(a) 
Adoption.
The International Plumbing Code, 2018 edition, including all appendices, a copy of which is on file in the office of the city secretary, is hereby adopted and designated as the plumbing code of the city, the same as though these provisions of the International Plumbing Code, 2018 edition, were copied at length in this section; subject to the deletions, amendments, and additions provided in subsection (b).
(b) 
Amendments.
The International Plumbing Code is amended as follows.[1]
[1]
Editor's note–The 2018 IPC amendments are included as an attachment to this chapter.
(Ordinance 05-19-2020 adopted 5/19/20)
(a) 
Adoption.
The International Fuel Gas Code, 2018 edition, including all appendices, a copy of which is on file in the office of the city secretary, is hereby adopted and designated as the fuel gas code of the city, the same as though these provisions of the International Fuel Gas Code, 2018 edition, were copied at length in this section; subject to the deletions, amendments, and additions provided in subsection (b).
(b) 
Amendments.
The International Fuel Gas Code is amended as follows.[1]
[1]
Editor's note–The 2018 IFGC amendments are included as an attachment to this chapter.
(Ordinance 05-19-2020 adopted 5/19/20)
For the protection and preservation of the health, safety, property, and general welfare of the people of the city, the hereby adopts and incorporates Texas Occupations Code chapter 1301, as amended from time to time, cited herein as the “Plumbing License Law,” in its entirety as its own into the Code of Ordinances of the city. All plumbing work and plumbing inspection done in the city must be done in accordance with the Plumbing License Law. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between this chapter and state law, the terms and provisions of state law shall preempt this chapter.
(Ordinance 101706-D, sec. 4, adopted 11/21/06)
(a) 
All work involving actual installation, alteration, repair and renovation of water, sewer or natural gas piping, equipment, appliances, fixtures, fittings, and appurtenances within the corporate limits of the city or connected to a city utility outside of the corporate limits shall be performed by, or under the direct supervision of, a master plumber who is registered with the city. For liquefied petroleum gas work, a current state railroad commission certification of exemption shall also be required.
(b) 
The annual city registration fee shall be listed in the city's adopted fee schedule. It shall be unlawful for any person holding a city registration to transfer or allow the use of same by any other person for the purpose of obtaining a permit to do plumbing work or to use the plumber's license of any other person to obtain registration in the city.
(c) 
The city registration certificate of a plumber may be suspended by the city for violation of any provision of this division, for performing work which does not meet the standards of the International Plumbing Code or the International Fuel Gas Code, for failure to maintain a current master plumber’s license recognized by the city, or for failure to fulfill contractual obligations in the city.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/04, sec. I; Ordinance 09-2022C adopted 9/20/2021)
Each master plumber applying for registration with the city shall provide to the city and maintain a good and sufficient bond in the amount of $1,000.00.
(1989 Code, ch. 3, sec. 4(E))
A person is not required to be licensed by the state board of plumbing examiners to perform:
(1) 
Plumbing in a property that the person owns as a homestead;
(2) 
Plumbing repair incidental to and in connection with the business in which the person is employed or engaged if the person:
(A) 
Is regularly employed as or acting as a maintenance person or maintenance engineer;
(B) 
Is employed by only one business to perform plumbing repair; and
(C) 
Does not engage in plumbing for the public;
(3) 
Construction, installation, or maintenance on the premises or equipment of a railroad if the person is an employee of the railroad who does not engage in plumbing for the public;
(4) 
Plumbing if the person is engaged by a public service company to:
(A) 
Lay, maintain, or operate its service mains or lines to the point of measurement; and
(B) 
Install, change, adjust, repair, remove, or renovate appurtenances, equipment, or appliances;
(5) 
Appliance installation and service work that involves connecting appliances to existing piping if the person performs the work as an appliance dealer or an employee of an appliance dealer;
(6) 
Water treatment installations, exchanges, services, or repairs;
(7) 
Plumbing if the person performs the plumbing as an LP gas installer licensed under subchapter D, chapter 113, Texas Natural Resources Code, as amended from time to time; or
(8) 
Plumbing if the person holds:
(A) 
A certificate of registration as an irrigator issued under chapter 1903, Texas Occupations Code, as amended from time to time; or
(B) 
A license as a water well pump installer issued under chapter 1902, Texas Occupations Code, as amended from time to time.
(Ordinance 101706-D, sec. 5, adopted 11/21/06)
(a) 
Established.
