Chapter 175, PLUMBERS, LICENSING OF

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Chapter 175, PLUMBERS, LICENSING OF

GENERAL REFERENCES

Code enforcement -- See Ch. 7.

Fire prevention and building construction -- See Ch. 113.

Housing standards -- See Ch. 143.

Excavations -- See Ch. 197, Art. I.

§ 175-1. Definitions

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

MASTER PLUMBER -- A person who, by himself or with journeyman plumbers, apprentices or helpers in his employ, performs plumbing work.

§ 175-2. License required

No person shall, except as hereinafter provided, engage in, conduct, carry on, transact or practice in the trade, business or calling of plumbing in the village without first obtaining a license or certificate therefor.

§ 175-3. Application for master plumber's license

A. Any person desiring a master or employing plumber's license shall file with the Village Clerk a written application therefor upon a form furnished by the village, which form shall be signed by the applicant.

B. Application forms shall require the following information:

(1) Full name and address.

(2) Places of residence for the five (5) years immediately prior to the date of application.

(3) Date of birth.

(4) Place of birth.

(5) Highest education achieved.

(6) Apprenticeship, how long and if completed.

(7) Number of years of experience as a plumber, if any, and dates and places of employment as a plumber.

(8) License or licenses as a plumber in other jurisdictions, if any, and if so, are they still in effect.

(9) Place of business.

C. In addition to the foregoing, the Village Clerk may require such additional information as he deems necessary.

§ 175-4. Examination of master plumbers

A. Unless the applicant can furnish with his application a certificate showing completion of a generally recognized apprenticeship as a journeyman plumber or proof of licensing, currently in effect, by another jurisdiction in which the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code has been duly adopted, the applicant shall be required to take and pass an examination under the supervision of the Village Engineer, who may delegate the monitoring of the examination to any full-time official or employee of the village.

B. Such examination shall be sufficiently broad in scope and may be written, oral or practical, or any combination thereof, so as to test the applicant's ability in the plumbing trade and his knowledge and understanding of the plumbing standards of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.

§ 175-5. Bonding of master plumbers

A. Before a master plumber's license or renewal shall be issued hereunder, every applicant shall furnish a bond in the principal sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000.) issued by a surety company licensed to do business in the State of New York, which bond shall provide that the applicant shall indemnify and save the village harmless from all damages that may accrue or be caused to the village by reason of the manner of execution of work by the applicant under the certificate or license or renewal and also that he shall indemnify and save the village harmless of and from all suits and actions of every name and description that may be brought against the village for or on account of or because of injuries or damages received or sustained by any person or property by or in consequence of any act or omission or negligence by said person holding said certificate or license or renewal or his agents and servants or caused by the using of any improper material by him, his agents and servants or for any other reason caused by said person, his agents and servants and also that he shall faithfully perform in all respects all such work entrusted to him and shall comply in all respects with the plumbing standards of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, the ordinances, local laws, rules and regulations of the village pertaining to plumbing and drainage, excavations and use of village streets, sewers and water mains and all other provisions of law relative thereto now in force or hereinafter enacted.

B. Such bond shall be approved by the Village Attorney as to form before any license, certificate or renewal may be issued.

§ 175-6. Issuance of master plumber's license

A. Upon approval of the Village Engineer as to the applicant's qualifications and fitness and the payment of the license fee as hereinafter provided, the Village Clerk shall issue a license to the applicant.

B. No license shall be refused except for a specific reason and for the protection of the public health, safety and property.

C. All licenses shall be numbered in the order in which they are issued and shall state the name and residence and place of business of the licensee, the date of issuance and expiration and the fee paid.

D. No applicant, however, to whom a license has been refused shall make further application until a period of at least three (3) months has elapsed since his last rejection, unless he can show the cause for such rejection no longer exists.

E. All licenses issued hereunder shall expire on December 31 next succeeding the issuance thereof unless sooner revoked.

F. No license shall be used by any person other than the original licensee, and any holder of such license who permits it to be used by any other person shall be liable to revocation of said license in addition to any other penalties provided herein.

G. All licenses issued hereunder may be renewed within thirty (30) days next preceding January 1 without furnishing any additional proof or examination except proof that the bond as required herein shall remain in full force and effect for the new licensing period and payment of the license fee hereunder.

§ 175-7. Registration of journeyman plumbers, apprentices and plumber's helpers

A. Any person employed by a master plumber as a journeyman plumber, apprentice or plumber's helper shall personally register with the Village Clerk, stating his name, age, address and name of his employer, and shall file a written statement from such employer that he is so employed.

B. Upon the furnishing of the above information and payment of the fee as hereinafter provided, the Village Clerk shall issue to such person a certificate of registration which thereafter shall be carried on his person and be subject to inspection as provided for licenses herein.

C. Such certificates shall expire on the same date and may be renewed in the same manner and at the same time as master plumbers' licenses.

D. No journeyman plumber, apprentice or plumber's helper shall be permitted to work at the business, trade or art of plumbing except under the direct supervision of and in conjunction with a master plumber licensed hereunder, and such master plumber shall be responsible for all work done by any such journeyman plumber, apprentice or plumber's helper.

E. Any journeyman plumber, apprentice, or plumber's helper may transfer to another employer upon having the same endorsed by the Village Clerk upon his certificate of registration and the payment of the transfer fee as hereinafter provided.

