§ 4-6. Plumbing code.
(a)
Adopted. There is hereby adopted by the city for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the installation, alteration, repair, and replacement of plumbing, piping, fittings, fixtures, and equipment which may be conducted to any water and sewer system in the city, within the city limits, that certain plumbing code recommended by the International Code Council, known as the International Plumbing Code, being particularly the 2015 edition, including all appendices and all subsequent revisions, standards, or supplements thereto, except as hereinafter amended. One copy of said code is on file in the office of the building inspector, and the same is hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set out at length herein, and the same shall be controlling all equipment/repairs to any water and sewer system in the city.
(b)
Reserved.
(c)
Appeals. Whenever the plumbing official shall reject or refuse to approve the mode or manner of plumbing proposed to be followed or materials to be used in the installation or alteration of a plumbing system, or when it is claimed that the provisions of this code do not apply, or that an equally good or more desirable method of plumbing can be employed in any specific case, or when it is claimed that the true intent and meaning of this code or any of the regulations thereunder have been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted, the owner of such building or structure, contractor or their duly appointed agent, may appeal from the decision of the plumbing official to the construction board of adjustments and appeals. Notice of appeal shall be in writing and filed within 15 days after the decision is rendered by the plumbing official and shall state the grounds for such appeal. Such appeal shall be taken in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 4-21 herein.
(d)
Plumbing contractors to register with city.
(1)
Registration required annually.
a.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation who is not registered by the city as a plumbing contractor to secure permits as provided herein except as provided below. A plumbing contractor may designate individual(s) to perform the administrative requirements to obtain plumbing permit(s) provided they are identified and duly authorized in writing on a form provided by the city. Each authorization shall require a fee as prescribed in appendix 1 of this Code of Ordinances. Each master plumbing contractor shall register with the city prior to doing plumbing work within the city in any current year. Each renewal thereof shall expire one year from the date of registration. Every person obtaining a plumbing permit will be required to show a valid form of identification having picture identification.
b.
Each applicant for registration as a plumbing contractor shall have an established place of business or shop for which a certificate of occupancy has been secured from the City of Terrell if such business is located in the City of Terrell. Such certificate of occupancy shall be displayed in his place of business.
(2)
Method of registration of plumbing contractor.
a.
To register with the city as a plumbing contractor, application shall be made in writing on forms furnished for this purpose and filed with the plumbing official. The application shall show the plumbing contractor's name, local address and telephone number, and such other information as may reasonably be required to properly identify the plumbing contractor. Every person making application for registration as a plumbing contractor will be required to show two valid forms of identification, with at least one form having picture identification.
b.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to represent himself or themselves as a registered and licensed plumber, or to use falsely the words "plumbing contractor," "master plumber," "journeyman plumber," or "plumber," or words of similar import or meaning, or signs, cards, stationery, or by any other misleading manner whatsoever within the city, unless said person, firm or corporation is, in fact, registered and holds a valid license within the meaning of the words used and as provided in this code.
(e)
Certificate of liability required. No plumbing registration shall be issued except upon the filing of a certificate of liability insurance of the minimum coverage of $300,000.00 per occurrence.
(f)
Supervision of work by licensed master plumber required. The actual work of installing, maintaining, altering or repairing of plumbing for which a permit is required by this code shall have supervision by a licensed master plumber as provided by the Texas Plumbing Licensing Law and this code. The owner of a plumbing contracting business who is not a licensed master plumber shall have constantly in his employ a licensed master plumber. Such master plumber shall be designated by the owner of such place of business to the plumbing inspector as the person responsible for, and supervising, the plumbing work done by such plumbing contractor. Such designated master plumber shall be the supervisory plumber of only one plumbing contractor within the city at any one time. Should such supervision not be constantly provided, the plumbing inspector may order the work being done by such plumbing contractor to be discontinued until proper supervision and control has been provided and the name of the new master plumber disclosed to the plumbing inspector.
(g)
License required; display of license.
(1)
It shall be unlawful for any person who is not licensed as a plumber in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the State of Texas to install plumbing work or supervise plumbing as defined herein.
(2)
Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the employment of a journeyman plumber to engage in, and work at the actual installation, alteration, repairing and renovating of plumbing, or the employment of a plumber's apprentice who, as his principal occupation, is engaged in the learning and assisting in the installation of plumbing, or the employment of unskilled laborers to handle, haul or carry materials when working under the immediate supervision of a master plumber.
(3)
Each holder of a license as a master plumber shall display his license in a conspicuous place in his principal place of business. Each holder of a master or journeyman plumber's license shall carry evidence of proper registration on his person at all times while doing plumbing work and shall produce and exhibit same when requested by any inspector or officer of the city.
(h)
Solder containing lead. The use of solder containing lead shall be prohibited from being used in any water pipe distribution system.
(i)
Application for plumbing work permit. Before issuance of a permit for the performance of any plumbing work as required by the Texas Plumbing Licensing Law and this code, an application shall be filed with the plumbing inspector on the form provided by the municipal development department describing the scope of work. No deviation shall be made in the details for the plumbing work described on the application without permission from the plumbing inspector in writing. The fees for plumbing permits and re-inspection fees shall be as prescribed in appendix 1 of this Code of Ordinances.
(Ord. No. 1405, 3-6-85; Ord. No. 1449, 4-1-86; Ord. No. 1528, 4-5-88; Ord. No. 1529, 4-5-88; Ord. No. 1592, 10-17-89; Ord. No. 1758, 9-20-94; Ord. No. 2159, § I, 2-4-03; Ord. No. 2246, § I, 10-5-04; Ord. No. 2533, Arts. I, III, 5-15-12; Ord. No. 2629, Arts. I, II, 3-3-15 ; Ord. No. 2698, Arts. I, II, 8-15-17 )