[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Chalfont 12-30-2003 by Ord. No. 334 (Ch. 13, Part 4, of the 2010 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 180.
Subdivision and land development — See Ch. 370.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Borough of Chalfont Contractor Licensing Ordinance."
The following words and phrases, as used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning. The masculine includes the feminine; the singular includes the plural, and the plural includes the singular.
BOROUGH
The Borough of Chalfont.
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
The individual person or entity charged with the responsibility of enforcement of the provisions of this chapter. In the event of a vacancy in this position, the Borough Secretary shall have the authority and duties of the Code Enforcement Officer, provided that, with approval of the Borough Council, the Secretary may designate a person or other entity to act as Code Enforcement Officer for purposes of this chapter.
CONTRACT
An agreement for payment other than reimbursement of costs, whether oral or written and whether contained in one or more documents, between a contractor and an owner or another contractor for the performance of work, including all labor, services and materials to be furnished and performed thereunder.
CONTRACTOR
Any person, other than the owner or a bona fide employee of the owner, who undertakes or offers to perform, in any case where a permit is required under the Uniform Construction Code adopted by the Borough of Chalfont, or any amendment or similar ordinance establishing such a code or codes, construction, repair, reroofing, remodeling, rehabilitation, alterations, installation, repairs or demolition, including but not limited to paving, concrete work, signs, alarm systems, plumbing, electrical work and any other residential or nonresidential construction, repair, alteration or demolition in the Borough, whether as a general contractor, specialty contractor or home improvement contractor with respect to the owner. This definition shall not include any person or entity exempted from licensing requirements pursuant to the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Act 132 of 2008, 73 P.S. § 517.1 et seq., as determined by the Code Enforcement Officer.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
LICENSE YEAR
The twelve-month period beginning January 1 and ending the following December 31.
OWNER
Any property owner, tenant or other person who orders, contracts for or purchases the services of a contractor or any person entitled to the work of a contractor pursuant to a contract, gift or otherwise.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, limited partnership, association, corporation, trust or other legally recognizable entity.
The Code Enforcement Officer or his authorized representatives shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter.
No person shall act as a contractor in the Borough except in compliance with the provisions of this chapter. Any person, including an owner, who willfully aids a contractor in violating any provisions of this chapter is in violation of this chapter. The provisions of this chapter may not be waived by agreement.
A license issued pursuant to this chapter shall not be construed to authorize the licensee to perform any particular type of work or type of business which is reserved to qualified licensees under other provisions of state or local law.
Every person desiring to continue to engage in or hereafter to begin to engage in the business of acting as a contractor in the Borough shall, on or before the first day of each license year, or prior to commencing business during a license year, make application for license to act as a contractor in the Borough. Such application shall be made by the completion of an application furnished by the Code Enforcement Officer and the payment of a license fee as hereinafter set forth in this chapter. Each application must contain information as set forth hereafter in this chapter. Each application for a license shall be signed by the applicant, if a natural person, and in the case of an association or partnership, by a member or partner thereof, and in the case of a corporation, by an officer thereof. Each successful applicant shall be issued a license, which license shall be in the form of a wallet-size card. Every licensed contractor, while actually acting as a contractor in the Borough, shall carry on his person said license card and shall display it to the Code Enforcement Officer, or his representative, upon demand. All contractors' licenses shall expire at midnight on the day immediately preceding the beginning of each license year, unless the license is revoked or suspended prior thereto under the terms of this chapter. A person with an unexpired license which has not been revoked or suspended during the current year who makes application for a license for the following license year need not complete an application form but shall only submit the required license fee and shall advise of any changes to the information required and set forth on the original application. Any person carrying on the business of a contractor in the Borough shall secure a license under the terms of this chapter in each license year during which the business is conducted in the Borough.
A. 
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the official transactions of any authorized representative of the government of the United States, any state or commonwealth of the United States, any political subdivision of any state or commonwealth, or any agency or instrumentality of the foregoing governments.
B. 
No contractor's license shall be required of any person when acting in a particular capacity or particular type of transaction as follows:
(1) 
A person who performs labor or services for a contractor for wages or salary.
(2) 
A person who is required by state law to attain standards of competency or experience, and who must obtain licensing under such state law, as a prerequisite to engage in a craft or profession and who is acting exclusively within the scope of such craft or profession for which he is currently licensed pursuant to such law.
C. 
