The provisions of this code shall apply to every
plumbing installation, including alterations, repairs, equipment,
appliances, fixtures, fittings or appurtenances thereto, within the
county or its police jurisdiction or when connected to the water or
sewerage system.
This code shall be construed liberally and justly
to secure the proper installation of systems for furnishing potable
water, for sanitary sewage disposal and storm drainage and to ensure
public safety, health and welfare insofar as they are affected by
the installation and maintenance of plumbing.
The invalidity of any provision in any section
of this code as applied to existing buildings and structures shall
not be held to affect the validity of such section in its application
to buildings and structures hereafter erected.
Before a structure can be demolished or removed,
the owner or agent shall notify all utilities having service connections
within the structure, such as water, electric, gas, sewer and other
connections. A permit to demolish or remove a structure shall not
be issued until a release is obtained from the utilities, stating
that their respective service connections and appurtenant equipment,
such as meters and regulators, have been removed or sealed and plugged
in a safe manner.
Buildings and structures moved into or within
the jurisdiction shall comply with the provisions of this code for
new buildings and structures.
Building sewers and water service pipes shall
connect, when possible, to the public sewer and water main at a point
designated by the proper authority.
All work shall be conducted, installed and completed
in a workmanlike and acceptable manner so as to secure the results
intended by this code and the standards referenced herein.
All plumbing installations, regardless of type,
which are unsanitary or which constitute a hazard to human life, health
or welfare are hereby declared illegal and shall be abated by repair
and rehabilitation or by demolition in accordance with the procedure
as outlined in the Building Code of Wicomico County or any future ordinances dealing with the subject matter
hereof.
[Amended 10-13-1984 by Bill No. 1984-9; 2-13-1990 by Bill No.
1990-4]
A. Before any person, firm or corporation shall engage in the plumbing business within the county, he shall be qualified as set forth herein, and a license shall be obtained from the Wicomico County Plumbing Official when proof of liability insurance of at least $300,000 and a valid Maryland State master plumbers license is presented. Where any plumbing work is being done, a master or journeyman plumber shall at all times be in actual control and in charge of the work being done, except as follows: Those persons, firms or corporations meeting the requirements of Subsection
B must have a qualified supervisor at all times on the job.
[Amended 4-4-2006 by Bill No. 2006-5]
B. Whoever desires to enter the plumbing business or
offers plumbing services within the county shall apply for registration
to the Wicomico County Plumbing Official and present certificates
from the state, together with satisfactory proof as to competency
to enter the plumbing business; except that the following persons
or firms shall not be required to be registered master plumbers: those
persons or firms desiring to install, repair or maintain on-site waste
disposal systems on any premises and who shall start five feet outside
the building line; those persons or firms engaged in the practice
of installing groundwater heat pump equipment; and those persons or
firms engaged in the practice of installing water conditioning equipment.
Those persons or firms engaged in the practice of installing groundwater
heat pump equipment or on-site wastewater disposal systems must be
registered and licensed with the Wicomico County Plumbing Official
and provide satisfactory proof as to the competency to perform this
type of business to the county. Those persons or firms engaged in
the practice of installing water conditioning equipment must be registered
and licensed with the Wicomico County Plumbing Official and provide
satisfactory proof as to the competency to perform this type of business
to the county.
[Amended 2-14-1994 by Bill No. 1994-2; 4-4-2006 by Bill No. 2006-5]
C. A license shall be obtained from Wicomico County, Maryland, after fully complying with Subsection
B. The initial registration and license fee shall be recommended by the Plumbing Officer and approved by the County Council. All licenses shall expire on April 30 of each year and shall be renewed annually thereafter only upon written application to the Wicomico County Plumbing Official. Renewal fees shall be the same as those for initial licensing.
[Amended 10-17-2006 by Bill No. 2006-11]
D. Any person, firm or corporation engaged in the plumbing
business whose work does not conform to the rules and regulations
hereinafter set out or whose workmanship or materials are of inferior
quality shall, on notice from the Plumbing Official, make necessary
changes or corrections at once so as to conform to this code. If the
work has not been so changed after 10 days' notice from the Plumbing
Official, the Plumbing Official shall then refuse to issue any more
permits until such work has fully complied with the rules and regulations
of this code and shall revoke the registration of such person, firm
or corporation. The Plumbing Official may appear before the Wicomico
County Plumbing Board and advise that all licenses and/or registrations
have been revoked because of continuous violations. When the revocation
of any such license and/or registration is to be considered at any
meeting, the person, firm, company, association or corporation to
whom the license and/or registration has been issued shall have at
least three days' notice, in writing, of the time and place of such
meeting, together with a statement of the grounds upon which it is
proposed to revoke such license and/or registration.
E. Before any person, firm or corporation shall engage
in the business of plumbing within the county, he, it or they shall
first obtain the proper license and show proof to the Wicomico County
Plumbing Official of the $300,000 worth of general liability insurance,
as required by the Maryland State Plumbing Board. Those persons, firms
or corporations engaged in the practice of installing water conditioning
equipment shall first obtain the proper license and show proof to
the Wicomico County Plumbing Official of the bond and general liability
insurance required by state law. Groundwater heat pump installers
and on-site waste disposal installers must obtain a proper license
and shall show proof to the Wicomico County Plumbing Official of general
liability insurance.
[Amended 2-14-1994 by Bill No. 1994-2; 4-4-2006 by Bill No. 2006-5]
F. Allowing one's name, license or bond to be used to
obtain a permit fraudulently. No person, firm or corporation engaged
in the business of plumbing shall allow his, its or their names to
be used by any other person, firm or corporation, directly or indirectly,
to obtain a permit or for the construction of any work under his,
its or their names, license or bond, nor shall he, it or they make
any misrepresentations or omission in his, its or their returns.
When, in the opinion of the Plumbing Official,
there is actual and immediate danger of contamination or sanitation
hazard which would endanger life, the Plumbing Official hereby is
authorized and empowered to order and require the occupants to vacate
a structure forthwith. It shall cause to be posted at each entrance
to such structure a notice reading as follows: "THIS STRUCTURE IS
UNSAFE AND ITS USE OR OCCUPANCY HAS BEEN PROHIBITED BY THE PLUMBING
OFFICIAL." It shall be unlawful for any person to enter such structure
except for the purpose of making the required repairs or removal.