[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Glens
Falls as Ch. 73 of the 1967 Code. Sections 158-7B, C, D and G, 158-14C
and 158-18 amended and Section 158-14A(3) added at time of adoption
of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Other amendments noted
where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A certificate of competency issued by the Board of Examining
Plumbers authorizing the person named therein to engage in business
in the City of Glens Falls as a plumber until 12:00 midnight of the
31st day of December of the year for which issued.
A person to whom a certificate of competency to engage in
the business of plumbing in the City of Glens Falls has been issued
by the Board of Examining Plumbers.
The installation, repair, replacement and relocation of the
pipes, fixtures and other apparatus for bringing in and distributing
the water supply, removing liquid and water-carried wastes, removing
rainwater and other liquid drainage and preventing trap siphonage
and back pressure.
Includes the installation and repairing of all piping and
other fixtures or fittings in connection with or as part of a plumbing
system.
When applied to a structure, includes all of the following
supplied facilities and equipment: gas pipes, gas-burning equipment,
water pipes, garbage disposal units, waste pipes, water closets, sinks,
installed dishwashers, lavatories, bathtubs, shower baths, installed
clothes-washing machines, catch basins, drains, vents and any other
similar supplied fixtures, together with all connections to water-,
sewer, vent or gas lines. This is to include steam and hot-water heating
boilers.
[Amended 7-26-1983]
The Board of Health of the City of Glens Falls is hereby authorized
to enact a Plumbing Code containing rules regulating the installation
and repair of plumbing systems in the City of Glens Falls.
There is hereby constituted an Examining Board of Plumbers composed
of seven members, of whom the Plumbing Inspector shall be one, two
of whom shall be licensed plumbers, one of whom shall be a member
of the Board of Health and three of whom shall be members of the public
at large, all of whom shall be residents of the City of Glens Falls
and all of whom, with the exception of the Plumbing Inspector, shall
serve without compensation. The members of the Examining Board of
Plumbers as it existed on the 15th day of April 1950 shall continue
to be members of said Board until their successors are appointed and
qualified. All of the members of said Board, with the exception of
the Plumbing Inspector, shall be appointed by the Mayor. The term
of office of each appointive member shall be for three years from
the first day of January following his appointment Vacancies occurring
by expiration of term shall be filled by the Mayor for the full term
of three years, and vacancies caused by death, removal, inability
to act, resignation or removal of any member from the city shall be
filled by the Mayor for the unexpired term.
The Examining Board of Plumbers shall have power and it shall
be its duty to:
A.
Meet at stated intervals and also to meet whenever the Board of Health
or the Mayor shall, in writing, request it so to do.
B.
Have jurisdiction over and to examine all persons desiring to obtain
a license to engage in business as a plumber in the City of Glens
Falls, to determine the fitness and qualifications of such applicants
for engaging in such business and to issue certificates of competency
to all persons who shall have passed a satisfactory examination and
shall be by it determined to be qualified to engage in the business
of plumbing in said city. Any person shall be eligible to take the
examination for a certificate of competency, whether a resident of
the city or not.
C.
Charge and collect from each person applying for examination a fee
as follows: $25 for the first time the exam is taken by an applicant;
$50 for the second time; $75 for the third time; and $100 for the
fourth time. All moneys so collected shall be paid over by the Board,
monthly, to the City Controller.
[Amended 5-2-1996 by L.L. No. 1-1996; 7-20-2000 by L.L. No.
5-2000]
D.
Assist the Board of Health, when so requested by it, in formulating
a code of rules regulating the work of plumbing and drainage, including
the materials, workmanship and manner of executing such work, and
in formulating amendments thereto.
The position of Plumbing Inspector is hereby continued. The
Plumbing Inspector shall be appointed by the Board of Health, and
no person shall be so appointed who is not a practical plumber. He
shall not be engaged, directly or indirectly, in the business of plumbing
during his term of office. Before entering upon the discharge of his
duties, he shall be required to obtain a certificate of competency
from the Examining Board of Plumbers, and he shall receive such compensation
as may be fixed by the Board of Health.
A.