A plumbing appeals and advisory board shall be appointed in lieu of a construction board of adjustment and appeals as called for in the International Plumbing Code and International Fuel Gas Code.
(b) 
Organization; membership.
(1) 
A six (6) member plumbing appeals and advisory board shall be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council and shall hold office for terms of four (4) years, or until their successors are appointed. Said board shall serve without compensation and consist of:
(A) 
A licensed master plumber.
(B) 
A licensed journeyman plumber.
(C) 
A building contractor.
(D) 
A licensed architect or alternate selection.
(E) 
The city engineer.
(F) 
The city health officer.
(2) 
A majority of the members of the plumbing board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business.
(c) 
Appeal or request for variance.
Any person aggrieved by an interpretation of the plumbing regulations, or by any decision or ruling by the city’s plumbing inspector, shall have the right to make an appeal or request for variance to the plumbing board. Such appeal or request for variance shall be perfected by written notice submitted, within ten (10) days, to the city secretary. The decision of the plumbing board may be appealed in the same manner to the city council. Prior to rendering a decision on any appeal or variance request, the city council may seek expert advice and counsel.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/04, sec. I)
The city council shall appoint plumbing inspectors, or provide for inspectors under contract, on an as-needed basis, or provide for inspections under whatever arrangement the city council deems to be in the best interest of the city.
(1989 Code, ch. 3, sec. 4(N))
Neither the city, nor any authorized agent, acting under the terms of this division shall be liable or have any liability by reason of orders issued, work done, inspections made, or failure to make inspections under the terms of this division.
(1989 Code, ch. 3, sec. 4(O))
Wherever in this division or in the codes adopted by reference herein an act is prohibited or is made or declared to be unlawful or an offense or a misdemeanor, or wherever in such code or ordinance the doing of an act is required or the failure to do any act is declared to be unlawful and no specific penalty is provided therefor, the violation of any such provision shall be punishable by fine as provided for in section 1.01.009 of this Code of Ordinances. Provided, however, that no penalty shall be greater or less than the penalty provided for the same or a similar offense under the laws of the state. Each day any violation of this division shall continue shall constitute a separate offense unless otherwise designated. Any violation of any provision of this division which constitutes an immediate danger to the health, safety and welfare of the public may be enjoined in a suit brought by the city for such purposes.
(1989 Code, ch. 3, sec. 4(P))
(a) 
Generally.
No water service connection shall be made to any establishment where a partial or actual contamination hazard exists unless the water supply is protected in accordance with the state commission on environmental quality (TCEQ) Rules and Regulations for Public Water Systems (290 Rules) or the current plumbing code of the city. The water purveyor shall discontinue water service if a required backflow prevention assembly is not installed, maintained and tested in accordance with the 290 Rules and this section.
(b) 
Responsibility for backflow prevention assembly testing and maintenance.
(1) 
The customer is responsible for the general maintenance and upkeep of an approved backflow prevention assembly. Where an owner of property leases or rents the same to any person as tenant or lessee, the owner or tenant, or both, may be held responsible by the city for maintenance.
(2) 
All backflow prevention assemblies shall be tested upon installation, immediately after repairs and at least annually by a licensed backflow prevention assembly tester and certified to be operating within specifications.
(c) 
Standards for backflow prevention assembly installation and testing.
All backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed and tested in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, the American Water Works Association’s Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control (Manual M14), the University of Southern California Manual of Cross-Connection Control or the current plumbing code of the city, whichever is more stringent.
(d) 
Maintenance of backflow prevention assemblies.
Assemblies shall be repaired, overhauled, or replaced at the expense of the customer whenever said assemblies are found to be defective. Original forms of such test, repairs, and replacements and overhaul shall be kept and submitted to the city within five (5) working days of the test, replacement, repair or overhaul of each backflow prevention assembly.
(e) 
Removal or replacement of backflow prevention assembly.
No backflow prevention assembly or device shall be removed from use, relocated, or other assembly or device substituted without the approval of the city. Whenever the existing assembly or device is moved from the present location or cannot be repaired, the backflow assembly or device shall be replaced with a backflow prevention assembly or device that complies with this section, the American Water Works Association’s Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control (Manual M14), current edition, the University of Southern California Manual of Cross-Connection Control, current edition, or the current plumbing code of the city, whichever is more stringent.
(f) 
Test gauges for backflow prevention assembly testing.
Test gauges used for backflow prevention assembly testing shall be tested for accuracy at least annually in accordance with the American Water Works Association’s Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control (Manual M14), current edition, or the University of Southern California’s Manual of Cross-Connection Control, current edition. The original calibration form must be submitted to the city within five (5) working days after calibration.
