[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of County Commissioners (now
County Council) of Cecil County 6-3-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-02.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide basic and uniform
HVAC regulations in terms of performance objectives implemented by
specific requirements, establishing reasonable safeguards for the
installation and repair of HVAC systems.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The officer or other designated authority charged with the
administration and enforcement of the applicable codes.
A heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and/or refrigeration
contractor.
A system in which heat is removed from air, surrounding surfaces
or both; includes an air-conditioning system.
A system in which heat is transmitted by radiation, conduction,
or convection, or a combination of any of these methods, to the air,
surrounding surfaces or both. Does not include a fireplace or wood-burning
stove not incorporated into or used as a primary heating system.
An individual who provides heating, ventilation, air-conditioning
or refrigeration services.
To install, maintain, alter, remodel or repair heating systems,
cooling systems, refrigeration systems, ventilation systems or hydronic
systems.
A heating and cooling system using liquids or steam to transmit
or remove heat.
Unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by
the State of Maryland to provide or to assist in providing heating,
ventilation, air-conditioning, or refrigeration services.
A natural person, the heirs, executors, administrators, or
assigns and includes a firm, partnership or corporation, its or their
successors or assigns.
The building(s) and that part of the grounds of one parcel
of property where an installation would affect the safety of those
buildings or adjacent property.
A combination of interconnected refrigerant-containing parts
constituting one closed circuit in which a refrigerant is circulated
for the purpose of extracting heat.
The natural or mechanical process of supplying conditioned
or unconditioned air to or removing such air from any space.
[Amended 11-13-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-12]
Any HVAC mechanical work commenced within Cecil County shall
be conducted by a corporation, firm or person licensed by the State
Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
Contractors, as outlined in the Business Regulation Article of the
Annotated Code of Maryland, Title 9A, Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning
and Refrigeration Contractors.
A.Â
An owner, authorized agent or contractor who desires to erect, install,
enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace a mechanical system
or to cause such work to be done shall first make application to the
Division of Permits and Inspections and obtain the required permit
for the work. Exception: Where equipment and appliance replacement
or repairs must be performed in an emergency situation, the permit
application shall be submitted within the next working business day
of the Division of Permits and Inspections.
[Amended 11-20-2019 by Bill No. 2019-18]
B.Â
The County will grant permits to companies, corporations, individuals,
and/or organizations that provide and place on file with the Office
of Permits and Inspections the following:
[Amended 11-20-2019 by Bill No. 2019-18]
C.Â
No work shall be commenced in the County until a permit to do such
work has been issued by the Division of Permits and Inspections to
a licensed contractor.
[Amended 11-20-2019 by Bill No. 2019-18]
D.Â
Application for such a permit shall be made on forms prepared and
provided by the Division of Permits and Inspections and accompanied
by the required plans, description of work and specifications and
the applicable fees.
[Amended 11-20-2019 by Bill No. 2019-18]
E.Â
Permits not required. Permits shall not be required for the following:
(1)Â
Portable heating appliances.
(2)Â
Portable ventilating appliances and equipment.
(3)Â
Portable cooling units.
(4)Â
Steam, hot water or chilled water piping within any heating or cooling
equipment regulated by this code.
(5)Â
The replacement of any minor part that does not alter the approval
of equipment or an appliance or make such equipment or appliance unsafe.
(6)Â
Portable evaporative coolers.
(7)Â
Self-contained refrigeration systems that contain 10 pounds (4.5
kg) or less of refrigerant, or that are activated by motors of one
horsepower (0.75 kw) or less.
(8)Â
Portable fuel cell appliances that are not connected to a fixed piping
system and are not interconnected to a power grid.
A.Â
At any time that the Division of Permits and Inspections or any designated
Code Enforcement Officer or inspector of the County determines that
any person, firm, or corporation erects, constructs, alters, repairs,
removes, demolishes or utilizes a mechanical system, or causes same
to be done in violation of this code or the Mechanical Code as adopted
by the Cecil County Council, notice shall be sent to said person,
firm or corporation advising of said violation and corrections necessary.
Said notice shall be presumed received upon being mailed to the address
of said person, firm or corporation provided on any permits issued
or other information obtainable for such person, firm or corporation
three days after mailing. Until such violation(s) has been corrected,
the Division of Permits and Inspections and/or any appropriate Code
Official of the County shall have the power to suspend any permit
issued to said person, firm or corporation, withdraw any permits issued
to said person, firm or corporation and/or deny any further permits
requested by said person, firm or corporation.