The duties of Inspector of Plumbing, in addition to the duties prescribed
by law and those which may be enjoined or required by the Board of
Health, shall be:
(1)
To inspect and examine all plans and specifications for plumbing
work which may be filed under the provisions of this Article and either
approve or reject the same and, where approved, to issue permits for
the work.
(2)
To inspect the construction and alteration of all plumbing work performed
in the city and to report, in writing, to the Board of Health the
results of such inspection.
(3)
To report in like manner all violation of this Article which may
come to his attention.
B.
No plans or specifications shall be approved by him unless they conform
to and comply with rules and regulations formulated and adopted by
the Board of Health of the City of Glens Falls for the better control
and sanitary arrangements of plumbing in the City of Glens Falls.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in business in the
City of Glens Falls as a plumber unless such person has applied for
and received from the Board of Examining Plumbers a certificate of
competency; provided, however, that any person, firm or corporation
to whom or to which a certificate of competency has been heretofore
issued by the Examining Board of Plumbers of the City of Glens Falls
under the provisions of § 45 of the General City Law may
engage in business as a plumber as authorized by such certificate
until 12:00 midnight of the 31st day of December 1950.
B.
No person shall be eligible to receive a certificate of competency
until he has had three years of practical experience as a plumber
and has passed an examination, the nature and requirements of which
shall be prepared and prescribed by the Board of Examining Plumbers,
except that a person to whom a certificate of competency has been
heretofore issued by the Examining Board of Plumbers of the City of
Glens Falls shall not be required to take or pass such examination
as a prerequisite to the issuance to him of the certificate of competency
herein provided for. An applicant who fails to pass an examination
shall be entitled to be reexamined without any waiting period. Any
person, whether a resident of the City of Glens Falls or not, shall
be eligible to apply for examination. The Board of Examining Plumbers
shall adopt such rules and regulations as may be required to give
each applicant for a certificate of competency an examination designed
to test his knowledge of and ability to properly install plumbing
in accordance with the Plumbing Code and shall issue a certificate
of competency to those who successfully pass the examination. The
examination fee for a Glens Falls master license will be set at $10
for the first exam given, $45 for the second exam given and $75 for
the third exam given. Thereafter, no exam will be given.
[Amended 7-22-1968 by L.L. No. 3-1968[1]]
C.
Except as provided in Subsection F, all licenses shall expire at 12:00 midnight on the 31st day of December following the date of issuance and may be renewed thereafter during the month of December in which they expire or in the month of January immediately following the time of expiration, upon the payment of a renewal fee of $25 per year and without an examination. If an application for renewal of a license is not received during the month of December or January, the privilege of the plumber to renew the same shall terminate, and a new license shall be issued only after the applicant's having passed the examination hereinabove provided for in respect to an unlicensed person desiring to obtain a license to engage in business as a plumber in the City of Glens Falls.
[Amended 7-26-1983[2]]
D.
Effective date of Subsections A, B and C. This Article shall take effect immediately, except that licenses issued by the Examining Board of Plumbers of the City of Glens Falls subsequent to the 31st day of December 1950, which have subsequently expired and have not been renewed, may be renewed by the holder thereof on or before the 15th day of July 1956 upon the payment of a renewal fee of $25 and without an examination; after which date the provisions of Subsection C shall be controlling as to such renewals.
[Amended 7-26-1983[3]]
E.
Any firm or corporation engaged in the business of installing plumbing
shall employ a licensed plumber who shall be in charge of and responsible
for all plumbing work done by such firm or corporation.
F.
Any person holding a master plumber's license issued by any municipality
of the State of New York under the provisions of Article 4 of the
General City Law may apply for and shall be granted a license to do
a specified job of plumbing work in the City of Glens Falls, and such
license shall be granted without examination upon payment of a fee
of $100 for each job. Such license shall expire when the specified
job is completed.
[Amended 7-22-1968 by L.L. No. 3-1968]
G.
Anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Board
of Examining Plumbers may issue to any qualified person, upon payment
by the applicant of a fee of $25 a special license authorizing the
person to whom such license is issued to install or repair or replace
water pipes, water service pipes to appliances and waterlines to heating
units, humidifiers, air-conditioning units and domestic water heaters.