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the owner or tenant of a property who performs work on the owned or leased property.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
No contractor's license shall be issued unless the applicant files a certificate of insurance with the Code Enforcement Officer at the time of license application. The certificate of insurance shall contain a provision that coverages afforded under the policy shall not be cancelled until at least 15 days' prior written notice of such cancellation has been given to the Borough. The certificate of insurance must evidence policies of insurance, maintained at the expense of the applicant, for public liability, bodily injury, property damage, products liability, and completed operations, each of which must have a single occurrence limit of at least $1,000,000. Blasting and demolition insurance shall also be required if blasting and demolition shall be performed, and the reasonable limits of such insurance shall be determined by the Code Enforcement Officer at the time of application, based on the nature and extent of the applicant's proposed operation. All types and limits of insurance for which certificates are presented at the time of application shall be maintained throughout the license year.
A. 
At the time of application for a new license or for the renewal of a current license, the applicant shall deliver to the Code Enforcement Officer a license fee, payable to the Borough, in the sum as set from time to time by the Borough Council by resolution.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
B. 
The fee imposed shall be payable per license year or any portion thereof during which any application for license is received. There shall not be a prorated reduced license fee.
A. 
When an application has been filed with the Code Enforcement Officer in proper form, the Code Enforcement Officer shall, within a period of 30 days from the date following the date the application is received, issue or refuse to issue the appropriate contractor's license to the applicant. If issuance of a license is denied, the Code Enforcement Officer shall mail to the applicant, by regular mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the applicant at the address set forth on the application, a written statement setting forth the reasons for the denial within the aforesaid thirty-day period.
B. 
The application for a license shall be a printed form, provided to the applicant by the Code Enforcement Officer, and the application shall require a written answer to all questions contained thereon. Failure to answer all questions on the application form shall mean that the applicant is not entitled to consideration of his application until he has answered all questions. The application form shall be signed by the applicant under oath. The questions and information requested on the application form shall include but shall not be limited to the following:
(1) 
The names of the owners, partners, directors and officers of the applicant, the business address and the trade name of the applicant.
(2) 
A statement as to whether or not any municipality has refused to issue or has revoked any similar contractor's license to the applicant within two years previous to the date of the application. In the event that there has been such a denial or revocation, the applicant must explain, in writing, the reasons for such denial or revocation.
Every contractor licensee shall, within 10 days of a change in ownership, directors, officers, management, address or trade name, notify the Code Enforcement Officer of such change.
No license shall be issued or renewed under the following circumstances:
A. 
If the applicant falsely answered any question or questions contained on the application form.
B. 
If the applicant has been refused a contractor's license or has had a contractor's license revoked or suspended by this or any other municipality within two years prior to the date of application for issuance or renewal, and if the refusal, revocation or suspension by this or any other municipality was due to a willful failure to comply with the municipality's building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, fire, zoning or housing code or any other code pertaining to construction, alteration or repair of a building or structure.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall revoke any license issued under the provisions of this chapter under the following circumstances:
A. 
If the licensee falsely answered any question or questions contained on the application for licensing or renewal of licensing previously submitted to the Code Enforcement Officer.
B. 
If the licensee fails to maintain, during the license year, the policies of insurance required under the provisions of this chapter.
C. 
If the licensee willfully violates any of the terms or provisions of any Borough of Chalfont building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, fire, zoning or housing code or any other code pertaining to construction, alteration and repair of structures or buildings or any terms or provisions of this chapter.
D. 
If the licensee willfully violates any condition or requirement of any permit issued by the Borough, including building, sewer construction or highway permits.
E. 
If the licensee conducts a contractor's business in the Borough under any name other than that which is licensed.
F. 
If the licensee fails to comply with an order, demand or requirement lawfully made by the Code Enforcement Officer under the authority of this chapter or any other Borough ordinance, law or regulation.
G. 
If the licensee begins work for which a building, plumbing, electrical or mechanical permit is required without the permit having been properly issued by the Borough's Building Code Official.
H. 
For licensees holding a similar license issued by another municipality, if such license has been revoked by the issuing municipality.
In addition to all other acts prohibited by the terms of this chapter, those acts warranting revocation of a license under this chapter shall also be prohibited acts under this chapter.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
In addition to refusal or revocation of a license as provided under this chapter, any person who violates or permits a violation of this chapter shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, plus court costs and reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the Borough in the enforcement proceedings. Upon judgment against any person by summary conviction, or by proceedings by summons on default of the payment of the fine or penalty imposed and the costs, the defendant may be sentenced and committed to the Borough correctional facility for a period not exceeding 10 days or to the county correctional facility for a period not exceeding 30 days. Each day that such violation exists shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this chapter that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense. In addition to or in lieu of enforcement under this section, the Borough may enforce this chapter in equity in the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County.
This chapter shall not be construed as superseding or waiving the requirements of any other ordinance or regulation of the Borough requiring the issuance of permits to plumbers, electricians and other contractors, which permit is required as a condition to perform work within the Borough.