[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Monroe 4-28-1975 by Ord. No. 75-004. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
General penalty — See § 1-27.
Plumbing Code — See Ch. 275, Art. V.
STATUTORY REFERENCES
Plumbers and plumbing generally — See MCLA § 338.901 et seq.
A. 
No person shall install, remove, alter, repair or replace, or cause to be installed, removed, altered, repaired or replaced, any plumbing, gas or drainage piping work or any fixture or water heating or treating equipment, in a building or premises, except as provided in § 500-2, without first obtaining a permit to do such work from the Building Official.
B. 
A separate permit shall be obtained for each building or structure.
C. 
No person shall allow any other person to do or cause to be done any work under a permit secured by a permittee except persons in his or her employ.
A. 
No permit shall be required for stopping leaks in drain, soil, waste or vent pipes, provided that should any drain, soil, waste or vent pipe be or become defective, and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material in any part or parts, the same shall be considered as new work and a permit therefor shall be procured and inspection made as hereinbefore provided.
B. 
No permit shall be required for the cleaning of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures, when such repairs do not involve or require the rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures.
A. 
Any person legally entitled to apply for and receive a permit shall make application therefor on forms provided for that purpose. He or she shall give a description of the character of the work proposed to be done and the location, ownership, occupancy and use of the premises in connection therewith. The Building Official may require plans, specifications or drawings and such other information as he or she may deem necessary.
B. 
If the Building Official determines that the plans, specifications, drawings, descriptions and information furnished by the applicant are in compliance with this chapter and Chapter 275, Article V, Michigan Plumbing Code, he or she shall issue the permit applied for upon payment of the required fee as hereinafter fixed.
[Amended 3-10-1980 by Ord. No. 80-005]
A. 
An applicant for a permit shall be an authorized master plumber or a homeowner, who has met the qualifications to obtain plumbing permits from the Building Official.
B. 
An application for a permit shall be made in writing on a form provided by the Building Official. An incomplete application shall be returned to the applicant. The application shall contain:
(1) 
The name of the authorized master plumber.
(2) 
The master plumber license number.
(3) 
The name of the plumbing firm.
(4) 
The address of the place of business.
(5) 
The name and address of the owner or agent for whom the work is being done.
(6) 
The location of the work by street and number, or by lot and block number when a street number is not available.
(7) 
The type of building.
(8) 
The number and type of fixtures or devices to be installed or the nature of the construction, alteration or repair.
C. 
An authorized master plumber is responsible for completion of the plumbing for which he or she has an active permit. Permits issued to an authorized master plumber representing a plumbing firm are valid for the firm to complete the plumbing upon his or her death. However, work shall be done under the supervision of a master plumber.
D. 
If the authorized master plumber who signs an application for a permit does not desire to do the work covered by it, either in part or in whole, he or she shall notify the Building Official in writing, requesting that he or she be released from responsibility for that part of the work which he or she does not desire to do. However, he or she will be held responsible for the work which he or she has completed. The Building Official's record shall indicate the extent of the completed work and the responsibility.
E. 
When an emergency requires a plumbing permit, the authorized master plumber shall apply for a permit within 72 hours.
F. 
The Building Official may refuse to issue new permits to an authorized master plumber who has failed to correct violations or to any authorized master plumber representing a firm which has failed to correct violations.
[Amended 3-10-1980 by Ord. No. 80-005]
A. 
An application for a building sewer or private sewer permit shall be made in writing on a form provided by the Building Official. An incomplete application shall be returned to the applicant. The application shall contain:
(1) 
The name of the applicant.
(2) 
The name of the applicant's firm.
(3) 
The address of the applicant's firm.
(4) 
The name and address of the owner or agent for whom the work is being done.
(5) 
The location of the work by street and number, or by lot and block number when a street number is not available.
(6) 
The type of building.
(7) 
The nature of the sewer construction, alteration or repair.
B. 
If the person who signs an application for a permit does not desire to do the work covered by it, either in part or in whole, he or she shall notify the Building Official in writing, requesting that he or she be released from responsibility for that part of the work which he or she does not desire to do. However, he or she will be held responsible for the work which he or she has completed. The Building Official's record shall indicate the extent of the completed work and the responsibility.
C. 
A person is responsible for completion of the work for which he or she has an active permit.
D. 