The applicant for such special license shall be required to establish
his qualifications by either a written examination or by submitting
to the Board of Examining Plumbers certain evidence or practical experience
covering a period of five years in replacing or repairing water pipes,
water service pipes and gas pipes to appliances and waterlines to
heating units, humidifiers, air-conditioning units and domestic water
heaters.
[Amended 7-22-1968 by L.L. No. 3-1968; 6-15-1977[4]]
H.
All work done under a special license shall be performed by the holder
of the license in person or under his direct personal supervision
and shall be reported to the Board of Health on forms to be provided
by the City of Glens Falls, signed by the holder of the special license
and by the owner of the property upon which the work is done. Such
work shall be inspected by the Plumbing Inspector, and, if the work
is found to be defective, it shall be corrected at the expense of
the holder of the special license. Failure to make such report or
to comply with the Plumbing Code or with directions of the Plumbing
Inspector to correct defective work shall be grounds for revocation
of the special license by the Board of Examining Plumbers, and upon
proof of any such failure, such license shall be revoked.
[Amended 7-2-1968 by L.L. No. 3-1968; 6-15-1977]
I.
Every special license issued shall expire on the 31st day of December
of the year in which it is granted but may be renewed on and before
the first day of each year upon payment by the holder of a fee of
$20 and $30 for a masters license. There will be a late fee of $15
for special licenses and $20 for a masters license if they are not
paid by January 15.
[Amended 6-15-1977; 4-22-1993 by L.L. No. 2-1993]
J.
Licensed plumbers shall be clearly identified when on the job by
a lettered sign on both sides or doors of their vehicle or vehicles
stating the type of license, the number of the license and the name
of the holder of the license.
[Added 7-22-1968 by L.L. No. 3-1968]
[Amended 7-22-1968 by L.L. No. 3-1968]
The Board of Examining Plumbers may cancel or revoke any certificate
of qualification or registration issued by it to any person if such
person later shows incompetency or lack of knowledge in matters relevant
to such certificate or if such certificate was obtained by fraud.
If the certificate of qualification or registration of any person
is so canceled or revoked, another such certificate shall not be granted
to such person within one month after the date of cancellation or
revocation. Such person, after expiration of one month from the date
of cancellation or revocation, may apply to the Board of Examining
Plumbers for reinstatement of his certificate of competency on such
terms as the Board of Examining Plumbers may direct.
[Amended 7-22-1968 by L.L. No. 3-1968]
Before any plumbing work requiring authorization according to the provisions of this chapter shall be started, a permit shall be obtained from the Plumbing Inspector. This permit shall be obtained by the licensed plumber who or whose firm is to do the proposed plumbing work. No plumbing work shall be done and no plumbing shall be installed until such permit has been obtained. Any person making any installation without first obtaining a permit shall be guilty of a violation of this Plumbing Code and shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in § 158-18 of this chapter.
[Added 7-22-1968 by L.L. No. 3-1968]
A.
Any permit required by this chapter shall be issued to any person
who owns and resides in either a single- or two-family dwelling used
exclusively for living purposes, including the usual accessory buildings
and quarters in connection with such dwelling, and to any person who
is building and constructing either a single- or two-family dwelling
on lands owned by him; provided, however, that if such homeowner obtains
any person to assist in making the necessary plumbing installations,
such person shall be a licensed plumber holding a license in the City
of Glens Falls, New York, and provided that not more than one permit
shall be issued in any twelve-month period to any person building
and constructing such a dwelling.
B.
Plumbing work included under this permit shall include all plumbing
work to be performed in accordance with City Plumbing Code requirements,
inspections, installation, etc., inside the walls of said dwelling
and/or accessory buildings and quarters in connection with such dwelling.
A.
No permit shall be issued until plans showing in necessary detail
the work proposed to be done have been filed with and approved by
the Board of Health. The Plumbing Inspector shall examine all plans
filed and shall have the power to approve or disapprove the same in
the name of the Board of Health.
B.
If the plans indicate that any provision of this chapter is not being
complied with, they shall be rejected and no permit issued until they
have been revised to comply with this chapter.
C.
