A Proposed Licensing Requirement on You
In late July the Building Inspector presented nine ordinances related to building activities to the City Council for its consideration during August. One of them is titled “Licensing of Contractors”. It requires that all contractors working in the city be licensed in order to obtain building permits. This includes YOU unless you qualify for an exemption.
If you have the skills and wish to personally make any structural improvements to your home or building, you will not qualify for an exemption and you will need to test for and obtain a license. That applies regardless of whether or not you are an occupant or the owner.
For non-structural alterations or repairs, you can avoid the licensing requirement if the “value” of the improvements does not exceed the total of $1,000 per calendar year. What are non-structural alterations and repairs? Here are a few to get you thinking about your own situation: Replacement of a storm door, shingle repairs after a storm, installation of window awnings, insulation of a garage, construction of a shed or improvements to a patio, painting, re-installation of a hardwood floor, installation of new rain gutters, etc.
Here is the actual paragraph which establishes the criteria exempting you from the licensing as proposed by the building inspector. You are exempt if you are:
“An owner or occupant making alterations or repairs totaling less that $1,000 in any one calendar year to the building he or she owns or occupies, which repairs do not involve the structure of the building, if the owner or occupant furnishes all the materials.” [Section 10-18-2 (b) (2)]
For comparison, here is the exemption provision in effect in the City of Thornton: Section 10-116 (b) in part, “An owner performing work on such owner’s personal residence shall not be considered a contractor.” Note that there is no dollar or non-structural limitation.
Let’s say that our City Council adopts the ordinance and you have no choice but to obtain a license. Here are the requirements: Class B license, Annual fee of $100, Liability insurance policy in the amount of $500,000 and a passing score in a knowledge and skills examination yet to be devised by the Building Official. In addition, the Building Official may require you to furnish additional information with respect to your financial status. [Section 10-18-5 (c)]
If you have the skills and wish to personally make any structural improvements to your home or building, you will not qualify for an exemption and you will need to test for and obtain a license. That applies regardless of whether or not you are an occupant or the owner.
For non-structural alterations or repairs, you can avoid the licensing requirement if the “value” of the improvements does not exceed the total of $1,000 per calendar year. What are non-structural alterations and repairs? Here are a few to get you thinking about your own situation: Replacement of a storm door, shingle repairs after a storm, installation of window awnings, insulation of a garage, construction of a shed or improvements to a patio, painting, re-installation of a hardwood floor, installation of new rain gutters, etc.
Here is the actual paragraph which establishes the criteria exempting you from the licensing as proposed by the building inspector. You are exempt if you are:
“An owner or occupant making alterations or repairs totaling less that $1,000 in any one calendar year to the building he or she owns or occupies, which repairs do not involve the structure of the building, if the owner or occupant furnishes all the materials.” [Section 10-18-2 (b) (2)]
For comparison, here is the exemption provision in effect in the City of Thornton: Section 10-116 (b) in part, “An owner performing work on such owner’s personal residence shall not be considered a contractor.” Note that there is no dollar or non-structural limitation.
Let’s say that our City Council adopts the ordinance and you have no choice but to obtain a license. Here are the requirements: Class B license, Annual fee of $100, Liability insurance policy in the amount of $500,000 and a passing score in a knowledge and skills examination yet to be devised by the Building Official. In addition, the Building Official may require you to furnish additional information with respect to your financial status. [Section 10-18-5 (c)]
posted by Gene Wieneke at
8:39 AM
1 Comments:
What is the point? I don't understand why the city would try and make it harder for residents to do home repairs and up-grades... especially after all this talk about bringing home prices up, the importance of NNDC and Clean Sweep. Make your home nicer, but only if you want to pay an outside contractor to do all the work at an expensive rate? Sounds like Northglenn. Maybe Robin Tichys roofing company would like to take on some of that business???
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Anonymous, at 4:09 PM
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