[Adopted 12-7-1995 by Ord. No. 1511 (Ch. 5, Part 4, of the 1986 Code of Ordinances)]
[Amended 8-10-2000 by Ord. No. 1648]
The provisions of this article shall apply to and govern plumbing as defined in the 2000 BOCA International Plumbing Code, and as subsequently amended (said subsequent amendments or changes are hereby adopted and incorporated by reference herein), including the practices, materials and fixtures used in the installation, maintenance, extension and alterations of all piping fixtures, appliances and appurtenances to connection with any of the following:
A. 
Sanitary drainage or storm drainage facilities, the venting system and the public water supply within or adjacent to any building or other structure or conveyance, not including mains and service lines owned by public utilities, also the practices and materials used in the installation, maintenance, extension or alteration of the stormwater or sewage system of any premises at its connection with any point of public disposal or other terminal.
The BOCA National Plumbing Code, Ninth Edition, 1993, and as subsequently amended (said subsequent amendments or changes are hereby adopted and incorporated by reference herein), subject to the following amendments, exceptions, additions and changes thereto, is hereby adopted by reference and all installations, repairs and alterations of plumbing shall from the effective date of this article be performed in accordance with its provisions. Such codes may be known as and shall be referred to herein as the "City of Washington Plumbing Code."
Following are the final revisions applicable to the 1993 BOCA National Plumbing Code, and as subsequently amended, in rendering the subject code for adoption as the Plumbing Code for the City of Washington, Pennsylvania:
A. 
Section P-101.1 (page 1, line 2). Insert: "The City of Washington."
B. 
Section P-105.2 (page 2, line 3). Add: "Said Code Official shall also be designated as the City of Washington Plumbing Inspector and shall serve at the pleasure of Mayor and Council of the City of Washington."
C. 
Section P-105.2 (page 2). Delete.
D. 
Section P-108.6.1. Delete.
E. 
Section P-113.2 (page 4, line 3). Add: "Application for permit should be made on suitable forms provided by the Plumbing Inspector. The application should be accompanied by fees, plans and specifications in accordance with the schedule of fees as follows:
(1) 
Application plan fee: $25.
(2) 
Fees for each inspection of the installation of each of the following plumbing fixtures, whether or not the installation passes inspection:
[Amended 1-11-2007 by Ord. No. 1767]
(a) 
Water closets: $20.
(b) 
Bathtubs: $20.
(c) 
Lavatory: $20.
(d) 
Sink: $20.
(e) 
Laundry tub: $20.
(f) 
Slop sink: $20.
(g) 
Floor drain: $20.
(h) 
Bar fixture: $20.
(i) 
Dental cuspid: $20.
(j) 
Grease trap: $20.
(k) 
Urinal: $20.
(l) 
Sump or injector: $20.
(m) 
Drinking fountain: $20.
(n) 
Domestic water heater: $20.
(o) 
Service connection: $20.
(p) 
House sewer or drain: $20.
(q) 
Each plumbing fixture or drain not specifically provided for: $20."
F. 
Section P-116.4 (page 5, lines 7, 8 and 9). Insert: "Offense — summary offense; dollar amount — a minimum of $600 but not more than $1,000; time for imprisonment — not to exceed 30 days."
G. 
Section P-117.2 (page 5, lines 5 and 6 in two locations). Insert "a minimum of $600 but not more than $1,000" in both locations.
H. 
Section P-121.2 (page 6). Shall be amended as follows:
The Administrative Authority (Plumbing Board). There is hereby established a Plumbers Examining Board, to be appointed by the City Council, consisting of not less than five members. One member shall be a Plumbing Inspector, one member shall represent the Board of Health, two members shall be City of Washington registered plumbers of at least 10 years' experience in the business, and one member shall represent the public. All members, except plumber members, shall be residents of the City of Washington.
1.
Meetings of the Plumbing Board. The Board shall hold its first meeting not later the 30 days following the adoption of this article. Thereafter, the Board shall meet at such intervals as may be necessary for the proper performance of its duties, but in any case not less than twice per year.
2.
Plumbing Inspector. There is hereby established the office of Plumbing Inspector, who shall be recommended by the Board of Health and ratified by City Council. He should be a practical master plumber.
3.