If, in the course of the work, it is found necessary to make any
change from the approved plans, amended plans shall be filed with
the Board of Health, and a supplementary permit shall be issued to
cover the proposed change if it is in compliance with the provisions
of this chapter.
Permits shall be required for alterations of or changes in existing
plumbing systems except as otherwise provided in this section. Repairs
involving only the working parts of a faucet or valve or the clearance
of stoppages or stopping of leaks shall not be considered to be alterations
or changes. The replacement of a defective faucet or valve with a
new one of the same type may be made without a permit, provided that
no changes are made in the pipe to the fixture.
Any additions to an existing plumbing system shall require a
permit. The Board of Health may make such rules and regulations for
the installation of air-conditioning systems, water-treatment equipment
and water-operated devices as may be necessary to properly protect
the health of the inhabitants of the city.
[Amended 7-22-1968 by L.L. No. 3-1968; 7-26-1983; 4-22-1993 by L.L. No.
2-1993; 11-10-2020 by L.L. No. 5-2020]
All fees established by the Common Council must be paid at the
time of submission of an application for a permit. A schedule of all
such fees will be available for review in the office of the City Clerk
and in the Building Department. No permit for plumbing and drainage
work shall be issued until the fees as provided herein are paid by
the employing or master plumber, or homeowner, to the Plumbing Inspector.
[Amended 7-22-1968 by L.L. No. 3-1968]
The Plumbing Inspector shall have the right to inspect any plumbing
system at such times as he may deem necessary to protect the public
health. He shall also make such inspections when directed by the Board
of Health. Whenever, as a result of any inspection, he shall find
any unsanitary or defective conditions which are likely to have detrimental
effects, he shall have the power to require that such unsanitary or
defective conditions be remedied. He shall forthwith cause an order
signed by himself to be served upon the owner, lessee, agent, tenant,
occupant or any other person responsible for such premises and, if
known, upon the person who made the installation, requiring that such
conditions be remedied. If such persons above named shall fail or
refuse to comply with the requirements of such order within the time
therein prescribed, such failure or refusal shall constitute a violation
of this chapter.
A.
Under the following conditions and subject to the following provisions,
variances to the requirements of the Plumbing Code as to the method
of use and installation of material may be granted by the Board of
Health.
B.
Applications for variances shall be made to the Plumbing Inspector,
who shall refuse to act upon the same unless, in his opinion, a case
of hardship or necessity shall exist. If, in his opinion, hardship
or necessity shall exist, he shall then determine whether, in his
opinion, the variation requested would, if granted, be safe and would
not create a hazard to the health of the residents of the city. If,
in his opinion, the variation requested would not be safe or would
create a hazard to the health of the residents of the city, he must
deny the application. If, in his opinion, the variation requested
would be safe and would not create a hazard to the health of the residents
of the city, he may act upon the application by approving it and referring
it to the Examining Board of Plumbers. If he is not able to form such
an opinion, he may reject the application or refer it to the Examining
Board of Plumbers.
C.
Upon receiving an application for a variance from the Plumbing Inspector,
the Examining Board of Plumbers must reject the same unless it makes
affirmative findings that:
D.
If the Examining Board of Plumbers makes the affirmative findings
hereinabove mentioned, the application may be by it approved and forwarded
to the Board of Health for its action.
E.
Upon receiving an application for a variance from the Examining Board
of Plumbers, the Board of Health must reject the same unless it makes
similar affirmative findings. If the Board of Health makes such affirmative
findings, the request for a variance may be granted by it, but only
upon the condition that the New York State District Sanitary Engineer
for the portion of the state in which Glens Falls lies endorses upon
the application his statement that, in his opinion, the variation
is safe and will not create a hazard to the health of the residents
of the state.
F.
The request for a variation, together with the statements of approval
by the various officials and bodies hereinabove mentioned and bearing
the written opinion of the District Sanitary Engineer, must be filed
in the office of the Plumbing Inspector before a permit to do the
plumbing work may be issued.
Vehicles used by licensed plumbers when on a job must be clearly
identified with signs, either permanent or portable, and of a minimum
size of one foot square and eligible at a twenty-five-foot distance.
The signs should state the following:
