[Adopted as Article 1704 of the Codified Ordinances]
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words and phrases shall
be construed throughout this article to have the meanings indicated:
APPRENTICE PLUMBER
A natural person who labors at the trade of plumbing under the direct
supervision and in the immediate presence of a master plumber or a journeyman
plumber for a continuous period of four years. An apprentice plumber may satisfactorily
complete a course of study in plumbing from an accredited technical school,
vocational-technical school or school operated by a recognized plumbers union.
Such study may be undertaken while working as an apprentice plumber but shall
be satisfactorily completed prior to completion of the four-year apprenticeship.
BOARD
The Board of Plumber Examiners of the City of Lancaster.
JOURNEYMAN PLUMBER
A natural person who has served an apprenticeship of a minimum of
four years under the supervision of a master plumber and/or has completed
a course of study in plumbing and who, upon passing a satisfactory examination
administered by the Board of Plumber Examiners, has been properly licensed
as a journeyman plumber.
MASTER PLUMBER
A natural person who has served as a journeyman plumber for a period
of at least two years and who, upon passing a satisfactory examination therefor
administered by the Board of Plumber Examiners, has been properly licensed
as a master plumber.
PLUMBING CODE
Chapter
215, Article I, Adoption of Standards, of the Code of the City of Lancaster.
Any person who is required by this article to possess a plumber's license
shall make application therefor to the Board of Plumber Examiners on an application
form provided for that purpose by the Secretary of the Board and shall pay
the fee as hereinafter provided.
The Board of Plumber Examiners shall consist of five members, two of
whom shall be licensed master plumbers, two of whom shall be licensed journeyman
plumbers and one of whom shall be from the public at large. The Board shall
be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Council. Members of the Board
shall serve for one-year terms or until a successor is appointed. A member
of the Bureau of Housing and Structural Inspection shall act as Secretary
and serve as an ex officio member.
The Board of Plumber Examiners shall issue licenses pursuant to the
following provisions:
A. Master plumber's licenses shall be issued to any natural
person who makes application for such license, pays the required fee and successfully
passes an examination conducted by the Board. In lieu of an examination, the
Board may issue a license to any person who makes application therefor, pays
the required fee and possesses and presents to the Board a valid license issued
to him by any other governmental agency giving an examination of the scope
and character of which, in the opinion of the Board, is at least equal to
that given by the Board. No person shall be eligible to take the examination
for a license for a master plumber unless that person shall have served as
a licensed journeyman plumber in the City or in another jurisdiction for at
least two years.
B. Journeyman plumber's licenses shall be issued to any
natural person who makes application for such license, pays the required fee
and successfully passes an examination conducted by the Board. In lieu of
an examination, the Board may issue a license to any person who makes application
therefor, pays the required fee and possesses and presents to the Board a
valid license issued to him by any other governmental agency giving an examination
of the scope and character of which, in the opinion of the Board, is at least
equal to that given by the Board. No person shall be eligible to take the
examination for a license for a journeyman plumber unless that person shall
have served as a licensed apprentice plumber in the City or in another jurisdiction
for at least four years.
C. An apprentice plumber's license shall be issued to any
person who makes application for such license, pays the required fee and presents
evidence satisfactory to the Board that he is employed by and shall work under
the direct supervision of a master plumber or journeyman plumber holding a
valid license.
Any person who fails to pass the examination as prescribed by the Board
of Plumber Examiners may apply for a reexamination after the expiration of
90 days. Should such person fail to pass the second time, the Board may refuse
to give another examination to that person until after the expiration of one
year.
Every license for master plumber, journeyman plumber or apprentice plumber
shall remain in force and in effect until its expiration date unless canceled
or revoked. All such licenses shall expire on December 31 of each calendar
year. Any plumbers' licenses issued prior to the effective date of this article
under authority of any ordinance repealed or replaced by this article shall
be valid until the earlier of December 31, 1992, or the stated termination
date of such license and shall be deemed to be a license issued under this
article.
All licenses for master plumbers, journeyman plumbers or apprentice
plumbers, except licenses which have been canceled or revoked, may be renewed
from year to year upon application, submission of evidence that the person
is actively engaged in the plumbing trade and payment of the required renewal
fee. If renewal is requested and the required fee is paid more than 30 days
but fewer than 90 days after the expiration of the license, the renewal fee
shall be the basic renewal fee, plus 10%. No license may be renewed more than
90 days after its expiration.
A master plumber may voluntarily downgrade his license to a journeyman
plumber's license for a continuous period of up to five years and may, before
the expiration of the five-year period, upgrade his license to a master plumber's
license, provided that it has not been downgraded for a period in excess of
five years; the journeyman plumber's license issued to the person has been
maintained continuously during the period; and the person pays the license
issuance fee for a master plumber's license of $100 at the time the license
is upgraded to a master plumber's license. Upon meeting these conditions,
the person shall not be required to take the examination for a license as
a master plumber.
Whoever violates any of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction
thereof in summary proceedings, be liable to a fine or penalty of not less
than $100 nor more than $600 or by imprisonment not exceeding 30 days, or
both. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.