Duties. The Plumbing Inspector shall enforce the provisions of this article and supervise, superintend and inspect all plumbing, house and building drainage in conformity with the provisions of this article.
4.
Right of entry. The Plumbing Inspector shall, after proper identification, have the right to enter any premises for the purpose of inspecting any plumbing system at such times as may be reasonably necessary to protect public health.
I. 
Section P-121.2.1 (page 6). Delete.
J. 
Section P-121.2.2 (page 6). Delete.
K. 
Section P-121.2.5 (page 6). Shall be amended as follows: "Secretary: the chief administrative officer shall designate a qualified clerk to serve as Secretary to the Board, who shall hold the position of Health Officer for the City of Washington. The Secretary shall file a detailed record of all proceedings in the office of the chief administrative officer.
L. 
Section P-121.5 (page 6). Shall be amended as follows: "Postponed hearing: When a quorum, constituting a majority of members, is not present to hear an appeal, either the appellant or the appellant's representative shall have the right to request a postponement of the hearing."
M. 
Section P-121.6 (page 7). Shall be amended as follows: "Board decision: The Board shall modify or reverse the decision of the Code Official/Plumbing Inspector by a concurring vote of a majority of the members present during a meeting of a quorum of the Board."
N. 
Section P-304.3 (page 13). Shall be amended as follows: "A public water main or public sewer system shall be considered available to a structure where the structure is located within 150 feet of a public water main or sewer or where the real property upon which the structure is erected abuts on or adjoins any street or right-of-way in which there now is or shall hereafter be a water main or sewer."
O. 
Section P-309.4 (page 14, lines 2 and 3). Shall be amended as follows. Insert: "48 inches or four feet."
P. 
Section P-309.4 (page 14, lines 2 and 4). Shall be amended as follows. Delete: first sentence; insert in second sentence, line 4: "24 inches or two feet."
A. 
Permits required. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to undertake plumbing work prior to the issuance of a permit therefor by the Plumbing Inspector. A permit may be issued only to a licensed master plumber, except as provided herein.
B. 
Exceptions, owner-occupancy exemption. Any permit required by this article may be issued to any person to do any work regulated by this article in a single-family dwelling used exclusively for his or her living purposes, including the usual accessory buildings and quarters in connection with such building, provided the person is a bona fide owner of such dwelling and that the same will be occupied by said owner, and that said owner shall personally purchase all materials and perform all labor in connection therewith.
A. 
It is understood that any person desiring to work at the business of sanitary plumbing or house drainage as an apprentice must appear at the Bureau of Board of Health of the City of Washington within 10 days after commencing employment and register his/her name and address along with that of the firm or corporation under which he/she will be serving his/her apprenticeship. The fee for registration of a plumber's apprentice shall be $10 per period, so long as he/she has a qualified sponsor.
(1) 
Apprentice plumbers, when working at any phase of the plumbing business under the jurisdiction of the Plumbing Code of the City of Washington, Pennsylvania, shall be accompanied by either a journeyman or a master plumber and shall not, at any time, be permitted to work unattended or without registered and qualified supervision. Work done by an apprentice shall be subject to the same rigid standards as those applying to work done by a journeyman or master plumber.
B. 
It is further understood that, after serving three years of apprenticeship, an apprentice may make application for licensed registration as a journeyman plumber, and, by qualifying by examination for such license, become a duly registered journeyman plumber. Failure to qualify as a journeyman plumber shall not affect his/her standing as an apprentice plumber. Mayor and Council of the City of Washington may, by resolution, amend the requirements for approval of the application for licensed registration as a journeyman plumber subsequent to the adoption of this article. In addition, Mayor and Council may, by resolution, amend the requirements and/or manner of testing for said examinations.
C. 
Examination fee. Any person desiring to be licensed as a master plumber or journeyman plumber shall make written application to the Board or to a person or entity designated by the Board. Examination fees for master and journeyman licenses shall be $20 for journeyman and $25 for master licensees and must be remitted at the time of examination. Examination fees are not returnable.
A. 
Supervision. No individual, firm, partnership or corporation may engage in the business of installing, repairing or altering plumbing unless the plumbing work performed in the course of such business is under the direct supervision of a licensed master plumber.
B. 