(g) 
Lawn irrigation systems.
The potable water supply to lawn irrigation systems shall be protected against backflow by a pressure-type vacuum breaker or a reduced pressure principle backflow preventer. Where chemicals are introduced into the system, the potable water supply shall be protected against backflow by a reduced pressure principle backflow preventer.
(h) 
Qualifications and registration of backflow prevention assembly testers.
A recognized backflow prevention assembly tester must hold a current endorsement from the state commission on environmental quality (TCEQ). Testers must register annually with the city, provide proof of current TCEQ certification, and provide proof that testing equipment is able to maintain a calibration of plus or minus 0-2 psid accuracy and pay an annual nonrefundable tester registration fee as set by the city.
(i) 
Customer service inspections required; credentials of inspectors.
(1) 
A customer service inspection shall be completed prior to providing continuous water service to all new construction, on any existing service when the water purveyor has reason to believe that cross-connections or other contaminant hazards exist, or after any material improvement, correction, or addition to the private water distribution facilities.
(2) 
Only individuals with the following credentials shall be recognized as capable of conducting a customer service inspection:
(A) 
Plumbing inspectors and water supply protection specialists that have been licensed by the state board of plumbing examiners.
(B) 
Customer service inspectors that have been licensed by the state commission on environmental quality (TCEQ).
(j) 
Criteria for customer service inspection.
The customer service inspection must certify that:
(1) 
No direct connection between the public drinking water supply and a potential source of contamination is permitted. Potential sources of contamination shall be isolated from the public water system by a properly installed air gap or an appropriate backflow prevention assembly.
(2) 
No cross-connection between the public water supply and a private water source exists. Where an actual properly installed air gap is not maintained between the public water supply and a private water supply, an approved reduced pressure-zone backflow prevention assembly is properly installed and a service agreement exists for annual inspection and testing by a recognized backflow prevention assembly tester.
(3) 
No connection exists which allows water to be returned to the public drinking water supply is permitted [sic].
(4) 
No pipe or pipe fitting which contains more than 8% lead may be used for the installation or repair of plumbing at any connection that provides water for human use.
(5) 
No solder or flux which contains more than 0.2% lead can be used for the installation or repair of plumbing at any connection that provides water for human use. A minimum of one lead test shall be performed for each inspection.
(k) 
Enforcement.
Any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $1.00 and not more than $500.00. Each day that one or more of the provisions in this section is violated shall constitute a separate offense. If a person fails to correct violations of this section after 10 days’ notice, the city shall be authorized to discontinue water service to the premises where such violations occur. Services discontinued under such circumstances shall be restored only upon payment of a reconnection charge based on the then-existing water rate tariff, and any other costs incurred by the city in discontinuing service. In addition, suitable assurance must be given to the city that the same action shall not be repeated while this section is in effect. Compliance with this section may also be sought through injunctive relief in the district court.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/04, sec. I)
(a) 
Local amendment.
(1) 
For those residences in which the water heater is situated in a location other than adjacent to an outside wall of the residence as of the effective date of this section, notwithstanding a conflicting provision in the city’s building codes or regulations, the property owner may install or caused to be installed a replacement water heater in the same location as the previous water heater, and shall not be required to locate the replacement water heater adjacent to an outside wall of the residence; provided that the following criteria are met:
(A) 
The replacement water heater complies with all applicable regulations except installation adjacent to an outside wall of the residence;
(B) 
There is adequate venting for the water heater; and
(C) 
The building official or the plumbing inspector determines that the installation of the water heater as authorized in this section does not constitute a safety hazard.
(2) 
The building official or plumbing inspector may impose reasonable conditions on installation of the water heater to ensure that it does not constitute a safety hazard, which conditions shall be stated in the permit. The water heater shall be installed in compliance with the permit and all applicable regulations.
(3) 
This local amendment does not apply to new construction, and new construction shall comply with the regulations in effect at the time that a permit is issued.
(b) 
Appeal of building official’s determination.
Determinations made by the building official or the plumbing inspector under this section may be appealed to the board of adjustments and appeals. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the city secretary within ten days of the building official’s determination.
(c) 
Enforcement.
(1) 
The code enforcement authority, city police officers, the building official, and other designated inspectors, including the plumbing inspector, customer service inspector, and other similar trade inspectors authorized by the city administrator, are hereby authorized to enforce the city’s building and permitting codes and regulations. A person authorized to enforce such codes and regulations may issue a written warning in lieu of filing charges in municipal court; provided that issuance of a warning shall not be a prerequisite to filing charges in municipal court.
