[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Glens Falls as Ch. 73 of the 1967 Code. Sections 158-7B, C, D and G, 158-14C and 158-18 amended and Section 158-14A(3) added at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Other amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire prevention and building construction — See Ch. 109.
Flood damage prevention — See Ch. 113.
Housing standards — See Ch. 128.
Nonresidential property maintenance — See Ch. 162.
Sewers and water — See Ch. 177.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
LICENSE
A certificate of competency issued by the Board of Examining Plumbers authorizing the person named therein to engage in business in the City of Glens Falls as a plumber until 12:00 midnight of the 31st day of December of the year for which issued.
PLUMBER
A person to whom a certificate of competency to engage in the business of plumbing in the City of Glens Falls has been issued by the Board of Examining Plumbers.
PLUMBING
The installation, repair, replacement and relocation of the pipes, fixtures and other apparatus for bringing in and distributing the water supply, removing liquid and water-carried wastes, removing rainwater and other liquid drainage and preventing trap siphonage and back pressure.
PLUMBING and PLUMBING WORK
Includes the installation and repairing of all piping and other fixtures or fittings in connection with or as part of a plumbing system.
PLUMBING SYSTEM
When applied to a structure, includes all of the following supplied facilities and equipment: gas pipes, gas-burning equipment, water pipes, garbage disposal units, waste pipes, water closets, sinks, installed dishwashers, lavatories, bathtubs, shower baths, installed clothes-washing machines, catch basins, drains, vents and any other similar supplied fixtures, together with all connections to water-, sewer, vent or gas lines. This is to include steam and hot-water heating boilers.
[Amended 7-26-1983]
The Board of Health of the City of Glens Falls is hereby authorized to enact a Plumbing Code containing rules regulating the installation and repair of plumbing systems in the City of Glens Falls.
There is hereby constituted an Examining Board of Plumbers composed of seven members, of whom the Plumbing Inspector shall be one, two of whom shall be licensed plumbers, one of whom shall be a member of the Board of Health and three of whom shall be members of the public at large, all of whom shall be residents of the City of Glens Falls and all of whom, with the exception of the Plumbing Inspector, shall serve without compensation. The members of the Examining Board of Plumbers as it existed on the 15th day of April 1950 shall continue to be members of said Board until their successors are appointed and qualified. All of the members of said Board, with the exception of the Plumbing Inspector, shall be appointed by the Mayor. The term of office of each appointive member shall be for three years from the first day of January following his appointment Vacancies occurring by expiration of term shall be filled by the Mayor for the full term of three years, and vacancies caused by death, removal, inability to act, resignation or removal of any member from the city shall be filled by the Mayor for the unexpired term.
The Examining Board of Plumbers shall have power and it shall be its duty to:
A. 
Meet at stated intervals and also to meet whenever the Board of Health or the Mayor shall, in writing, request it so to do.
B. 
Have jurisdiction over and to examine all persons desiring to obtain a license to engage in business as a plumber in the City of Glens Falls, to determine the fitness and qualifications of such applicants for engaging in such business and to issue certificates of competency to all persons who shall have passed a satisfactory examination and shall be by it determined to be qualified to engage in the business of plumbing in said city. Any person shall be eligible to take the examination for a certificate of competency, whether a resident of the city or not.
C. 
Charge and collect from each person applying for examination a fee as follows: $25 for the first time the exam is taken by an applicant; $50 for the second time; $75 for the third time; and $100 for the fourth time. All moneys so collected shall be paid over by the Board, monthly, to the City Controller.
[Amended 5-2-1996 by L.L. No. 1-1996; 7-20-2000 by L.L. No. 5-2000]
D. 
Assist the Board of Health, when so requested by it, in formulating a code of rules regulating the work of plumbing and drainage, including the materials, workmanship and manner of executing such work, and in formulating amendments thereto.
The position of Plumbing Inspector is hereby continued. The Plumbing Inspector shall be appointed by the Board of Health, and no person shall be so appointed who is not a practical plumber. He shall not be engaged, directly or indirectly, in the business of plumbing during his term of office. Before entering upon the discharge of his duties, he shall be required to obtain a certificate of competency from the Examining Board of Plumbers, and he shall receive such compensation as may be fixed by the Board of Health.
