As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
CODE OFFICIAL
That person designated by the County Council of Dorchester County,
Maryland, responsible and charged with the administration and enforcement
of this chapter.
PLUMBING
The practice, materials and fixtures used in the installation, maintenance,
extension, alteration and removal of all piping, plumbing fixtures, plumbing
appliances and plumbing appurtenances connected to, or to be connected to,
any of the following:
A.
Sanitary drainage or storm drainage facilities.
B.
Venting systems and the public or private water supply systems within
or adjacent to any building, structure or conveyance.
The requirements of the plumbing regulations adopted by the Maryland
Board of Commissioners of Practical Plumbing shall be the minimum requirements
under this chapter.
It shall be unlawful in Dorchester County for any person, firm or corporation
to engage in the business of installation of plumbing without having first
obtained a license to perform such work from the Code Official. These licenses
are to be renewed annually. The license fee shall be determined by the County
Council and shall be issued to qualified persons, firms or corporations making
written application on forms provided by the Code Official. Licenses shall
be required only of persons, firms and corporations contracting to do plumbing
work and are not required for persons performing such work under the direct
supervision of a licensed person, firm or corporation.
The Code Official shall have the power to suspend or revoke any license
issued under this chapter for cause or if the same was obtained through fraud
or if a licensee has for a second time willfully violated any of the provisions
of this chapter. Whenever the Code Official shall find that such violation
has occurred, the Code Official shall give written notice to the licensee
that it contemplates the suspension or revocation of such license and shall
give its reason therefor. Said notice shall appoint a time and place of hearing
before the Code Official 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 Code Official shall decide the question
in such a manner as to him appears just and right.
All moneys received by and on behalf of the Code Official under the
terms and provisions of this chapter shall be deposited with the Director
of Finance of Dorchester County to be applied against the annual expenses
of the Code Official.
With the approval of the County Council, the Code Official shall, from
time to time, make, revise or revoke rules and regulations necessary to the
administration of this chapter.
Where there is an easement, appurtenant to land and property, valid
on its face, the use of the easement by the dominant owner shall not be subject
to the consent of the servient owner in any permitting process under this
chapter.
Any person who violates any part of this chapter shall be guilty of a civil infraction under the authority of Chapter
147 of the Dorchester County Code. The maximum civil penalty for each violation of this chapter shall be $1,000. Each new day may constitute a separate violation. An occurrence may contain more than one offense.
This chapter may be cited as the "Dorchester County Plumbing Code".