(2) 
Whenever any work is being done contrary to the provisions of this section or another controlling ordinance or statute, a person authorized to enforce this section may order the work stopped by notice verbally or in writing served on any persons engaged in the doing or causing such work to be done and the city shall post a stop work order on the property adjacent to the posted building permit, and any such persons shall forthwith stop such work until authorized by the person authorized to enforce this section to proceed with the work. A person authorized to enforce this section may also issue a work correction order, which shall be served upon any persons who are working on a certain aspect of the construction project.
(d) 
Conflicting regulations.
The terms and provisions of this section shall control over conflicting provisions in the city’s building codes and regulations, including the international plumbing code, and such conflicting provisions are hereby amended to the extent of such conflict herewith.
(e) 
Penalty.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this section, or shall fail to comply therewith, or with any of the requirements thereof, within the city limits shall be deemed guilty of an offense and shall be liable for a fine not to exceed $250.00 for a first offense, and not to exceed $500.00 for subsequent offenses. Each day the violation exists shall constitute a separate offense. Such penalty shall be in addition to all the other remedies provided herein. Proof of a culpable mental state shall not be required to establish proof of violation of this section.
(Ordinance 091509-A adopted 9/15/09)
(a) 
A permit shall be required for all plumbing or gas work except minor repairs such as the maintenance, repair or replacement in kind of the following, provided that such repairs shall not violate any provision of the adopted code:
(1) 
Yard hydrants and sill cocks.
(2) 
Flush valves and float-balls in water closet tanks.
(3) 
Accessible traps on lavatories or sinks.
(4) 
Replacing of plumbing fixtures or appliances where no change in “roughing-in” is involved, except replacement of water heaters.
(b) 
The above examples are representative only and should not be considered as a limitation on the term “minor repairs.”
(1989 Code, ch. 3, sec. 4(G))
The plumbing inspector or his designated representative shall issue all plumbing permits in accordance with the provisions and requirements of this code. All applications for permits shall give the correct location of the building, the name of the owner of such building, and a complete statement of the work and fixtures to be installed. The plumbing inspector may require a complete plan of the work to be performed if considered necessary. No permit shall be issued until all information required in the application is complete. It shall be the permittee’s responsibility to request an amendment to the permit in the event of any change to the information contained in the application. If, at the time of any inspection, a person other than the plumber recorded in the permit is performing the work, the inspection will be canceled and one additional tap charge shall be levied against the permittee.
(1989 Code, ch. 3, sec. 4(H))
Plumbing or gas permits shall be issued only to the following:
(1) 
A master plumber licensed by the state board of plumbing examiners and registered in the city, or an authorized representative.
(2) 
A property owner for plumbing work to be done by him or for plumbing or gas work to be done by a registered master plumber on property owned by him or his spouse.
(3) 
A person who is regularly employed as, or acting as, a maintenance man incidental to and in connection with the business in which he is employed or engaged for work to be done by him or a master plumber in a building or on property owned by the business.
(4) 
An appliance dealer or employee of an appliance dealer who is acting as an appliance installation man or appliance service man in connecting water heaters to existing piping installations.
(5) 
A general contractor when the plumbing or gas work is a portion of the work to be completed under a building permit. The plumbing or gas work shall be performed by a master plumber registered with the city.
(6) 
A licensed irrigator or licensed installer for installation of irrigation systems only.
(1989 Code, ch. 3, sec. 4(I))
No permit issued under this division shall be assigned or transferred to another person and no person shall permit another person to obtain a permit in his name, or permit any plumbing work to be performed under his permit by any person other than the person authorized to do the same.
(1989 Code, ch. 3, sec. 4(J))
When a building permit is required, no separate fee shall be required for a plumbing or gas permit, such permit fee to be considered a part of the building permit fee. In the event only plumbing or gas work is to be done, a plumbing permit is required. All additional inspections required above those normally covered in the base permit fee will be charged to the permittee. Fees for permits and additional inspections shall be as established by the city council. A copy of the fee schedule is on file in the office of the city secretary.
(1989 Code, ch. 3, sec. 4(K))
Every permit issued under the provisions of this code shall expire 365 days after the date thereof unless the work authorized by such permit is completed. In every case where a permit has expired, a new permit shall be obtained before any work is resumed.
(1989 Code, ch. 3, sec. 4(L))