[Amended 11-20-2019 by Bill No. 2019-18]
B.Â
For the purpose of this section, "person, firm or corporation" shall
be defined to mean the party to whom the permit and/or property not
in compliance was issued and shall also include any party actually
performing work upon such property. The person, firm or corporation
shall include any officer of any corporation, any partner of any partnership
or any related corporation, partnership, limited-liability company
or limited-liability partnership owned in whole or in part by any
aforementioned party.
C.Â
Any person shall have the right to appeal any decision of the Code
Official. An application for appeal shall be filed in writing to the
Division of Permits and Inspections within 10 days of receipt of any
notice. All appeals shall be heard by the Mechanical Board appointed
by the County Executive in accordance with the Charter.
[Amended 11-13-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-12; 11-20-2019 by Bill No. 2019-18]
A.Â
In the case where a contractor signs an application for a permit
and does not desire to do the work covered by it, either in part or
in its entirety, he shall notify the County Division of Permits and
Inspections in writing, requesting that he be released from responsibility
for that part of the work which he does not desire to do. He will,
however, be held responsible for any work he has completed and an
inspection shall be performed to verify his responsibility. The Division
of Permits and Inspections' records will indicate the extent
of such completed work and such responsibility, and the permit will
be revised accordingly and held in abeyance.
[Amended 11-20-2019 by Bill No. 2019-18]
B.Â
In the event that the contractor who signed the application for a
permit dies and the owner calls in a new contractor, the original
permit will remain active upon request, in writing, from the homeowner.
An inspection will be required prior to a new contractor being designated,
and the new contractor will be responsible for all of the uncompleted
work.
C.Â
In the case where the contractor who originally signed the application
(and to whom the permit was issued) is removed from the work by the
owner and is replaced by another contractor, the owner shall notify
the Division of Permits and Inspections, in writing, of the proposed
change. The first contractor will be notified by the Division of the
proposed change and no transfer of the permit will be made without
his consent in fewer than seven days. The transfer will be made by
the Division once an inspection is performed and completed. The new
contractor will be held responsible for the entire work performed
under the scope of the permit.
[Amended 11-20-2019 by Bill No. 2019-18]
Inspection of all HVAC work required before and during any construction
must be requested by the contractor who holds the HVAC permit prior
to covering any work performed. The County Inspector shall be notified
by the contractor, at least 24 hours in advance, to perform an inspection
before covering any rough work. The Inspector shall be requested to
perform a final inspection at such time when all work is completed.
This chapter does not apply to the following:
A.Â
An employee of a public utility service company regulated by the
Public Service Commission when engaged in the development, construction,
maintenance, or repair of electric or gas appliances in the service
area of the public utility.
B.Â
An employee of the United States, the State of Maryland, or the local
government, or an independent agency while that employee is practicing
heating, ventilation, air-conditioning or refrigeration services on
or within buildings or structures owned or solely occupied by those
entities.
C.Â
An individual possessing a master electrician's license issued by
the state or the County, when engaged in the installation, alteration,
service, repair or replacement of individually controlled electric
resistant heat.
D.Â
An individual who assists in providing services as an employee or
subordinate of a licensee if the individual assists in providing heating,
ventilation, air-conditioning or refrigeration services while under
control of the licensee. The licensee is responsible for the heating,
ventilation, air-conditioning or refrigeration services that the individual
provides.
E.Â
An individual who installs, alters, remodels, maintains or repairs
oil burners exclusively.
All licensed HVAC contractors shall display the company name
and license number on all work vehicles.
[Amended 11-20-2019 by Bill No. 2019-18]
Fees shall be established by resolution by the Cecil County
Council as provided for by law. Copies of the fee schedule will be
available in the offices of the Cecil County Council and the Division
of Permits and Inspections.
[Amended 11-20-2019 by Bill No. 2019-18]
The 2018 edition of the International Mechanical Code shall
be the code in effect and will be enforced within Cecil County. Any
provisions of the Maryland Building Performance Standards that deal
directly with mechanical installations as adopted by the State of
Maryland shall also be complied with.
