A. 
The 2021 International Mechanical Code published by the International Code Council, Inc., is hereby adopted and by reference thereto is made a part of this chapter with the same force and effect as though set out in full herein, save and except such changes, amendments, revisions, deletions, subsections and/or additions as specified in this chapter. If conflicts with this code, or with changes, amendments, revisions, deletions, subsections and/or additions to that code are found elsewhere in the County Code, the most restrictive provisions shall govern.
B. 
At least one copy of this code and supplements thereto shall be on file and open for public use, examination and inspection in the office of the Director of Administration and in the office of the Council Administrator.
C. 
The requirements of this article shall not apply to the agricultural structures that do not require a building permit as specified on the Agricultural Buildings Permitting Requirements Table as shown in Attachment 1 in Chapter 82.[1]
[1]
Editor’s Note: The Agricultural Buildings Permitting Requirements Table is included at the end of this chapter.
A. 
All persons that intend to install, maintain, alter, remodel or repair heating systems, cooling systems, refrigeration systems, ventilation systems or hydronic systems in Harford County shall be registered with the Division of Plumbing Services and shall have a current certificate of registration.
B. 
To obtain a certificate of registration, the applicant shall have been qualified and approved by the State of Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors.
C. 
Master, master restricted, limited heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration certificate of registration. Any applicant who applies for a master, master restricted or a limited heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration certificate to perform mechanical services shall provide the following information:
(1) 
A current license number issued by the State of Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors.
(2) 
A current business address with phone number.
(3) 
A current certificate of insurance equal to or greater than such amount as required by the State of Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors.
D. 
Journeyman, apprentice certificate of registration. Any applicant who applies for a journeyman or apprentice certificate to assist in performing mechanical services shall provide a current license number issued by the State of Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors.
E. 
Fees for certificate of registration shall be as set forth in Chapter 157 of the Harford County Code, as amended.
F. 
Master, master restricted and limited heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration certificates issued pursuant to this section shall expire on April 30 of each even-numbered year, and all such certificates shall be issued for a 2-year period. All journeyman and apprentice certificates issued pursuant to this section shall expire on October 31 of each even-numbered year.
G. 
The administrative authority may, in its discretion, suspend or revoke the certificate of registration of any person who makes any false or misleading statement in an application; who sells, lends or otherwise permits any improper use of a certificate, obtains permits for others to install, maintain, alter, remodel or repair heating systems, cooling systems, refrigeration systems, ventilation systems or hydronic systems, loses or has been suspended from his or her State of Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors' qualification or who commits any violation of the Harford County Mechanical Code.
H. 
Upon receipt of written requests directed to the administrative authority, the administrative authority, in its discretion, may suspend or revoke the certificate of any person who commits any violation of the Harford County Mechanical Code or any other law or regulation governing the conduct to provide heating, ventilation, air-conditioning or refrigeration services.
(1) 
No certificate shall be suspended or revoked except after a hearing before the administrative authority of which the certificate holder shall receive at least 5 days' notice, in writing, together with a statement of the charges. Upon such hearing, the administrative authority may suspend any certificate for such a period of time as it may find proper or may revoke same.
(2) 
In the event of a revocation, no application for the reinstatement of a revoked certificate shall be entertained until the expiration of 6 months from the date of such revocation. At the end of such 6-month period, the administrative authority may, in its discretion, reinstate a revoked certificate.
I. 
Any certificate holder shall notify the administrative authority immediately of any changes in location of business, employer, phone number, licensing status or insurance coverage.
J. 
Any certificate of insurance required to be submitted under this section shall provide that in the event the insurance required under this chapter is cancelled, the insurer shall notify the Harford County Division of Plumbing Services within 10 days after the date of cancellation.
A. 
No work regulated by this code shall be commenced without a permit being issued by the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits. Only to the extent that a registrant with the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits is authorized to do work, shall a registered master, master restricted, limited heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration contractor be eligible to apply for permits authorized by this code.
B. 
A mechanical permit issued in accordance with § 82-12 of this Code may be issued to the owner of a single-family dwelling occupied exclusively by the owner upon the following conditions:
(1) 
All work must be done in accordance with this code.
(2) 
The owner shall be tested and qualified by the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits in accordance with requirements established by the Mechanical Board.
(3) 
The owner shall sign an affidavit agreeing to comply with all applicable provisions of this chapter and attesting that the location in which the work will be performed is the applicant's primary residence.
A. 
Upon written notification by a master, master restricted, limited heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration contractor to the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits, a permit may be canceled upon satisfactorily meeting the following requirements:
(1) 
A minimum 7 working day waiting period commencing the day that the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits receives the cancellation request unless the parties agree to waive the waiting period or the Building Official determines that extenuating circumstances exist that warrant modification of the waiting period.
(2) 
The Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits certifies that the work performed to date is code compliant and that the work has been deemed not to pose a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the public.
(3) 
In the case where another registered contractor will be performing the remainder of the work, the new registered contractor shall submit to the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits an assumption agreement on a form provided by the Department prior to a new permit being issued.
B. 
The Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits may cancel a permit at the written request of the property owner or his/her agent upon satisfactory compliance with the following requirements:
(1) 
The Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits has forwarded a copy of the written request to the permit holder.
(2) 
A permit may not be canceled for a minimum of 7 business days commencing after notification to the permit holder unless the parties agree to waive the waiting period or the Building Official determines that extenuating circumstances exist that warrant modification of the waiting period.
(3) 
In cases where work has commenced and has not been completed, the Department shall perform an onsite inspection and certify that the work performed to date has been deemed to not pose a threat to the public health, safety and welfare.
(4) 
In cases where the work has not been completed, a permit shall be applied for by an individual approved under § 82-7 of this Code. The applicant shall also submit an assumption agreement, if applicable, for the remainder of the work. Assumption agreements shall be completed on a form provided by the Department.
A. 
Definitions.
(1) 
As used in this code, the term "Code Official" means the Director of the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits or his/her designee.
(2) 
As used in this code, the term "Department of Mechanical Inspection" means the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits.
(3) 
As used in this code, the term "International Fuel Gas Code" means the Harford County Plumbing Code, Chapter 202 (§ 202-1, et seq.) of the Harford County Code, as amended.
(4) 
As used in this code, the term "International Plumbing Code" means the Harford County Plumbing Code, Chapter 202 (§ 202-1, et seq.) of the Harford County Code, as amended.
B. 
The following sections are changes or additions to certain sections of the 2021 International Mechanical Code.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Harford County Mechanical Code, with all of the local amendments incorporated into the text, is available online at https://codes.iccsafe.org/codes/harford-county-md.