A. 
The duties of Inspector of Plumbing, in addition to the duties prescribed by law and those which may be enjoined or required by the Board of Health, shall be:
(1) 
To inspect and examine all plans and specifications for plumbing work which may be filed under the provisions of this Article and either approve or reject the same and, where approved, to issue permits for the work.
(2) 
To inspect the construction and alteration of all plumbing work performed in the city and to report, in writing, to the Board of Health the results of such inspection.
(3) 
To report in like manner all violation of this Article which may come to his attention.
B. 
No plans or specifications shall be approved by him unless they conform to and comply with rules and regulations formulated and adopted by the Board of Health of the City of Glens Falls for the better control and sanitary arrangements of plumbing in the City of Glens Falls.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in business in the City of Glens Falls as a plumber unless such person has applied for and received from the Board of Examining Plumbers a certificate of competency; provided, however, that any person, firm or corporation to whom or to which a certificate of competency has been heretofore issued by the Examining Board of Plumbers of the City of Glens Falls under the provisions of § 45 of the General City Law may engage in business as a plumber as authorized by such certificate until 12:00 midnight of the 31st day of December 1950.
B. 
No person shall be eligible to receive a certificate of competency until he has had three years of practical experience as a plumber and has passed an examination, the nature and requirements of which shall be prepared and prescribed by the Board of Examining Plumbers, except that a person to whom a certificate of competency has been heretofore issued by the Examining Board of Plumbers of the City of Glens Falls shall not be required to take or pass such examination as a prerequisite to the issuance to him of the certificate of competency herein provided for. An applicant who fails to pass an examination shall be entitled to be reexamined without any waiting period. Any person, whether a resident of the City of Glens Falls or not, shall be eligible to apply for examination. The Board of Examining Plumbers shall adopt such rules and regulations as may be required to give each applicant for a certificate of competency an examination designed to test his knowledge of and ability to properly install plumbing in accordance with the Plumbing Code and shall issue a certificate of competency to those who successfully pass the examination. The examination fee for a Glens Falls master license will be set at $10 for the first exam given, $45 for the second exam given and $75 for the third exam given. Thereafter, no exam will be given.
[Amended 7-22-1968 by L.L. No. 3-1968[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
C. 
Except as provided in Subsection F, all licenses shall expire at 12:00 midnight on the 31st day of December following the date of issuance and may be renewed thereafter during the month of December in which they expire or in the month of January immediately following the time of expiration, upon the payment of a renewal fee of $25 per year and without an examination. If an application for renewal of a license is not received during the month of December or January, the privilege of the plumber to renew the same shall terminate, and a new license shall be issued only after the applicant's having passed the examination hereinabove provided for in respect to an unlicensed person desiring to obtain a license to engage in business as a plumber in the City of Glens Falls.
[Amended 7-26-1983[2]]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
D. 
Effective date of Subsections A, B and C. This Article shall take effect immediately, except that licenses issued by the Examining Board of Plumbers of the City of Glens Falls subsequent to the 31st day of December 1950, which have subsequently expired and have not been renewed, may be renewed by the holder thereof on or before the 15th day of July 1956 upon the payment of a renewal fee of $25 and without an examination; after which date the provisions of Subsection C shall be controlling as to such renewals.
[Amended 7-26-1983[3]]
[3]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
E. 
Any firm or corporation engaged in the business of installing plumbing shall employ a licensed plumber who shall be in charge of and responsible for all plumbing work done by such firm or corporation.
F. 
Any person holding a master plumber's license issued by any municipality of the State of New York under the provisions of Article 4 of the General City Law may apply for and shall be granted a license to do a specified job of plumbing work in the City of Glens Falls, and such license shall be granted without examination upon payment of a fee of $100 for each job. Such license shall expire when the specified job is completed.
[Amended 7-22-1968 by L.L. No. 3-1968]
G. 
Anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Board of Examining Plumbers may issue to any qualified person, upon payment by the applicant of a fee of $25 a special license authorizing the person to whom such license is issued to install or repair or replace water pipes, water service pipes to appliances and waterlines to heating units, humidifiers, air-conditioning units and domestic water heaters. The applicant for such special license shall be required to establish his qualifications by either a written examination or by submitting to the Board of Examining Plumbers certain evidence or practical experience covering a period of five years in replacing or repairing water pipes, water service pipes and gas pipes to appliances and waterlines to heating units, humidifiers, air-conditioning units and domestic water heaters.
