[HISTORY: Adopted by the County Council of Talbot County 9-4-1970; amended 12-17-1971. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Effect of amendment on existing actions — See Ch. 1, Art. II.
Building construction — See Ch. 28.
Electrical standards — See Ch. 56.
Enforcement of Code — See Ch. 58.
Floodplain management — See Ch. 70.
Minimum Livability Code — See Ch. 88.
Sanitary District — See Ch. 138.
Sanitary sewer construction districts — See Ch. 139.
Septage management — See Ch. 145.
Septic systems — See Ch. 146.
Sewer system — See Ch. 148.
Shared sanitary facilities — See Ch. 152.
[Amended 8-13-1985 by Bill No. 225]
For the purpose of this chapter, "sanitary construction" shall mean the installation of all plumbing, water supply wells and pumps, septic tank systems or other individual sewage systems and the practice of cleaning and disposing of the contents of septic tanks or other sewage disposal systems, abandonment of any sewage or septic disposal system and connection to a regional sewage system.
[Amended 12-8-1972; 1974 by Bill No. 9; 8-13-1985 by Bill No. 225]
A. 
The requirements of the current Plumbing Code of Maryland shall be the minimum requirements of the Talbot County plumbing inspection program.
B. 
Specifications on plastic pipe underground: ASTM D3034-78 or Schedule 35 PVC must be 18 inches underground depth, except vertical connection to unit; must be 36 inches under roadways and driveways; must be sleeved under or through footings or foundations.
C. 
The use of bituminized fiber sewer pipe for use of house to septic tank or house sewer connections shall be prohibited.
[Amended 1974 by Bill No. 9; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
The requirements of the Sewage Disposal and Certain Water Systems for Homes and Other Establishments in the Counties of Maryland Where a Public Sewage System is Not Available (COMAR 26.04.02) of the State Secretary of Health shall be the minimum requirements of the Talbot County Board of Health.
[Amended 1974 by Bill No. 9; 9-13-1977 by Bill No. 83; 2-28-1978 by Bill No. 96; 8-12-1980 by Bill No. 136; 6-22-1982 by Bill No. 171; 8-13-1985 by Bill No. 225]
A. 
It shall be unlawful in Talbot County for any person, firm or corporation to begin any work on the installation, replacement or major repair of any plumbing (except when permitted by the State Plumbing Code and/or § 112-10 of this chapter), individual sewage disposal systems or water well without first obtaining permits from the Talbot County Health Department and the Talbot County Department of Public Works. Permits shall be issued only to persons, firms and corporations holding valid licenses to do such work in Talbot County. The fees for all such permits shall be collected by the Talbot County Health Department and Talbot County Department of Public Works for the following and are to be paid at the time of issuance:
(1) 
Plumbing up to five fixtures.
(2) 
Additional fixtures over five each.
(3) 
Sanitary construction permit.
(4) 
Public sewage connection.
(5) 
Replacement of septic system or sanitary sewer facilities.
(6) 
Soil consultation and profile, per profile.
(7) 
Soil testing or other subdivision soil evaluation, per lot.
(8) 
Bacteria water test.
(9) 
Chemical water test.
(10) 
Well applications.
B. 
Upon request, the Environmental Health Section of the Talbot County Health Department will provide the materials necessary to complete the soil test for an additional fee. If a backhoe profile or additional work is necessary for a large subdivision (over five lots), the cost will be incurred by the subdivider.
C. 
All fees to be charged under this section shall be as established from time to time by motion of the County Council.
[Amended 1974 by Bill No. 9; 8-12-1980 by Bill No. 136; 8-13-1985 by Bill No. 225]
A. 
License required. It shall be unlawful in Talbot County for any person, firm or corporation to engage in the business of installation of plumbing, installation of individual sewage disposal systems or to engage in the business of servicing or cleaning septic tanks without having first obtained a license to perform such work from the Talbot County Department of Public Works or Talbot County Health Department and posted a performance bond in accordance with § 112-6D of this chapter. The Talbot County Health Department may require an additional bond for those persons, firms or corporations which install wastewater disposal systems which have been designed by a registered engineer. These licenses and bonds are to be renewed annually. Licenses shall be required only of persons, firms and corporations contracting to do such work and are not required for persons performing such work under the direct supervision of a licensed person, firm or corporation.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
B. 
Types of licenses. There shall be four types of licenses issued under this chapter to do work in Talbot County.
(1) 
General plumbing license, resident and nonresident.
(2) 
Journeyman license, resident and nonresident.
(3) 
Septic tank system construction license.
(4) 
Septic tank servicing license.
C. 
All fees to be charged under this section shall be as established from time to time by motion of the County Council.
