[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Lancaster as
indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[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:
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.
The Board of Plumber Examiners of the City of Lancaster.
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.
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.
Chapter 215, Article I, Adoption of Standards, of the Code of the City of Lancaster.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to perform plumbing
work, including work regulated or required to be performed under the Plumbing
Code, or to engage in the business of plumbing, either on his own behalf or
on the behalf of another person, unless the person who shall perform such
plumbing work shall be a duly licensed master or journeyman plumber or an
apprentice plumber working under the supervision of a licensed master or journeyman
plumber; provided, however, that the bona fide owner who is the occupant of
a single-family dwelling, as defined in the Plumbing Code, which single-family
dwelling is used exclusively for living purposes may perform such work in
the single-family dwelling if he personally purchases all materials and personally
performs all labor in connection therewith.
B.
It shall be unlawful for any person to labor at the trade
of plumbing in the category of a master plumber or of a journeyman plumber
without first having had issued to him a valid license as a master plumber
or as a journeyman plumber by the Board of Plumber Examiners.
C.
It shall be unlawful for any corporation, partnership
or association to perform plumbing work, including work regulated or required
to be performed under the Plumbing Code, or to engage in the business of plumbing
without first having a master plumber in its employ.
D.
It shall be unlawful for any person who has obtained
a plumber's license to permit his license and/or name to be used by another
person either for the purpose of obtaining permits or for performing work
or doing business under the license.
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.
A.
The Board of Plumber Examiners shall issue plumbers'
licenses to such persons as may be entitled thereto and shall conduct examinations
for the purpose of determining the competency and knowledge of plumbing and
drainage work of persons who are required by this article to take such examinations.
The Board shall determine the character of the examination to be given to
any applicant and by majority vote shall accept or reject such applicant after
examination.
B.
It shall be the duty of the Board to act as a Board of
Appeals concerning any determination made by the City Plumbing Inspector.
C.
The Board shall keep an accurate record of its official
transactions while acting as a Board of Examiners and as a Board of Appeals
and shall render such reports and statistics as the Bureau of Housing and
Structural Inspections shall require.
D.
The Board shall elect annually a Chairman from its members
who shall preside at all meetings. The Board shall adopt such rules and regulations
as are required for the proper and efficient discharge of its duties.
E.
Fee schedule for appeals. The fee requirement for filing
an appeal to the Board shall be $50, payable to the City, to cover preparation
costs involved.
F.
Fee schedule for licenses. The following fees are applicable
to plumber's licenses:
|
Plumber's License
|
Examination Fee
|
License Issuance Fee
|
Renewal Fee
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Master
|
$50
|
$100
|
$100
| |
|
Journeyman
|
$25
|
$20
|
$20
| |
|
Apprentice
|
No charge
|
$5
|
$5
|
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.
A.
The Board of Plumber Examiners may cancel or revoke any
license issued by it to any person, if such person later shows incompetency
or lack of knowledge in matters relevant to such license or if such license
was obtained by fraud. If the license of any person be so canceled or revoked,
another such license shall not be granted to such person within 12 months
after the date of cancellation or revocation.
B.
Licenses are not transferable from one person to another,
and the lending of any license or the obtaining of permits thereunder for
any other person shall be deemed cause for revocation.
C.
Any person whose license is canceled or revoked shall
be given written notice of such cancellation or revocation by certified mail,
return receipt requested. The person shall have ten days from receipt of such
notice to request in writing a hearing before the Board to present evidence
to demonstrate why the Board's action was in error or mitigating circumstances.
The Board shall promptly schedule a hearing on such appeal which shall be
conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Local Agency Law, 2 Pa.C.S.A. § 551
et seq. Any appeal from the determination of the Board after such hearing
shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Local Agency Law.
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.