[Amended 7-22-1968 by L.L. No. 3-1968; 6-15-1977[4]]
[4]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
H. 
All work done under a special license shall be performed by the holder of the license in person or under his direct personal supervision and shall be reported to the Board of Health on forms to be provided by the City of Glens Falls, signed by the holder of the special license and by the owner of the property upon which the work is done. Such work shall be inspected by the Plumbing Inspector, and, if the work is found to be defective, it shall be corrected at the expense of the holder of the special license. Failure to make such report or to comply with the Plumbing Code or with directions of the Plumbing Inspector to correct defective work shall be grounds for revocation of the special license by the Board of Examining Plumbers, and upon proof of any such failure, such license shall be revoked.
[Amended 7-2-1968 by L.L. No. 3-1968; 6-15-1977]
I. 
Every special license issued shall expire on the 31st day of December of the year in which it is granted but may be renewed on and before the first day of each year upon payment by the holder of a fee of $20 and $30 for a masters license. There will be a late fee of $15 for special licenses and $20 for a masters license if they are not paid by January 15.
[Amended 6-15-1977; 4-22-1993 by L.L. No. 2-1993]
J. 
Licensed plumbers shall be clearly identified when on the job by a lettered sign on both sides or doors of their vehicle or vehicles stating the type of license, the number of the license and the name of the holder of the license.
[Added 7-22-1968 by L.L. No. 3-1968]
[Amended 7-22-1968 by L.L. No. 3-1968]
The Board of Examining Plumbers may cancel or revoke any certificate of qualification or registration issued by it to any person if such person later shows incompetency or lack of knowledge in matters relevant to such certificate or if such certificate was obtained by fraud. If the certificate of qualification or registration of any person is so canceled or revoked, another such certificate shall not be granted to such person within one month after the date of cancellation or revocation. Such person, after expiration of one month from the date of cancellation or revocation, may apply to the Board of Examining Plumbers for reinstatement of his certificate of competency on such terms as the Board of Examining Plumbers may direct.
[Amended 7-22-1968 by L.L. No. 3-1968]
Before any plumbing work requiring authorization according to the provisions of this chapter shall be started, a permit shall be obtained from the Plumbing Inspector. This permit shall be obtained by the licensed plumber who or whose firm is to do the proposed plumbing work. No plumbing work shall be done and no plumbing shall be installed until such permit has been obtained. Any person making any installation without first obtaining a permit shall be guilty of a violation of this Plumbing Code and shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in § 158-18 of this chapter.
[Added 7-22-1968 by L.L. No. 3-1968]
A. 
Any permit required by this chapter shall be issued to any person who owns and resides in either a single- or two-family dwelling used exclusively for living purposes, including the usual accessory buildings and quarters in connection with such dwelling, and to any person who is building and constructing either a single- or two-family dwelling on lands owned by him; provided, however, that if such homeowner obtains any person to assist in making the necessary plumbing installations, such person shall be a licensed plumber holding a license in the City of Glens Falls, New York, and provided that not more than one permit shall be issued in any twelve-month period to any person building and constructing such a dwelling.
B. 
Plumbing work included under this permit shall include all plumbing work to be performed in accordance with City Plumbing Code requirements, inspections, installation, etc., inside the walls of said dwelling and/or accessory buildings and quarters in connection with such dwelling.
A. 
No permit shall be issued until plans showing in necessary detail the work proposed to be done have been filed with and approved by the Board of Health. The Plumbing Inspector shall examine all plans filed and shall have the power to approve or disapprove the same in the name of the Board of Health.
B. 
If the plans indicate that any provision of this chapter is not being complied with, they shall be rejected and no permit issued until they have been revised to comply with this chapter.
C. 
