A. 
General: Except as allowed under subsections B and C, no person shall administer or perform work regulated by this code except a person holding a valid, unexpired, and unrevoked contractor's license and/or a certificate of qualification as required by this code and state law.
B. 
Contractor Required: All work regulated by this code shall be administered by contractors licensed by the State of Alaska and the Municipality in the relevant trade. This licensing requirement applies regardless of whether the work is exempt from the requirement for a permit.
Exceptions:
1. 
A property owner may act as a contractor as follows:
a. 
An owner may construct a maximum of one structure every two years. The start date of the two-year time limitation shall be the date of the certificate of occupancy. A permit to construct an additional structure cannot be issued during the two-year time limitation.
b. 
An owner may administer alterations, including additions, to an existing structure.
c. 
An owner of an individual dwelling unit located in a multi-dwelling unit structure may administer alterations within their dwelling unit.
2. 
A tenant may administer alterations within their lease space.
C. 
Performing Work: All work regulated by this code shall be performed by individuals appropriately licensed in the relevant trade in accordance with state law and this code.
Exceptions:
1. 
A property owner may perform work as follows:
a. 
A person working on an existing structure on that person's own property, whether occupied by the person or not, and a person working on that person's own existing residence, whether owned by the person or not;
b. 
An owner or tenant of commercial property who uses the owner's or tenant's own employees to do maintenance, repair, and alteration work on that property.
D. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to conduct, carry on or engage in the business of, or act in the capacity of a contractor in a trade covered by this code without first being issued a valid municipal contractor's license, and when required, a certificate of qualification.
E. 
An applicant for a building construction contractor's license may be requested to provide a copy of the construction contractor's bond required by state law with the application and shall show proof the bond is current and in effect.
F. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to labor in the capacity of a plumber, gas fitter or sheetmetal journeyman without first being issued a valid journeyman certificate of qualification by the Municipality.
G. 
Any contractor or journeyman doing gas piping, plumbing or sheet metal work covered by this code shall be tested and licensed by the Municipality.
H. 
It shall be unlawful to labor as a plumber or sheet metal trainee without first being issued a valid trainee certificate of qualification by the Municipality.
I. 
It shall be unlawful for any person acting in the capacity of a contractor in a trade covered by this code, or as the responsible agent, manager, supervisor, superintendent or foreman, to knowingly or willfully order, instruct or permit an employee, agent or person under supervision or control to do an act violating the certificate of qualification requirements set forth in subsection F or H.
J. 
The ratio of individuals holding sheet metal or plumber trainee certificate of qualification cards shall not be more than two for every certified journeyman on a job site.
(AO No. 2020-85, § 1, 10-27-2020; AO No. 2021-88(S), § 7, 2-15-2022)
A. 
Every person applying for a gas piping, plumbing or sheet metal contractor certificate of qualification shall complete the application form, pass the required test and pay the required fee. If a certificate is not obtained within 90 days of passing the exam, the applicant may be required to retest.
B. 
Every person applying for a gas fitter, plumber or sheet metal journeyman certificate of qualification shall complete the application form, pass the required test and pay the required fee. If a certificate is not obtained within 90 days of passing the exam, the applicant may be required to retest.
C. 
Every person applying for a plumber or sheet metal trainee certificate of qualification shall complete the application form and pay the required fee.
D. 
In accordance with state law, no person shall qualify as administrator under more than one license. If the relationship of the administrator with the firm or corporation applicant is terminated, the license shall become void within 60 days unless another administrator is qualified by proper authority. Licenses issued to applicants are nontransferable.
E. 
Applicants for a plumbing or sheetmetal contractor certificate of qualification shall provide evidence of at least six years or 12,000 hours minimum of previous practical experience. Applicants for a gas piping contractor certificate of qualification shall provide evidence of at least four years or 8,000 hours minimum of previous practical experience. Only hours accrued while properly licensed and working for a legally licensed contractor for the relevant trade will be credited towards the required hours. In lieu of previous practical experience (at the discretion of the Building Board, Mechanical Subcommittee) credit may be allowed for each year, and fraction thereof, of attendance at a recognized school, if the course taken by the applicant was primarily mechanical and directly related to the particular skill or trade being applied for. No credit shall be allowed any applicant for experience gained while doing any mechanical work ordinarily incidental to or associated with non-mechanical occupations, as determined by the building official.
F. 
Applicants for a plumbing contractor or plumber journeyman certificate of qualification shall provide a copy of a current Alaska Department of Labor Certificate of Fitness Plumber Journeyman card. Applicants for a plumber trainee certificate of qualification shall provide a current copy of an Alaska Department of Labor Certificate of Fitness card.
G. 
