Allegany County, MD Chapter 415 Plumbing

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of County Commissioners of Allegany County 9-9-1988 (Ch. 166 of the 1984 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Building construction — See Ch. 255.

Land development — See Ch. 360.

Livability Code — See Ch. 375.

§ 415-1 Legislative purpose.

A. Purpose. This chapter is adopted to establish and adopt the Maryland State Plumbing Code as the Official Plumbing Code for Allegany County and to establish procedures for the enforcement of the code.

B. Authority. This chapter is adopted under the authority of Article 25, § 3, of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

C. Jurisdiction. This chapter shall apply to Allegany County, Maryland.

§ 415-2 Adoption of code by reference; questions of interpretation.

A. Adoption. The Allegany County Commissioners hereby adopt the Maryland State Plumbing Code, 1984 Edition, and any subsequent revisions, as the Official Plumbing Code for Allegany County, Maryland.

B. Interpretation. Any questions of interpretation of the Plumbing Code will be forwarded to the State Board of Commissioners of Practical Plumbing by the party desiring such interpretation.

§ 415-3 Licensing; permits; inspections; exceptions.

A. Licensed master plumber. With the exception of the item mentioned in Subsection D(1), all plumbing work performed in Allegany County is to be done by a licensed master, journey or apprentice plumber, under the direction and control of a master plumber licensed to practice in the State of Maryland or under the direction and control of a master plumber licensed to practice in Allegany County or Garrett County.

B. Permits. With the exception of those items listed in Subsection D(2), all plumbing work is subject to the following permit procedure:

(1) New construction. New construction shall be permitted in conjunction with a building permit obtained through the local permit system.

(2) Repairs. Plumbing work associated with repairs shall be permitted by a permit obtained through the local jurisdiction which issues building permits for a particular governmental unit.

C. Inspections. Plumbing work associated with a permit obtained under Subsection B will be subject to the following inspection procedure:

(1) New construction. Plumbing work associated with new construction shall be inspected prior to making final connection with any public water or sewer facility or with any private water or sewer system, including wells and septic tanks.

(a) Public system taps. No final tap for water or sewer service shall be made operational by any Sanitary Commission, Water Commission, municipality or any publicly or privately owned utility company until the utility is notified in writing by the Plumbing Inspector that the plumbing work is approved.

(b) Private systems. No well or septic system or other private water or sewer system shall be given final approval to be made operational by the Allegany County Health Department until the Health Department is notified in writing by the Plumbing Inspector that the plumbing work is approved.

(2) Repairs. Except for emergency repairs and those items excepted in Subsection D(2), no plumbing repair work is to be made operational until approved by the Plumbing Inspector.

D. Exceptions.

(1) An exception to Subsection A shall be granted for plumbing work personally done by an individual on that person's personal residence up to the final connection between the individual's residence and a public or private water or sewer system. The individual shall sign a release agreement stating that Allegany County or any municipality is in no way responsible or liable for any damages to himself, his family or the public as a result of said work.

(2) Exceptions to permit and inspection procedures shall be as follows:

(a) Plumbing work done on federal, County or municipally owned or operated property.

(b) Plumbing work done by an employee of a gas company regulated by the Public Service Commission while making a gas connection to a gas appliance for domestic purposes.

(c) Minor plumbing work, including the following:

[1] Replacement of fixtures and appliances at the same location in a residence when no other plumbing work is being performed.

[2] Repairs of leaks and stoppages, except for replacement of drain traps.

§ 415-4 Enforcement; violations and penalties.

A. Violations. Any violation of this chapter or the Maryland State Plumbing Code, or any amendment thereto, by a master plumber, journey plumber or apprentice plumber licensed by the state shall be referred by the complainant to the Maryland State Board of Commissioners of Practical Plumbing for prosecution.

B. Any violation of this chapter or the Maryland State Plumbing Code by someone other than a licensed plumber shall be referred to the State's Attorney for Allegany County by the complainant for prosecution as a misdemeanor.

C. Penalty.

(1) The penalty for a licensed master, journey or apprentice plumber found to be violating this chapter or the Maryland Plumbing Code shall be according to the State Code for Master Plumbers.

(2) For all other violations, the penalty, upon conviction, shall be a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $100. Each day the violation continues may be deemed a separate offense.

§ 415-5 Fees.

The Allegany County Commissioners may, by resolution, set fees for permits and inspections required under this chapter. Such fee schedule may be modified by resolution as necessary by the County Commissioners.