid waste and a sewage disposal system, and a water supply system, within or adjacent to any building or structure, excluding:

a.

The extension or installation of collector and distribution lines (not including lateral lines or lines serving only individual buildings or structures) of a sanitary or storm drainage system and a water supply system;

b.

Piping and water circulation equipment in a swimming pool, exclusive of the connections to a public water supply or sewerage system;

c.

Fire sprinkler piping, fire hose cabinets and standpipes for fire protection purposes only.

(2)

Certificate of competency required. It is unlawful for any person required by subsection (a) to have a craftsman certificate to engage in the trade of plumber or to do plumbing work for others unless he/she holds a valid craftsman certificate, issued by the city, as a master or journeyman plumber. It is unlawful for any person to engage in the business of plumbing contractor who does not hold a valid contractor certificate in that category issued by the city or the state.

(3)

Drain and sewer cleaner contractor. Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, the building official shall:

a.

Establish a certificate of competency classification to be known as drain and sewer cleaner contractor and certify persons in such classification as qualified to perform the work required for the cleaning, unstopping and rodding out of drains and sewers, provided the work is done through established cleanout plugs or vents and does not involve breaking into pipes, removal of fixtures or other disturbance to the drainage piping and system;

b.

Adopt rules to regulate the issuance, suspension and revocation of certificates of competency, including the requirement for an examination, the payment of reasonable fees not to exceed those applicable to journeyman craftsmen, the issuance of temporary certificates, and other regulations found necessary by the building official to administer this subsection (c)(3);

c.

Issue temporary certificates of competency for plumbing journeyman, provided applications for the certificates shall be endorsed by the qualifying agent of a certified plumbing contractor who shall be responsible for all work done under the temporary certificate and the person to whom the certificate is issued has applied for the next regular examination for plumbing journeyman. Temporary certificates of competency for plumbing journeyman shall only be valid while the holder thereof is in the employ of the sponsoring plumbing contractor and until the next examination in such category.

(d)

Heating, air conditioning, refrigeration and ventilation:

(1)

Scope. For the purpose of this article, "heating, air conditioning, refrigeration and ventilation," to be noted herein as HARV, shall include the practice, materials and equipment used in the installation, repair, maintenance, extension and alteration of all appliances and appurtenances in connection with a heating, air conditioning, refrigeration and ventilation system, within or adjacent to any building or structure excluding:

a.

Factory-built appliances such as window air conditioners, prefab fireplaces, wood stoves, domestic refrigerators, kitchen ranges, space heaters, portable fans and other apparatus which is not normally included in the permanent construction of a dwelling;

b.

Electrical radiant heating systems, electrical household appliances, electrical construction beyond the point of connection of HARV machinery to the electrical disconnect;

c.

Any part of a plumbing system beyond the point of connection of HARV machinery to a water supply outlet or the discharge of HARV machinery drainage into an indirect waste disposal outlet;

d.

Water heaters unless such water heater and all hot water or steam lines connected thereto are a part of the heating system and are not for domestic use;

e.

Fire sprinkler and all piping of any fire protection system;

f.

Gas piping not within a HARV system;

g.

Any construction or installations included with the scope of electrical contractor or plumbing contractor as provided in subsections (b) and (c).

(2)

Trade classifications. The following classifications of HARV are established:

a.

Class A air conditioning contractor shall mean any person whose services are unlimited in the execution of contracts requiring the experience, knowledge, and skill to perform the following: Installing, maintaining, repairing, fabricating, altering, extending or designing, when not prohibited by law, central air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, and ventilation, including duct work in connection with a complete system only to the extent the ductwork performed by the contractor is necessary to make complete an air distribution system, boiler and unfired pressure vessel systems, and all appurtenances, apparatus, or equipment used in connection therewith; also piping, insulation of pipes, vessels and ducts, pressure and process piping, pneumatic control piping, and installation of a condensate drain from an air conditioning unit to an existing safe waste or other approved disposal other than a direct connection to a sanitary system, all in such a manner as to comply with all plans, specifications, codes, laws, and regulations applicable thereto. The scope of work for the contractor shall also include any excavation incidental thereto but shall not include any work on lines such as liquefied petroleum or natural gas fuel lines within buildings, potable water lines, or connections thereto, sanitary sewer lines, swimming pool piping and filters, and electrical power wiring.

b.