Without reservation. Any apprentice plumber apprehended for engaging in unsupervised plumbing installation or alteration shall be deemed in violation of this Plumbing Code and shall, at the instance of the administrative authority, forfeit all rights as an apprentice plumber and shall, further, be subject to any and all penalties as set forth in the Plumbing Code of the City of Washington, Pennsylvania. Further, if such activity on the part of an apprentice occurred on a job or project for and determined to have been with the knowledge and consent of a registered journeyman or master plumber, such journeyman or master plumber shall, at the insistence of the administrative authority, be subject to penalties as prescribed by this code and/or revocation of licenses to practice the profession of plumbing in this City for such dereliction of responsibility.
A. 
License required to do plumbing work. No person other than a registered master plumber, registered journeyman, registered apprentice under his direct supervision, shall be allowed to alter, repair or make any connection with any water, drain soil, waste or vent pipe or any pipe connected therewith.
B. 
License fees and expiration.
(1) 
The annual license fees shall be as follows:
[Amended 1-11-2007 by Ord. No. 1767]
(a) 
Dual master/journeyman licenses: $125.
(b) 
Active master license: $120.
(c) 
Active journeyman license: $75.
(d) 
Apprentice license: $25.
(e) 
Retired or inactive master or journeyman license: $25.
(2) 
Retired or inactive plumbers may not engage in the operation of a plumbing business or otherwise perform plumbing work. A license may be reactivated at any time by payment of the balance of the appropriate fee.
(3) 
All licenses issued by the Board shall expire on December 31 of the year in which issued. Applications for renewal should be submitted, with the stipulated fee, in December of the license year.
(4) 
Expired licenses may be renewed at any time after December 31, upon payment of $5 in addition to the regular fee.
(5) 
Any master plumber who is in the business of home repairs or who is a principal in a firm, corporation or entity engaged in home repairs and who has paid the master plumber license fee as required by this section, herein, shall be excused from paying the annual contractor's license fee of $100 as required in Article II, § 130-16, of this chapter. However, said master plumber shall comply with all other provisions of said Article II of this chapter.
C. 
Certification. The Board shall, upon receipt of the required license fee, issue the appropriate license to each person who qualifies therefor by successfully passing such examination as required by the Board. The Board shall keep permanent record of all transactions.
D. 
Use of licensee's name by another. No person who has obtained a plumber's license shall allow his/her name to be used by another person, either for the purpose of obtaining permits or for doing business or work under the license. Every person licensed shall notify the Board of the address of his/her place of business, if any, and the name under which such business is conducted, and shall give immediate notice to the Board of any change of either.
E. 
Temporary permit. The Board may issue a temporary license, provided the applicant holds a similar license from an equivalent Board. Payment of the following fees per each plan are required as follows:
(1) 
Master: $100.
(2) 
Journeyman: $50.
(3) 
Apprentice: $10.
F. 
Revocation. The Board may revoke any license if obtained through nondisclosure, misstatement or misrepresentation of material fact or if a penalty has been imposed on a licensee for violation of this article. Before a license may be revoked, the licensee shall have notice in writing, specifying the charges against him/her, and shall be entitled to a hearing by the Board not sooner than five days from receipt of the notice. The licensee shall be given an opportunity to present testimony, oral or written, and shall have the right to cross-examination. All testimony shall be given under oath. The Board shall have the power to administer oaths, issue subpoenas and compel the attendance of witnesses. The decision of the Board shall be based on the evidence produced at the hearing and made part of the record thereof. A person whose license has been revoked shall not be permitted to apply for reissue within one year of the date of revocation.
Any person who has been issued a master plumber's license shall execute and deposit with the City Clerk a bond in the sum of $5,000, such bond to be conditioned that all plumbing work performed by the licensee, or under his/her supervision, shall be performed in accordance with the provisions of this article and that he/she will pay all fines and penalties properly imposed upon him/her for violations of the provisions of this article. A master plumber's license shall not be valid unless a bond is executed and deposited as herein provided. A retired master plumber shall not be required to post bond.
In the event of discretionary actions or determinations on the part of the Plumbing Examining Board, a Plumbing Inspector or other relevant administrative authority, the relevant facts shall be considered and determinations made in the exercise of reasonable discretion, and all such determinations shall be final in the absence of abuse of discretion.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $600 and not more than $1,000 and/or to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days. Every day that a violation of this article continues shall constitute a separate offense.