[Amended 1974 by Bill No. 9; 8-12-1980 by Bill No. 136; 8-13-1985 by Bill No. 225]
These licenses shall be issued by the Talbot County Health Department or Talbot County Department of Public Works upon payment of the required fee by persons, firms or corporations making necessary application and furnishing proof of qualification to contract for and perform such work. Proof of qualification may be in the form of valid licenses required by the laws of the State of Maryland that are held by the applicant.
A. 
Persons, firms or corporations desiring a license to do general plumbing work in Talbot County shall be in possession of a valid master plumber certificate issued by the Maryland State Board of Plumbing in conformity with the provisions of Md. Code Ann., Business Occupations and Professions Art., Title 12, § 12-101 et seq.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
B. 
Persons, firms or corporations desiring a license to install septic tank systems or servicing and providing preventive maintenance of septic systems or other sewage disposal systems or other systems of sewage and waste disposal on properties not served directly by public sewage systems shall be granted a license to do such work in Talbot County only after such persons, firms or corporations have demonstrated their competency and proficiency to the satisfaction of Talbot County Health Department and have in their possession equipment necessary to do satisfactory work.
C. 
Persons, firms or corporations desiring a license to engage in the business of septic tank servicing (cleaning and disposing of the contents of septic tanks and other sewage and waste disposal facilities) shall be granted a license to do such work in Talbot County only after such persons, firms or corporations have demonstrated their competency and proficiency, are equipped with the necessary machinery to perform such work, have a lawful disposal site and carry out disposal procedures, all to the satisfaction of the Talbot County Health Department.
D. 
Before any person, firm or corporation shall be granted a license under this chapter, they must post a performance bond with the Talbot County Department of Public Works or Talbot County Health Department conditioned upon the licensee's proper completion of work performed and compliance with all laws, rules and regulations of the State of Maryland, Talbot County or any incorporated town in Talbot County pertaining to such work. The bonds shall be for the minimum sum of $10,000 and in such form as shall be prescribed by the Talbot County Health Department or Talbot County Department of Public Works.
[Amended 8-13-1985 by Bill No. 225]
The Talbot County Department of Public Works or the Talbot County Health Department acting for the Talbot County Board of Health shall have the power to suspend or revoke any license issued under this chapter if the same was obtained through fraud or if the licensee has a second time willfully violated any of the provisions of this chapter. Whenever the above Departments shall find that such violation has occurred, the Departments shall give written notice to the licensee that it contemplates the suspension or revocation of such license and giving its reasons therefor. Said notice shall appoint a time and place of hearing before the said Department and shall be mailed by certified or registered mail to the licensee affected. At the time of such hearing, the licensee may personally or through legal representation present such evidence, as he deems fit, and after hearing all the testimony, the Department shall decide the question in such a manner as to appear just and right.
[Amended 8-13-1985 by Bill No. 225]
Any applicant for a license or any licensee who shall feel aggrieved by the action of the Talbot County Department of Public Works or the Talbot County Health Department in failing to issue or in suspending or revoking a license may, within 10 days after receipt of notice of such action, take an appeal therefrom to any court having equity jurisdiction in Talbot County. The taking or pending of such appeal shall not suspend or affect any suspension or revocation issued by the said Department. Either party to proceedings of such court action may appeal from the decision of said court to the Court of Appeals of Maryland.
[Amended 1974 by Bill No. 9; 8-13-1985 by Bill No. 225; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
All moneys received by and on behalf of the Talbot County Department of Public Works under the terms and provisions of this chapter shall be paid to the Finance Officer of Talbot County to be applied against the annual expenses of the budget of the Talbot County Health Department in accordance with the agreement for financing local health services between the Secretary of Health and the County Council of Talbot County. Moneys received for plumbing licenses and fees shall be applied against the annual expenses of the County Plumbing Inspector, who shall be a licensed master plumber or qualified inspector as determined by the County Engineer.
[Amended 8-13-1985 by Bill No. 225]
This chapter shall not prevent an individual property owner from personally performing sanitary construction work on the property on which he resides or residences he rents, or any other property owned by him that is not being constructed or held for immediate or future sale, lease or rent, provided that all such work, not exempted by the State Plumbing Code, is carried out under a permit from the Talbot County Department of Public Works or Talbot County Health Department and is inspected and approved, when completed, by that Department. This chapter shall not prevent maintenance employees of any plant, hotel or business from performing their duties of repairing or maintaining existing sanitary facilities at their place of employment. Permanent employees of this type will not be required to hold the sanitary construction license by this chapter. Sanitary construction permits will not be required for work on existing sanitary facilities in these establishments but will be required for any new installation affecting the water supply system or sewage disposal system.
The Talbot County Council acting as the Talbot County Board of Health shall from time to time make, revise or revoke rules and regulations necessary to the administration of this chapter.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction be fined not less than $50 nor more than $200 for the first offense and for the second or subsequent offense by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500.