Class B air conditioning contractor shall mean any person whose services are limited to twenty-five (25) tons cooling and five hundred thousand (500,000) Btu heating (in any one system) in the execution of contracts requiring the experience, knowledge, and skill to perform the following: Installing, maintaining and repairing, fabricating, altering, extending or designing when not prohibited by law, central air conditioning, refrigeration, heating and ventilating, including duct work in connection with a complete system only to the extent such duct work performed by the contractor's necessary to make complete an air distribution system being installed under this classification; also piping, insulation of pipes, vessels and ducts, and installation of a condensate drain from an air conditioning unit to an existing safe disposal or other approved manner of disposal as to comply with all plans, specifications, codes, laws, and regulations applicable thereto.

c.

Class C air conditioning contractor shall mean any person whose business is limited to the servicing of air conditioning, heating, or refrigeration systems, including duct alterations in connection with those systems being serviced.

d.

Mechanical contractor shall mean any person whose services are unlimited in the execution of contracts requiring the experience, knowledge, and skill to perform the following: Installing, maintaining, repairing, fabricating, altering, extending or designing, when not prohibited by law, central air conditioning, refrigeration, heating and ventilating, including duct work in connection with a complete system only to the extent the duct work performed by the contractor is necessary to make complete an air distribution system, boiler and unfired pressure vessel systems, lift station equipment and piping and all appurtenances, apparatus, or equipment used in connection therewith; also piping, insulation of pipes, vessels and ducts, pressure and process piping, pneumatic control piping, gasoline tanks and pump installation and piping for same, fire sprinkling systems and standpipes, air piping, vacuum line piping, oxygen lines, nitrous oxide piping, ink and chemical lines, fuel transmission lines, and installation of a condensate drain from an air conditioning unit to an existing safe waste or other approved disposal other than a direct connection to a sanitary system, all in such a manner as to comply with all plans, specifications, codes, laws, and regulations applicable thereto. The scope of work for the contractor shall also include any excavation work incidental thereto, but shall not include any work on lines such as liquefied petroleum or natural gas fuel lines within buildings, potable water lines or connection thereto, sanitary sewer lines, swimming pool piping and filters, and electrical power wiring.

(3)

Certificate of competency required. It is unlawful for any person required by subsection (a) to have a craftsman certificate to engage in the trade of a HARV mechanic or to do HARV work for others unless he/she holds a valid craftsman certificate, issued by the city, as a master or journeyman HARV mechanic in the appropriate classification. It is unlawful for any person to engage in the business of a HARV contractor who does not hold a valid contractor certificate in the category and classification issued by the city or by the state.

(e)

Contractor.

(1)

Scope. For the purpose of this article, the construction and home improvement industries are significant industries. Such industries may pose significant harm to the public when incompetent or dishonest contractors provide unsafe, unstable, or short-lived products or services. Therefore, it is necessary in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare to regulate the construction industry which shall include:

a.

General contractor, whose services are unlimited as to the type of work which he/she may do, except by other types of certification by state.

b.

Building contractor, which means a contractor whose services are limited to construction of commercial building and single-dwelling or multiple-dwelling, residential buildings, which commercial or residential buildings do not exceed three stories in height and accessory use structures in connection therewith, or a contractor whose services are limited to remodeling, repair, or improvement of any size building if the services do not affect the structural members of the building.

c.

Residential contractor, which means a contractor whose services are limited to construction, remodeling, repair or improvement of one-family, two-family or three-family residences not exceeding two stories in height and accessory use structures in connection therewith.

(2)

Certificate of competency required. It is unlawful for any person required by subsection (a) to have a craftsman certificate to engage in the trade of construction or to do construction work for others unless he/she holds a valid contractor certificate, issued by the city or state. It is unlawful for any person to engage in the business of construction unless he/she holds a valid contractor certificate in that category issued by the city or by the state.

(Code 1960, § 7-10; Ord. No. 3518, § 1, 2-13-89; Ord. No. 950302, § 1, 7-24-95)