When an emergency requires a sewer permit, a person shall apply for a permit within 72 hours.
E. 
The Building Official may refuse to issue new permits to a person who has failed to correct violations or to any person representing a firm which has failed to correct violations.
A. 
Every applicant for a permit to do work regulated by this chapter shall state in writing, on the application form provided for that purpose, the character of work proposed to be done and the amount and kind in connection therewith, together with such information pertinent thereto as may be required.
B. 
Such applicant shall pay for each permit, at the time of issuance, a fee as set forth in the schedule of plumbing permit fees which is established and amended from time to time by the Department of Building, Zoning and Environmental Compliance and approved by Council.
C. 
Any person who shall commence any work for which a permit is required by this chapter without first having obtained a permit therefor shall, if subsequently permitted to obtain a permit, pay double the permit fee otherwise fixed for such work. However, this provision shall not apply to emergency work when it shall be proved to the satisfaction of the Building Official that such work was urgently necessary and that it was not practical to obtain a permit therefor before the commencement of the work. In all such cases, a permit must be obtained as soon as it is practical to do so, and if there is an unreasonable delay in obtaining such permit, a double fee as herein provided shall be charged.
D. 
For the purpose of this section, a sanitary plumbing outlet on or to which a plumbing fixture or appliance may be set or attached shall be construed to be a fixture. Fees for reconnection and retest of plumbing systems in relocated buildings shall be based on the number of plumbing fixtures, gas systems, water heaters, etc. involved.
E. 
When interceptor traps or mobile home site traps are installed at the same time as a building sewer on any lot, no sewer permit shall be required for the connection of any such trap to an appropriate inlet fitting provided in the building sewer by the permittee constructing such sewer.
F. 
When a permit has been obtained to connect an existing building or existing work to the public sewer or to connect to a new private disposal facility, backfilling of private sewage disposal facilities because of such connection is included in the permit.
A. 
All plumbing and drainage systems shall be inspected by the Building Official to ensure compliance with all the requirements of this chapter and Chapter 275, Article V, Michigan Plumbing Code.
B. 
It shall be the duty of the person doing the work authorized by the permit to notify the Building Official, orally or in writing, that said work is ready for inspection. Such notification shall be given not less than 24 hours before the work is to be inspected.
C. 
It shall be the duty of the person doing the work authorized by the permit to make sure that the work will stand the test prescribed elsewhere in this chapter before giving the above notification.
Whenever any work is being done contrary to the provisions of this chapter, the Building Official or his or her authorized representative may order the work to be stopped by notice in writing served on any person engaged in doing the work or causing the same to be done, and any such person shall forthwith stop such work until authorized by the Building Official to proceed with the work.
The Building Official may, in writing, suspend or revoke a permit issued under this chapter whenever the permit is issued in error or on the basis of incorrect information or in violation of any ordinance or regulation, or whenever any part of the work being performed under authority of such permit is in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or Chapter 275, Article V, Michigan Plumbing Code.
The Building Official or any employee charged with the enforcement of this chapter, acting in good faith and without malice in the discharge of his or her duties for the City, shall not thereby render himself or herself liable personally, and he or she is hereby relieved from all personal liability for any damage that may accrue to persons or property as a result of any act required or by reason of any act of omission in the discharge of his or her duties. Any suit brought against the Building Official or employees because of such act or omission performed by him or her in the enforcement of any provisions of this chapter shall be defended by the Department of Law of the City until final determination of the proceedings.
[Amended 3-10-1980 by Ord. No. 80-005]
A. 
Establishment; membership; secretary. There is hereby established a Plumbing Board of Appeals (referred to hereinafter as the Board) to consist of five members appointed by the Council as follows: One shall be a licensed master plumber and one shall be a licensed journeyman plumber, and both shall be citizens and actual residents of the City; one shall be a Councilperson; one shall be the County Health Officer, or his or her designate; and one shall be a citizen. The City Clerk/Treasurer or his or her designate shall act as Secretary of the Board.
B. 
Terms of office; removal; vacancies; compensation; internal administration; quorum; liability.
(1) 
The term of office shall be for three years. Members may, after a public hearing, be removed by the Council for inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. Vacancies occurring otherwise than through the expiration of terms shall be filled for the unexpired term by the Council. All members of the Board, except City employees or officials, shall serve and be compensated at a rate set by the Council. The Board shall elect its own Chairperson and adopt its own rules of procedure. The Board shall keep a record of its proceedings, showing the action of the Board and the vote of each member upon each question considered. Three members shall constitute a quorum.