§ 175-8. Special permit

The Village Engineer may grant a special permit to any industrial firm or corporation desiring to do its own plumbing in and upon its own premises or place of manufacturing or business. Applications for such permits must be in writing and shall be revocable at any time by the Village Engineer. Such permits shall be limited to such plumbing activities as hereinabove stated.

§ 175-9. Limited license

A. Any person engaged in the business of selling stoves, ranges, water softeners, water heaters, automatic dishwashers, furnaces or other similar appliances necessitating connection to or with existing water or gas systems may be granted a limited license.

B. Application for a limited license shall be made to the Village Clerk, together with a statement of training or experience, which application shall be referred to the Village Engineer for approval or disapproval.

C. The Village Engineer may require a written test or practical demonstration, or both, by the applicant before granting approval.

D. Upon approval by the Village Engineer, the payment of the fee as hereinafter provided and the furnishing of a bond in the principal sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.) and on the same terms and conditions as provided in § 175-5 hereof, except for the amount of said bond, the Village Clerk shall issue a limited license authorizing the holder thereof to install the appliances as specified in Subsection A.

E. All installations of appliances shall be reported to the enforcement officer of this chapter as provided in Chapter 7, Code Enforcement, of this Code.

F. Where the installation, however, of water softeners, electric sinks, drinking fountains, electric dishwashers and electric washing machines requires direct or indirect connections with existing or new sanitary sewer systems, such connection with the sewer systems must be made under the supervision of or by a licensed master plumber.

G. Such limited license shall expire on the same date and may be renewed in the same manner and at the same time as a master plumber's license.

§ 175-10. Fees

A. The fee to take an examination hereunder shall be as determined by resolution of the Village Board, payable at the time the application is made.

B. The annual license fee for a master plumber shall be as determined by resolution of the Village Board.

C. The annual registration fee for a journeyman plumber, apprentice or plumber's helper shall be as determined by resolution of the Village Board. The transfer fee shall be as determined by resolution of the Village Board for each transfer endorsed on the certificate of registration.

D. The annual fee for a limited license as hereinabove provided shall be as determined by resolution of the Village Board.

§ 175-11. Carrying and exhibition of license or certificate

Every licensee and person holding a certificate of registration shall carry his license or certificate with him at all times when engaged in the trade or practice of plumbing and shall exhibit the same upon demand to any police officer or the enforcement officer or to any person hiring or engaging his services which are covered by this chapter.

§ 175-12. Permits required to connect with sewer and water systems

A. Licenses required. No person other than a duly licensed master plumber shall make any connection or repair to any existing connection with the sewerage or water system of the village except village employees and holders of limited licenses as provided in § 175-8 hereof.

B. Permits required. It shall be necessary to obtain a permit:

(1) To make or cause to be made any connection, directly or indirectly, with the sanitary or storm sewerage systems or water systems of the village.

(2) To make any excavation in any public place or street in the village for the purpose set forth in the preceding subsection.

(3) To uncover the sewerage or water systems of the village or any part thereof or to remove the covering from any inspection hole, drainage hole, flush hole or manhole.

(4) To do any act under any of the provisions hereof which require a permit from or authorization or direction of the proper authority.

(5) Whenever and for whatever purpose required under the rules and regulations of any department, board, agency or commission of the village.

C. Application for a permit. All applications for a permit hereunder shall be made to the Village Clerk not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the time contemplated to commence the work. The person making such application shall be deemed the authorized agent of the owner or occupant of the property desiring to have the work completed.

D. Restrictions and issuance of permits. No permit to make connections with the sewerage or water system of the village shall be issued unless:

(1) The plumbing in the building for which connection is desired to be made shall be in accordance with the provisions of the plumbing standards of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code or of any other duly authorized code of the village or in accordance with the rules and regulations of any officer, board, department, commission or agency of the village having jurisdiction over the matter or otherwise meets the minimum standards for health, safety and sanitation as provided in the Model Housing Code.

(2) The building for which the connection is made has been erected and the plumbing installed and approved by the enforcement officer of this chapter.

E. Duty of Village Clerk. It shall be the duty of the Village Clerk upon receiving such applications to refer the same to the proper authorities for appropriate action. Upon approval of the application by the proper authorities, the Village Clerk shall issue the permit requested and shall thereupon deliver a copy thereof to the enforcement officer of this chapter.

§ 175-13. Enforcement

The enforcement officer of this chapter shall be the enforcement officer designated in Chapter 7, Code Enforcement, of this Code.

§ 175-14. Suspension or revocation of licenses and certificates

The Village Engineer may, at any time, for such cause as he, upon investigation, deems sufficient, suspend or revoke any license, certificate or any special form of permit granted under the provisions of this chapter. Whenever any license shall be so suspended or revoked, no refund of any unearned portion thereof shall be made, and such person whose license shall be so suspended or revoked shall not engage in the art or practice of plumbing in the village during the period of such suspension or revocation, and no such license shall be granted to such person whose license has been revoked within a period of three (3) months. Notice of such suspension or revocation, the time thereof and the reasons therefor, in writing, shall be served by the Village Clerk upon the person so named in the application by mailing the same to the address given on the application.

§ 175-15. Penalties for offenses

Any person committing an offense against any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a violation and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable for each offense by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.) or by imprisonment for not more than fifteen (15) days, or both.