Applicants for a plumber or sheet metal journeyman certificate of qualification shall provide evidence of at least four years or 8,000 hours minimum of previous experience personally installing, fabricating, altering and repairing work covered by the particular skill or trade being applied for. Only hours accrued while properly licensed and working for a legally licensed contractor in the relevant trade will be credited towards the required hours. In lieu of previous practical experience, (at the discretion of the Building Board, Mechanical Subcommittee) credit may be allowed for each year, and fraction thereof, of attendance at a recognized school if the course taken by the applicant was primarily mechanical and directly related to the skill or trade being applied for. No credit shall be allowed any applicant for experience gained while doing any work ordinarily incidental to or associated with non-mechanical occupations as determined by the building official. In lieu of the above qualifications, an applicant may submit proof of successful completion of at least a four-year or 8,000 hours minimum apprenticeship program registered and approved by the U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, as acceptable qualifications. Journeyman and trainee plumbers shall have a state license.
H. 
Applicants for a plumber or sheet metal trainee certificate of qualification are not required to have prior experience but shall provide evidence of working for a properly certified contractor and be enrolled in an approved apprenticeship program.
I. 
Applicants for a journeyman gas fitter certificate of qualification shall provide evidence of two years or 4,000 hours minimum previous experience in the gas piping field and shall provide a current copy of an Alaska Department of Labor Certificate of Fitness Gas Fitter card. Only hours accrued while properly licensed and working for a legally licensed contractor in the relevant trade will be credited towards the required hours.
(AO No. 2020-85, § 1, 10-27-2020)
A. 
A sheet metal, plumbing, or gas piping contractor certificate of qualification shall be issued to a person who makes application for such certificate, provides evidence of the required experience and training, successfully passes the examination and pays the required fee.
B. 
A sheet metal, plumber, or gas fitter journeyman certificate of qualification shall be issued to a person who makes application for such certificate, provides evidence of the required experience and training, successfully passes the examination, and pays the required fee.
C. 
A plumber or sheet metal trainee certificate of qualification shall be issued to a person who meets the application requirements for such certificate and pays the required fee.
D. 
Every person required to have a certificate of qualification shall obtain such certificate either:
1. 
Within 90 days of passing the required test; or
2. 
Within 30 days of the expiration date shown on the certificate, except if the certificate has been suspended or revoked.
E. 
Certificates of qualification issued under this title are valid for a maximum of two years and expire on February 14 of even calendar years.
(AO No. 2020-85, § 1, 10-27-2020)
A. 
Every certificate of qualification shall remain in force and effect until its expiration date, unless canceled or revoked.
B. 
Certificates of qualification expired beyond 30 days, but less than two years may be renewed by paying the prescribed fee. This fee shall be retroactive to the expiration date of the last certificate issued. In addition, an administrative late fee shall be charged.
C. 
Certificates of qualification expired by two or more years shall not be renewed, and the person shall be required to re-take the test required for new applicants.
(AO No. 2020-85, § 1, 10-27-2020)
A. 
A backflow assembly tester certificate of qualification shall be issued to a person who makes application for such certificate, attends the four-day Backflow Assembly Certification class sponsored by the Municipality, successfully passes both the written and the hands-on examination, and pays the required fee. The certification is valid for three (3) years and may be extended for one additional year with approval of the building official. An applicant may submit proof of attendance of a similar class and of successfully passing the required examination(s) of the similar class, provided further the similar class is recognized as equal to the aforesaid requirement(s), as determined by the building official.
B. 
A person who wishes to maintain a valid certificate of qualification as a Backflow Assembly Tester shall - every three (3) years from the date of original issuance - attend an 8-hour re-certification class administered by the department or a nationally recognized agency approved by the building official, successfully pass both written and hands-on examinations and pay the required fee. Individuals recertified by agencies other than the department shall provide proof they have successfully passed the written and hands-on examinations prior to receiving a new Backflow Assembly Tester certificate of qualification.
(AO No. 2020-85, § 1, 10-27-2020)
A. 
The building official may cancel or revoke any certificate of qualification issued to any person, if such person later shows incompetence or lack of knowledge in matters relevant to such certificate or if such certificate was obtained by fraud. If the certificate of qualification of any person is canceled or revoked, another certificate shall not be granted to the person within 12 months after the date of cancellation or revocation.
B. 
Certificates of qualification are not transferable from one person to another, and the lending of any certificate or the obtaining of permits there under for any other person shall be cause for revocation.
C. 
The building official may require retesting of any certificate of qualification holder if such person shows incompetence or lack of knowledge in matters relevant to such certificate. Failure to pass a retesting shall result in revocation of the certificate. The person may apply for retesting after 30 days have elapsed.
(AO No. 2020-85, § 1, 10-27-2020)
Municipal inspectors may contact any worker performing work for which a certificate of fitness is required (under AS 18.62.010) or a certificate of qualification is required under this code and request the person to exhibit the person's certificate. The inspector may immediately serve upon the person a notice to cease any work in that occupation until a State of Alaska certificate of fitness and/or a municipal certificate of qualification is displayed.
(AO No. 2020-85, § 1, 10-27-2020)