[Amended 6-9-1981 by Ord. No. 1049; 8-9-1988 by Ord. No. 1188]
The Board of Commissioners finds it in the best interest of the residents of Springfield Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, that persons or firms who engage in construction, repairs, remodeling, rehabilitation or demolition, and operating as general contractors, and including but not limited to mechanical contractors, electrical contractors, plumbing contractors, fire prevention contractors, specialty contractors, home improvement contractors, elevator contractors, grading contractors, roofing contractors, painting contractors, paperhanging contractors or tree surgeons, who may be prime contractors or subcontractors shall be required to obtain a license from the township for such purpose, to the end that only responsible and qualified persons shall be permitted to engage in such business in said Township of Springfield.
No person or firm may engage in or transact any construction, building repairs, remodeling, rehabilitation or demolition business, or hold themselves out to the public as doing such business or solicit such business, in the Township of Springfield, Pennsylvania, except in compliance with the applicable provisions of this ordinance. No person or firm may engage in this township in any trade or practice or other act prohibited by any provision of this ordinance, and any person or firm who willfully participates in a prohibited act or violation is subject to the criminal penalty therefor. The provisions of this ordinance may not be waived by agreement.
For the purpose of this ordinance, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER Whenever the terms "Building Inspector" or "Assistant Building Inspector" appear in this chapter, it shall be and mean the duly appointed Code Enforcement Officer or his assistant, or deputy, of the Township of Springfield, said terms being synonymous.
[Added 8-9-1988 by Ord. No. 1188]
CONTRACT An agreement, whether oral or written or contained in one or more documents, between a contractor and an owner for the performance of work, including all labor, services and materials to be furnished and performed thereunder.
CONTRACTOR Any person, other than a bona fide employee of the owner, who undertakes or offers to work, whether or not such person is licensed or subject to the licensing requirements of this ordinance and whether or not such person is a prime contractor or subcontractor with respect to the owner.
OWNER Any property owner, tenant or other person who orders, contracts for or purchases the services of a contractor, subcontractor, specialty contractor or home improvement contractor, or the person entitled to the work of such pursuant to a contract.
PERSON Includes an individual, partnership, corporation, trust, association, owner, contractor, salesman or other legal entity.
[Amended 7-13-1976 by Ord. No. 954; 6-9-1981 by Ord. No. 1049; 9-8-2015 by Ord. No. 1560]
No
license shall be issued or become effective until the applicant pays the required fee, payable to the Township of Springfield. All
contractors as provided for in §
31-1 and who are in good standing, may be issued an annual
license on a calendar-year basis beginning January 1 of each year upon application and the payment of a fee in accordance with Chapter
40, Fee Schedule, of the Code of the Township of Springfield. An abatement of said fee shall be made on September 1 for the balance of the calendar year at the rate as indicated in Chapter
40, Fee Schedule.
Except as otherwise specifically exempted by the provisions of this ordinance, no person shall act in the capacity of general contractor, subcontractor, specialty contractor or home improvement contractor unless authorized to do so by a subsisting license issued in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance. A decal, to be supplied by the Building Inspector, indicating that the contractor is currently licensed, shall be affixed to all trucks or cars used by the contractor in the course of his work in the township. The decal shall be located on the vehicle in accordance with instructions of the Building Inspector.
No contractor's license shall be required of any person when acting in the particular capacity or particular type of transaction set forth in this section:
A. An individual who performs labor or services for a contractor for wages or salary.
B. Any person who is required by state or local law to attain standards of competency or experience as a prerequisite to engaging in such craft or profession, and who is acting exclusively within the scope of the craft or profession for which he is currently licensed pursuant to such other law.
For the protection of the people of this township, no license shall be issued or continued if already issued, where:
A. The person or the management personnel are untrustworthy or not of good character.
B. The business transactions of the person have been marked by a practice of failure to perform contracts or the manipulation of assets or accounts, or by fraud or bad faith.
Any person who shall knowingly and willfully engage in building construction, repairs, remodeling, rehabilitation or demolition without obtaining a license as required by this ordinance, and who is not otherwise exempted from said licensing requirements, and any person who continues in business as a contractor after revocation or during suspension, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $300 for each separate violation, and in default of payment thereof be imprisoned for a term not exceeding 30 days.
If any provision of this ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid for any reason, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions or any other application of this ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application; and to this end, all provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable.
A license issued under this ordinance does not supersede the requirements of Chapter 65 of the Code of the Township of Springfield pertaining to soliciting, etc., but is to be enforced in conjunction therewith where applicable.