[Adopted 4-3-1990 as Ch. 5, Art. III, of the 1989 Code; amended in its entirety 3-7-1995 by Bill No. 1-95]
A. 
The Board of County Commissioners of Kent County shall appoint a Board, which Board shall be known as the "Board of Electrical Examiners of Kent County" and which shall consist of three (3) residents of Kent County, for the purpose of examining the qualifications and capabilities of all persons who are engaged or desire to engage in the electrical business as herein defined. The Board so appointed shall consist of at least two (2) master electricians and one (1) other person. The initial appointment shall be one (1) master electrician for one (1) year, one (1) other person for two (2) years and one (1) master electrician for three (3) years. Thereafter, all appointments shall be for three-year terms. If any vacancy occurs for any cause during the term of any Board member as herein provided for, the Board of County Commissioners shall fill the vacancy. The Board of County Commissioners shall have full power to remove any member of the Board of Electrical Examiners for incompetency or improper conduct. No member shall serve successive terms.
B. 
Each member of said Board shall receive such compensation for actual service in attending the meetings of the Board as may, from time to time, be determined by resolution of the County Commissioners.
C. 
Said Board shall meet at least once each month, shall hold such special meetings as the proper and efficient discharge of its business shall require and said Board shall adopt such rules and regulations for the examination of electricians as herein defined. The term "electrical business" as used herein shall be defined as and shall include any and all persons engaged in the electrical contracting of or holding themselves out to the public as engaged in the business of installing, erecting or repairing or contracting to install, erect or repair electric wires or conductors to be used for the transmission of electrical current for electric light, heat or power purposes. A license of a master electrician issued in accordance with the provisions of this Part 2 shall entitle any such person so licensed to engage in the business of and to hold himself out to the public as engaged in the business of installing, erecting or repairing and of contracting to install, erect or repair any electric wires or conductors, etc.; provided, however, that nothing herein shall apply to any firm or corporation if the person managing and in charge of the electrical work of said firm or corporation is a master electrician licensed under these provisions or if such corporation is a public utility subject to regulation by the Public Service Commission of Maryland.
No person, firm or corporation shall contract to perform, hold themselves out to the public to perform (except those who qualify under Section 6-504 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland) or physically perform any electrical work without first having acquired a license as required by this Part 2, except that a homeowner may perform such work himself in his own home after having satisfactorily completed the homeowner's examination.
A. 
Applications may be procured in person or by mail from the office of the Kent County Building Inspector during normal working hours and, upon submission, must be accompanied with a recognizable photograph of the applicant with all first-time applicants.
B. 
Application must be made for one (1) of the following license or permits:
(1) 
Master electrician. A person who has the experience, knowledge and skill to provide electrical services in all aspects of the electrical trade in a manner that complies with applicable plans, specifications, codes or law.
(2) 
Restricted residential. A person having this license may engage in the business of electrical work in single-family dwellings as defined in the BOCA National Building Code, 1987 Edition, Section 308.5, Use Group R-4 only.
(3) 
Restricted limited. A person limited to work on equipment in one (1) of the following categories: electrically operated heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration equipment (HVACR); appliances, petroleum-dispensing equipment or security systems. It does not allow the installation of feeders which serve multicircuit panel boxes.
(4) 
In-plant permit. For in-plant electrical maintenance, but a permittee may not work on new installations.
(5) 
Homeowner's permit. A homeowner may perform such work himself on his own single-family dwelling used for his personal residence only.
A. 
Only one (1) active license will be issued for any firm or corporation.
B. 
Every applicant for a master's license must be at least twenty-four (24) years of age and have had at least seven (7) years' [a year constitutes two thousand (2,000) hours worked] experience under a master electrician in such class or classes of electrical work as in the opinion of the Board of Electrical Examiners shall have properly trained the applicant to be licensed. Technical training in a technical school or college may constitute a percentage of the required experience.
C. 
Restricted residential. Each applicant for a restricted residential license shall be at least twenty-one (21) years of age and have had at least four (4) years' [a year constitutes two thousand (2,000) hours worked] experience under the supervision of a master or restricted residential electrician.
D. 
Restricted limited. Each applicant for a restricted limited license shall be at least twenty-one (21) years of age and have had at least four (4) years' [a year constitutes two thousand (2,000) hours worked] practical experience with verification of such experience by employer.
E. 
In-plant permit. Each application for an in-plant permit shall be made by an authorized officer of the applicant.
F. 
Each applicant for the homeowner's permit must satisfactorily complete the homeowner's examination.
A. 
All examinations shall be given by the Board of Electrical Examiners in the months of January, April, July and October.
B. 
Examinations shall test the applicant's knowledge of the current edition of the National Electrical Code (NFPA No. 70), along with practical knowledge of circuitry and equipment.
C. 
Applicants for examinations will be required to obtain a grade of seventy percent (70%) in order to obtain a license.
D. 
Any applicant aggrieved by a decision of the Board of Electrical Examiners on any question relating to the examination shall be given a hearing by a Board of Arbitration, provided that the appeal is made to the Board of Electrical Examiners within thirty (30) days after the decision. Conditions of this appeal are: any person whose application for license shall have been rejected by said Board of Electrical Examiners shall have the right to appeal to a Board of Arbitration, which shall consist of one (1) person selected by the person making the appeal, one (1) person selected by the Board of Electrical Examiners and these two (2) to select a third person, and the decision of said Board of Arbitration or a majority of them shall be final and binding upon all parties to said appeal. The members of the Board shall receive an expense allowance in the amount of twenty dollars ($20.) for each member, which sum shall be deposited with the Board of Electrical Examiners by the person taking said appeal, and if said Board of Arbitration shall affirm the decision of the Board of Electrical Examiners, the money so deposited shall be used to pay said Board; if, however, such decision is reversed, said Board of Arbitration shall be paid out of county funds, and said deposit of sixty dollars ($60.) shall be returned.