If, in the course of the work, it is found necessary to make any change from the approved plans, amended plans shall be filed with the Board of Health, and a supplementary permit shall be issued to cover the proposed change if it is in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
Permits shall be required for alterations of or changes in existing plumbing systems except as otherwise provided in this section. Repairs involving only the working parts of a faucet or valve or the clearance of stoppages or stopping of leaks shall not be considered to be alterations or changes. The replacement of a defective faucet or valve with a new one of the same type may be made without a permit, provided that no changes are made in the pipe to the fixture.
Any additions to an existing plumbing system shall require a permit. The Board of Health may make such rules and regulations for the installation of air-conditioning systems, water-treatment equipment and water-operated devices as may be necessary to properly protect the health of the inhabitants of the city.
[Amended 7-22-1968 by L.L. No. 3-1968; 7-26-1983; 4-22-1993 by L.L. No. 2-1993; 11-10-2020 by L.L. No. 5-2020]
All fees established by the Common Council must be paid at the time of submission of an application for a permit. A schedule of all such fees will be available for review in the office of the City Clerk and in the Building Department. No permit for plumbing and drainage work shall be issued until the fees as provided herein are paid by the employing or master plumber, or homeowner, to the Plumbing Inspector.
[Amended 7-22-1968 by L.L. No. 3-1968]
The Plumbing Inspector shall have the right to inspect any plumbing system at such times as he may deem necessary to protect the public health. He shall also make such inspections when directed by the Board of Health. Whenever, as a result of any inspection, he shall find any unsanitary or defective conditions which are likely to have detrimental effects, he shall have the power to require that such unsanitary or defective conditions be remedied. He shall forthwith cause an order signed by himself to be served upon the owner, lessee, agent, tenant, occupant or any other person responsible for such premises and, if known, upon the person who made the installation, requiring that such conditions be remedied. If such persons above named shall fail or refuse to comply with the requirements of such order within the time therein prescribed, such failure or refusal shall constitute a violation of this chapter.
A. 
Under the following conditions and subject to the following provisions, variances to the requirements of the Plumbing Code as to the method of use and installation of material may be granted by the Board of Health.
B. 
Applications for variances shall be made to the Plumbing Inspector, who shall refuse to act upon the same unless, in his opinion, a case of hardship or necessity shall exist. If, in his opinion, hardship or necessity shall exist, he shall then determine whether, in his opinion, the variation requested would, if granted, be safe and would not create a hazard to the health of the residents of the city. If, in his opinion, the variation requested would not be safe or would create a hazard to the health of the residents of the city, he must deny the application. If, in his opinion, the variation requested would be safe and would not create a hazard to the health of the residents of the city, he may act upon the application by approving it and referring it to the Examining Board of Plumbers. If he is not able to form such an opinion, he may reject the application or refer it to the Examining Board of Plumbers.
C. 
Upon receiving an application for a variance from the Plumbing Inspector, the Examining Board of Plumbers must reject the same unless it makes affirmative findings that:
(1) 
Hardship or necessity exists.
(2) 
The variation will be safe and will not create a hazard to the health of the residents of the city.
D. 
If the Examining Board of Plumbers makes the affirmative findings hereinabove mentioned, the application may be by it approved and forwarded to the Board of Health for its action.
E. 
Upon receiving an application for a variance from the Examining Board of Plumbers, the Board of Health must reject the same unless it makes similar affirmative findings. If the Board of Health makes such affirmative findings, the request for a variance may be granted by it, but only upon the condition that the New York State District Sanitary Engineer for the portion of the state in which Glens Falls lies endorses upon the application his statement that, in his opinion, the variation is safe and will not create a hazard to the health of the residents of the state.
F. 
The request for a variation, together with the statements of approval by the various officials and bodies hereinabove mentioned and bearing the written opinion of the District Sanitary Engineer, must be filed in the office of the Plumbing Inspector before a permit to do the plumbing work may be issued.
G. 
Upon filing the documents as required in Subsection F, the applicant shall be entitled to a permit upon the payment of the usual fee.
Vehicles used by licensed plumbers when on a job must be clearly identified with signs, either permanent or portable, and of a minimum size of one foot square and eligible at a twenty-five-foot distance. The signs should state the following:
A. 
The type of license (master or special).
B. 
The number of the license.
C. 
The name of the holder of the license.
Every person who violates this chapter or any Plumbing Code adopted by the Board of Health shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not to exceed one year.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.