Queen Annes County, MD Article IV Plumbing Work; Miscellaneous Provisions

§ 12-12 Required permit.

Unless a required sanitary construction permit is first obtained from the Board, a person may not:

A. Begin the erection or construction of a new building;

B. Begin the construction of a major addition or alteration to an existing building that will affect the water supply, sewage disposal, plumbing system or gas system in the building; or

C. Install any new plumbing fixture, gas fixture or appliance connected with the water or sewerage system, sewer, or addition to a present sewer.

D. Significantly alter any existing plumbing or gas system.

§ 12-13 Sanitary construction permit application.

A. In general. An applicant for a sanitary construction permit shall complete an application form obtainable at the Queen Anne's County Health Department or Plumbing Board.

B. Information required. The applicant is required to include on the form:

(1) The location and description of the property, including, if applicable, the name of the subdivision, lot number, size of lot, and nature and size of building or extent of addition or alteration to an existing building;

(2) The method of water supply and sewage disposal; and

(3) The number and kind of plumbing fixtures and appliances connected with the water or sewerage system.

C. Accompanying information. The application shall be accompanied by a rough drawing showing the size, shape and general location of the owner's property, the location of the existing or proposed building on the property, and the water supply and sewage disposal system in existence and proposed.

§ 12-14 Processing of application.

A. In general. After an application has been submitted, it shall be delivered to the County Health Department for processing and approval.

B. Health approval The County Health Department may not approve an application for a permit if:

(1) It is evident to the Department that the sanitary requirements cannot or will not be complied with by the owner of the property; or

(2) The site and soil evaluation tests show that an on-site waste disposal system will not be satisfactory.

§ 12-15 Appliance installation permit.

A. In general.

(1) A person may not install an appliance in the County that affects or connects with a water supply, sewage disposal, plumbing system or gas system unless the person first obtains a permit from the Board.

(2) No person (other than a homeowner who installs an appliance which does not include a propane gas connection for their own use) may obtain an appliance installation permit unless the person is a licensed master plumber or has a master well driller's license, a pump installer's license or a state gas fitter's or water conditioner installer's license and is registered under § 12-10 of this chapter.

(3) All water heaters shall be installed by a licensed master plumber.

(4) This subsection does not apply to the replacement of an old appliance with a new model or with a similar appliance, provided the replacement does not involve a propane gas connection.

(5) An appliance installation permit shall not authorize any holder thereof, other than a master plumber, to perform plumbing work.

B. Application.

(1) An applicant for a permit shall complete an application form obtainable from the Board.

(2) The applicant is required to provide:

(a) The location of the property;

(b) The name of the owner of the property;

(c) The name and number of appliances; and

(d) A drawing showing:

[1] The existing water supply and sewer;

[2] The number of appliances and fixtures already installed; and

[3] How the appliance will be connected to the present water and sewer system or gas system.

C. Sewer and water alteration. If the County Health Department or Plumbing Inspector determines that a substantial alteration or addition to the sewer or water system is necessary, the property owner, or his agent must obtain other required permits from the County Health Department or Plumbing Board and the work must be performed in a manner that the County Health Department approves.

D. Inspection. On installation of the appliance, the Plumbing Inspector shall inspect the installation under the same regulations as other plumbing installations.

§ 12-16 Code conformance.

A. In general. All plumbing work done in the County in and about or in connection with any building, including work involved in installing appliances, must conform to:

(1) The Plumbing Code approved by the State Board of Plumbing; and

(2) The regulations of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or Department of Environment.

B. Indoor fixtures. Indoor plumbing fixtures must be installed under the supervision of a master plumber holding a Queen Anne's County plumber license.

C. Septic work. Unless the work is being done by the property owner, licensed septic system installer, or as otherwise authorized under this chapter, installation of approved septic tanks, mound systems, seepage pits, or tile fields must be done under the supervision of a master plumber holding a Queen Anne's County master plumber license or a person holding a septic system contractor's license.

§ 12-17 Piping work.

A. Piping. Any piping beyond a cold water pressure tank must be done under the supervision of a master plumber holding a Queen Anne's County master plumber license.

B. Well work. If installation of piping necessitates any work on a well, an appropriate permit must be obtained from the Board or County Health Department and the work must be inspected by the Plumbing Inspector or Health Department before the work is covered.

§ 12-18 Maintenance work.

A. In general. Subject to Subsection B of this section, a person employed as a maintenance man in a cannery, oyster house, orange juice plant, milk plant, or similar operation may do maintenance work on the machinery of the company and may routinely service the plumbing system of the plant without being licensed.

B. License required. If maintenance work described in Subsection A of this section requires any new plumbing fixture, new sewer, or addition to an existing sewer handling human waste, the work must be done by a plumber holding a Queen Anne's County plumber license, and shall be governed by the same regulations as other plumbing installations.

§ 12-19 Backflow prevention.

A. In general.

(1) Except as provided herein, only a licensed master plumber or journeyman plumber successfully completing a State of Maryland approved backflow and cross-connection course in both classroom and practical shall be allowed to install and test backflow prevention devices in Queen Anne's County.

(2) Except as provided herein, a master plumber shall issue any certification required in connection with the installation and testing of backflow prevention devices.

(3) Incorporated municipalities, including the Queen Anne's County Sanitary District, may install, test, certify, and maintain backflow preventors on their property or rights-of-way.