(2) 
In no case shall members of the Board or City employees acting with lawful authority be liable for costs in any action or proceeding that may be commenced under the Plumbing Code of the City.
C. 
Duties; appeals; consultants.
(1) 
The duty of the Board shall be to hear and decide appeals where it is alleged by the appellant that there is error in any order, requirement, decision, grant or refusal made by the Building Official in the enforcement of the provisions of this code.
(2) 
Whenever the Building Official shall reject or refuse to approve the mode or manner of plumbing installation proposed to be followed, or materials to be used in the installation, alteration, renovation or repair of a plumbing system, or when it is claimed that the provisions of this chapter and/or Chapter 275, Article V, Michigan Plumbing Code, relating thereto do not apply, or that any equally good or more desirable form of installation can be employed in a specific case, or when it is claimed that the true intent and meaning of this chapter and/or Chapter 275, Article V, Michigan Plumbing Code, or any other applicable ordinance or regulation has been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted, the permit applied for having been refused by the Building Official or a duly authorized agent, the applicant may appeal from the decision of the Building Official, in writing, to the Board. The Board shall, after hearing the evidence on any such appeal, either affirm, modify or reverse the decision of the Building Official as it may deem best under all the circumstances of the case, and its decision shall have the same effect as if it were the decision of the Building Official. The Board shall have the power to approve new and different methods or materials that will, in its judgment, accomplish the same result as may be intended by the provisions of this chapter and/or Chapter 275, Article V, Michigan Plumbing Code.
(3) 
The Board is empowered, subject to the approval of the City Council to call in and hire consultants for special problems as may be necessary to satisfactorily execute its duty.
[Amended 3-10-1980 by Ord. No. 80-005]
No person shall engage in the business of plumbing or supervision of plumbing work covered by this chapter and/or Chapter 275, Article V, Michigan Plumbing Code, in the City unless such person is a master plumber licensed by the State Plumbing Board, as required by Act 222 of the Public Acts of 1901, as amended,[1] and unless such person is registered as a master plumber with the Building Official of the City, except as may be otherwise provided in this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: See now MCLA § 338.3533.
[Amended 3-10-1980 by Ord. No. 80-005]
No person shall employ, hire or subcontract with any other person, other than through a registered and licensed master plumber, to install or supervise the installation of plumbing, as defined in this chapter, in the City.
[Amended 3-10-1980 by Ord. No. 80-005]
Any agreement, contract, subcontract or purchase which includes or covers any installation of plumbing in the City, or a permanent physical connection therewith or thereto, shall clearly state that the installation and its supervision shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Plumbing Code of the City (Chapter 275, Article V, Michigan Plumbing Code, and this Chapter 500 of the Code of the City of Monroe).
[Amended 3-10-1980 by Ord. No. 80-005]
Any licensed master plumber who agrees to or is hired to install, or who contracts or subcontracts to install, any plumbing, drainage or sewage in the City shall be personally responsible for the installation of such work in accordance with this chapter and Chapter 275, Article V, Michigan Plumbing Code, for securing all permits, and for requesting an inspection of installations as required by this chapter or Chapter 275, Article V, Michigan Plumbing Code. Any transfer of this responsibility is prohibited and shall be a violation of this chapter.
Every person duly licensed for the current year as a master or journeyman plumber by the state and engaged in business of plumbing contractor, or in employment as a master or journeyman plumber in the City, shall register with the Building Official on or before April 30 each year. The registration fees shall be as established from time to time by the Department of Building, Zoning and Environmental Compliance and approved by resolution of Council.
[Amended 3-10-1980 by Ord. No. 80-005]
Every master plumber who is the licensed representative of another person shall register with the Building Official the name of the person he or she represents. Upon the termination of the licensed representative's relationship with any person, the Building Official shall immediately be notified. No further permits shall be issued to the person until another licensed representative shall have been registered with the Building Official, which other representative is authorized by law to secure permits.
[Amended 3-10-1980 by Ord. No. 80-005]
A licensed master plumber shall only be the licensed representative of one person, firm or corporation at the same time, and shall not conduct the business of plumbing under any name other than that registered with the Building Official.