A. 
The license fees and renewal fees for electrical licenses shall be according to a schedule to be established from time to time by resolution of the Board of County Commissioners.
B. 
Before the license is issued or reissued, the applicant shall furnish the Board of Electrical Examiners with prima facie evidence of adequate business liability insurance commensurate with that which is required by the State of Maryland. All classes of licenses stated in § 192-34 shall be required to carry coverage equal to or exceeding the requirements by the State of Maryland for master electricians.
A. 
All licenses when received from the Board of Electrical Examiners shall be displayed in a prominent place in the principal office or establishment of the licensee.
B. 
No license shall be transferable.
C. 
Licenses shall be issued on a biannual basis and are valid as of the first day of July of the odd year on and prior to issuance. The full fee shall be paid irrespective of the date of issuance.
D. 
All licensees shall display on the vehicles used in the performance of their work the words "Licensed Electrician - Kent County, Maryland" and the number assigned to them in letters not less than two (2) inches in height. This is to be done within ninety (90) days of issuance of the license.
E. 
Licenses may be renewed without examination, provided that application for renewal along with applicable provisions of § 192-37 are submitted to the Board within ninety (90) days of the expiration date.
F. 
Application for renewal shall include a complete list of employees, showing date of employment and social security number.
G. 
The Board of Electrical Examiners shall be given written notice of all new employees within thirty (30) days of employment.
H. 
The failure on the part of any licensee to renew his license prior to the expiration date shall not deprive such person the right of renewal without examination for ninety (90) days after the expiration date, but the fees for renewal shall be increased by ten dollars ($10.) for each month or fraction of a month that a renewal fee is delayed. Nothing in this statement shall infer that the validity of the license is extended through this ninety-day period.
I. 
If a license holder does not wish to renew his license, he must submit a written notice of request to shelve the license. This must be accompanied with the fee in effect.
The Board of Electrical Examiners may, upon at least fifteen (15) days' notice to the licensee by certified mail and after a full hearing of all parties in interest, revoke or suspend the license of any found guilty of:
A. 
The practice of fraud or deceit in obtaining said license.
B. 
Permitting any unlicensed person, firm or corporation to apply for inspection of or to perform electrical work under the authority of a license.
C. 
Performing or permitting the performance of grossly defective or dangerous work.
D. 
Failure to file application for inspection of such work with the recognized electrical inspection authority for work performed.
E. 
Failure to make corrections required by a notice issued by the authorized electrical inspector within a reasonable time as interpreted by the Electrical Board.
F. 
Failure to obtain certification of work performed from the authorized inspection agency.
G. 
Violations of any of the provisions of this Part 2 or of any regulations adopted pursuant to this Part 2.
A. 
All licensees must file an application for inspection of all electrical work.
B. 
Any firm or corporation which has an in-plant (maintenance) permit for its specific building or buildings under its control and where applicable electrical work is performed shall file application for inspection with the authorized electrical inspector or inspection agency on a biannual basis.
C. 
A letter of certification of the annual inspection shall be presented to the Board of Electrical Examiners before the annual permit is issued. Failure to show certification thirty (30) days after the renewal date would automatically cancel the in-plant permit.
All electrical work performed by a licensee shall be in accordance with the then-approved current edition of the National Electrical Code (NFPA No. 70) or approved revisions thereof as may be amended by the Board of Electrical Examiners.
The currently recognized inspection authority shall be the Middle Department Inspection Agency or its successor, subject to the continued authority of the Board of Electrical Examiners to change, add or delete the recognized inspection authority.
The County Commissioners shall have the authority to appoint representatives with specialized expertise to assist the Board of Electrical Examiners in an advisory capacity where circumstances so warrant.
A. 
An application for inspection is not required for the installation of an outlet under twenty (20) amperes or less than two (2) outlets with recognized inspection authority. Licensees must obtain a certificate of electrical work performed from the authorized inspection agency.
B. 
The provisions of this Part 2 do not apply to: journeymen electricians or apprentices and other persons under the direction and supervision of a licensed master electrician or (life or present) restricted residential electrician, and those performing electrical work for those companies as an integral part of the plant or services of the company in rendering their duly authorized services to the public and those cited in Article 90(2)(b) of the current National Electrical Code.
No electric light or power company shall attach its power lines or electric meters to any consumer's property within the borders of Kent County unless the work has been installed by an electrician licensed under this Part 2 or the homeowner himself [as defined in § 192-34B(5)] and until a temporary or permanent meter cut-in certificate has been issued by the inspector or an appropriate fifteen-day card issued in accordance with the guidelines of the local utilities.
A. 
Any person, firm or corporation who or which shall install, alter or replace any water supply, wiring, appliances or devices for electric light, heat, protective signaling or power without having a valid license, except under the direct supervision of a person having a valid license, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be liable for a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.) or to imprisonment of not more than ninety (90) days, or both, in the discretion of the court, and any such conviction shall ipso facto revoke and annul any license that may have been issued to such person. Each day's violation shall constitute a separate offense.
B. 
The County Commissioners of Kent County may enjoin such person, firm or corporation from engaging in electrical work in violation of this Part 2 by action for injunction or other equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction or may recover the monetary penalty by civil action in such court.