Contracting License Ordinance #3
In considering the ordinance licensing contractors the City Attorney recommended and the City Council approved what appeared to be an important exception. If a permit is not required, the licensing requirement will not apply. You’ll see how important the exception is in this posting. I made another trip to City Hall to copy the latest exceptions from the uniform codes.
In a few instances the work exempt from a permit is restricted further than I will be stating. For example, sidewalks and driveways are exempt. I’m not going to include the following restriction, “provided they are not more than 30 inches above grade and not over any basement or story below and which are not part of an accessible route.” In instances like this you will need to check with the city building service center for details. The first listing of exemptions covers residential, industrial and commercial property. If you find the language confusing, please remember that I am using terminology from the codes.
Building Exemptions: 1. Retaining walls which are not over four feet. 2. Water tanks supported directly on grade. 3. Sidewalks and driveways. 4. Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work. 5. Above ground prefabricated swimming pools which are less than two feet deep. 6. Swings and other playground equipment. 7. Window awnings supported by and exterior wall which do not project more than 54 inches.
Electrical Exemptions: 1. Replacement of flush or snap switches, fuses, lamp sockets, and receptacles, and other minor maintenance and repair work, such as replacing worn cords and tightening connections on a wiring device. 2. Installation or replacement of equipment such as lamps and of electric utilization equipment approved for connection to suitable permanently installed receptacles.
Gas Exemptions: 1. Portable heating, cooking or clothes drying appliances. 2. Replacement of any minor part that does not alter approval of equipment or make such equipment unsafe.
Mechanical Exemptions: 1. Portable heating appliances. 2. Portable ventilation equipment. 3. Portable cooling units. 4. Steam, hot or chilled water piping contained within heating or cooling equipment regulated by the codes. 5. Replacement of any part which does not alter its approval or make it unsafe. 6. Portable evaporative coolers. 7. Self-contained refrigeration systems containing 10 pounds or less or refrigerant.
Plumbing Exemptions: 1. The stopping of leaks in drains, water, soil, waste or vent pipes provided, however, that if any pipe, trap or drain is concealed and becomes defective and in need of replacement, a permit will be required. 2. The clearing of stoppages and reinstallation (not replacement) of water closets.
The Residential Code has an exemption not found in the Building Code. Under Mechanical, portable fuel cell appliances that are not connected to fixed piping or the power grid are exempt.
Commercial and industrial properties have some additional exemptions not found in the Residential Code. 1. Oil derricks. 2. Temporary motion picture, television and theater stage sets and scenery. 3. Shade cloth structures for nursery and agricultural uses. 4. Movable cases, counters and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches.
Repairs: The uniform codes also have a special section called Repairs. It covers all classifications of property. In the section it appears that permits are not required for a lot of things. It then goes on to negate most of what it gives. First, the good part:
“Application or notice to the building official is not required for ordinary repairs to structures, replacement of lamps or the connection of approved portable electrical equipment to approved permanently installed receptacles.”
The limitations are so long, I am going to summarize them. You can not: 1. Cut away or into any portion of a wall, ceiling, partition, structural beam or load-bearing support. 2. Remove, modify or change any means of egress from a building. 3. Modify, replace, add or remove any pipes such as; standpipe, water, sewer, drainage, gas, soil, waste, vent or similar piping. 4. Electric wiring or mechanical or other work affecting public health or general safety including yours.
Finally, the uniform codes allow two other exceptions in the building section that the City has taken away locally. You must obtain permits for 1. Tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses. 2. Fences
In the next posting I will be outright attacking some very evasive intrusions into you life should you have to obtain a building permit. Big brother, Rick Davis, Chief Building Official, convinced the City Council to ignore my requests that they be deleted despite their intrusion and the financial and staffing burden placed on the City.
In a few instances the work exempt from a permit is restricted further than I will be stating. For example, sidewalks and driveways are exempt. I’m not going to include the following restriction, “provided they are not more than 30 inches above grade and not over any basement or story below and which are not part of an accessible route.” In instances like this you will need to check with the city building service center for details. The first listing of exemptions covers residential, industrial and commercial property. If you find the language confusing, please remember that I am using terminology from the codes.
Building Exemptions: 1. Retaining walls which are not over four feet. 2. Water tanks supported directly on grade. 3. Sidewalks and driveways. 4. Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work. 5. Above ground prefabricated swimming pools which are less than two feet deep. 6. Swings and other playground equipment. 7. Window awnings supported by and exterior wall which do not project more than 54 inches.
Electrical Exemptions: 1. Replacement of flush or snap switches, fuses, lamp sockets, and receptacles, and other minor maintenance and repair work, such as replacing worn cords and tightening connections on a wiring device. 2. Installation or replacement of equipment such as lamps and of electric utilization equipment approved for connection to suitable permanently installed receptacles.
Gas Exemptions: 1. Portable heating, cooking or clothes drying appliances. 2. Replacement of any minor part that does not alter approval of equipment or make such equipment unsafe.
Mechanical Exemptions: 1. Portable heating appliances. 2. Portable ventilation equipment. 3. Portable cooling units. 4. Steam, hot or chilled water piping contained within heating or cooling equipment regulated by the codes. 5. Replacement of any part which does not alter its approval or make it unsafe. 6. Portable evaporative coolers. 7. Self-contained refrigeration systems containing 10 pounds or less or refrigerant.
Plumbing Exemptions: 1. The stopping of leaks in drains, water, soil, waste or vent pipes provided, however, that if any pipe, trap or drain is concealed and becomes defective and in need of replacement, a permit will be required. 2. The clearing of stoppages and reinstallation (not replacement) of water closets.
The Residential Code has an exemption not found in the Building Code. Under Mechanical, portable fuel cell appliances that are not connected to fixed piping or the power grid are exempt.
Commercial and industrial properties have some additional exemptions not found in the Residential Code. 1. Oil derricks. 2. Temporary motion picture, television and theater stage sets and scenery. 3. Shade cloth structures for nursery and agricultural uses. 4. Movable cases, counters and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches.
Repairs: The uniform codes also have a special section called Repairs. It covers all classifications of property. In the section it appears that permits are not required for a lot of things. It then goes on to negate most of what it gives. First, the good part:
“Application or notice to the building official is not required for ordinary repairs to structures, replacement of lamps or the connection of approved portable electrical equipment to approved permanently installed receptacles.”
The limitations are so long, I am going to summarize them. You can not: 1. Cut away or into any portion of a wall, ceiling, partition, structural beam or load-bearing support. 2. Remove, modify or change any means of egress from a building. 3. Modify, replace, add or remove any pipes such as; standpipe, water, sewer, drainage, gas, soil, waste, vent or similar piping. 4. Electric wiring or mechanical or other work affecting public health or general safety including yours.
Finally, the uniform codes allow two other exceptions in the building section that the City has taken away locally. You must obtain permits for 1. Tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses. 2. Fences
In the next posting I will be outright attacking some very evasive intrusions into you life should you have to obtain a building permit. Big brother, Rick Davis, Chief Building Official, convinced the City Council to ignore my requests that they be deleted despite their intrusion and the financial and staffing burden placed on the City.
posted by Gene Wieneke at
11:24 AM
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