Explanation
BACKGROUND:
There has been a demonstrated need for a limited home improvement license for gypsum board installer, commonly known as drywall installers, where the scope of work requires less than a full license, yet is large enough in scope to require a building permit. This will allow those contractors that only perform minor renovations, such as the renovation of a kitchen or a bathroom, to be able to obtain a building permit, when required, without having to be fully licensed as a Home Improvement Contractor.
This code change was reviewed at the January 21, 2014, monthly meeting of the Columbus Building Commission, and was approved and recommended for adoption by City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To amend Section 4114.505 of Title 41 of the Columbus City Codes, the Columbus Building Code, in order to create the Home Improvement Limited Contractor License subfield of Residential Gypsum Board Installer.
Body
WHEREAS, there has been a demonstrated need for a limited home improvement license for gypsum board installer, commonly known as drywall installers, where the scope of work requires less than a full Home Improvement Contractors license, yet is large enough in scope to require a building permit; and
WHEREAS, this will allow those contractors that only perform minor renovations, such as the renovation of a kitchen or a bathroom, to be able to obtain a building permit, when required, without having to be fully licensed as a Home Improvement Contractor; and
WHEREAS, this code change was reviewed at the January 21, 2014, monthly meeting of the Columbus Building Commission, and was approved and recommended for adoption by City Council; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That existing section 4114.505 of the Columbus City Codes is hereby amended to read as follows:
4114.505 Minimum experience qualifications for a department-issued license.
(A) Home Improvement General Contractor License. The applicant for a home improvement general contractor license shall have a minimum of three full years of "hands-on" installation experience in the one-, two-, and three-family home improvement field.
(B) Home Improvement Limited Contractor License. The applicant for a home improvement limited contractor license in the following fields of specialization shall have a minimum of one full year of "hands-on" installation experience in that field for which a license is applied for:
(1) Residential roofing;
(2) Residential siding, windows, and doors;
(3) Residential wood deck installation;
(4) Residential basement waterproofing;
(5) Residential prefabricated fireplaces and wood or coal stoves;
(6) Residential masonry fireplaces;
(7) Residential fencing;
(8) Residential sidewalks and driveway approaches;
(9) Residential exterior lathing and stucco;
(10) Residential swimming pool and spas;
(11) Residential asphalt paving; and/or
(13) Residential Gypsum Board Installer.
(C) "Hands-on" experience shall be characterized by the active personal involvement of the applicant in the activity directly related to the type of license for which an application was made. Such active personal involvement shall have provided for the acquisition of practical experience, knowledge, and mechanical aptitude in the physical installation, operation, control, adjustment, repair, and maintenance of the specific trade or craft.
(D) Sewer, Water, or Combined Sewer/Water Contractor License. All applicants for either a sewer contractor license or a water contractor license shall demonstrate prior approval from the department of public utilities in a manner as prescribed by such department.
(E) Journeyperson License. The minimum experience required for an applicant for a journeyperson plumber license shall be as follows:
(1) Have a minimum of five full years of experience in the plumbing trade installing building services plumbing systems and apparatus including potable water systems; or, completed a United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship Training (USDOL, BAT) certified plumbing apprenticeship program.
(2) Satisfactorily complete and pass, with a grade of at least 70 percent, the written examination(s) as prescribed herein. The required examinations shall be administered by an approved testing agency as identified by the chief building official and approved by the appropriate board of review. In the event there ceases to be an approved testing agency to provide the examination(s) required by C.C. 4114, the director shall immediately notify, in writing, the board of review of plumbing and sewer contractors and of journeyperson plumbers of this fact. The director shall also issue a statement, in writing, of policy and procedure to be used until such time an approved testing agency has been identified by the director. After one year from the date that a passing score was achieved on any required examination for a department-issued license, the passing score for that examination or examinations shall become invalid unless an application for licensure has been made.
An applicant's failure to pass the required examination shall not operate to deny the applicant the right to take such examination at a future scheduled date, provided the applicant makes proper application for such later examination with the approved testing agency.
(F) Alternatively, in lieu of the above requirements of Section (A), (B), (C), or (E) above, an applicant for any license may be:
(1) An engineer, registered in Ohio, in the specific field of work for the type of license for which application is made; or
(2) A graduate engineer, with at least one full year's experience as a designer or installer in the specific field of work for the type of license for which application is made.
(G) Determination of a Full Year. A "full year" of experience, where required in sections (A) through (F) above, shall be based on 12 consecutive calendar months during which the applicant shall have been gainfully and verifiably employed for not less than 1,600 working hours at the specific craft, trade, or profession for which an application for a department-issued license has been made.
SECTION 2. That prior existing section 4114.505 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby repealed.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period provided by law.