Licensing
Electricians, Plumbers, or HVAC
mechanic must obtain a City license before they engage in any work
within the City of Ottawa.
Below are the licensing requirements
as listed in the City of Ottawa’s Municipal Code.
ARTICLE VIII. DEFINING
THE LICENSING, BONDING AND FEE PROCEDURES FOR ELECTRICIANS, PLUMBERS
& HVAC MECHANICS
Sec. 6-801 Definition of Contractors
A. Master Plumber: The term “master plumber” shall mean
a person who holds a license issued pursuant to this ordinance,
showing the person to be qualified and equipped to lay out, plan
and supervise the installation, repairing and maintenance of plumbing
and mechanical heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
B. Master Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning Mechanic: The
term “master heating, ventilation and air conditioning mechanic”
(HVAC) shall mean any person who holds a license issued pursuant
to this ordinance and having the necessary qualifications, training,
experience and technical knowledge to properly plan, lay out, and
supervise the installation and repair of mechanical heating, ventilation
and air conditioning systems.
C. Master Electrician: The term “master electrician”
shall mean a person who holds a license issued pursuant to this
ordinance, showing the person to be qualified and equipped to lay
out, plan and supervise the installation, repairing and maintenance
of electrical systems.
D. Journeyman Plumber: The term “journey man plumber”
shall mean a person who holds a license issued pursuant to this
ordinance showing the person qualified to do plumbing work but who
is not a master plumber or employing contractor as defined in (H)
below. A journey man plumber may also perform work as a journeyman
heating, ventilation and air conditioning mechanic. The holder of
a City master plumber, master heating, ventilation and air conditioning
mechanic occupational license shall be fully responsible for work
and acts of such journeyman employees.
E. Journeyman Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Mechanic:
The term “journeyman heating, ventilation and air conditioning
mechanic” (HVAC) shall mean a person who holds a license issued
pursuant to this ordinance showing qualifications, training, experience,
and technical knowledge to install and repair mechanical heating,
ventilation and air conditioning systems but who is not a master
heating, ventilation and air conditioning mechanic. The holder of
a City master plumber or master heating, ventilation and air conditioning
mechanic occupational license shall be fully responsible for the
works and acts of such journeyman employees.
F. Journeyman Electrician: The term “journeyman electrician”
shall mean a person who holds a license issued pursuant to this
ordinance showing the person qualified to do electrical work but
who is not a master electrician. The holder of a City master electrician
occupational license shall be fully responsible for works and acts
of such journeyman employees.
G. Apprentice: The term “apprentice” shall mean any
electrician, plumber or heating, ventilation and air conditioning
mechanic who cannot qualify as a journeyman; any electrician, plumber
or heating, ventilation and air conditioning mechanic who is laboring
as a helper at the trade of electrician, plumber or heating, ventilation
and air conditioning mechanic and under the direct supervision and
immediate presence of a master or journeyman. There shall not be
more than two (2) apprentices under the direct supervision of a
master or journeyman at any one time and the master shall be fully
responsible for the work and acts of said apprentices.
H. Employing contractor: The term “employing contractor”
shall mean any person, firm, copartnership, corporation, association,
or combination thereof, who engages in the business or trade of
plumbing, electrical or heating, ventilation and air conditioning
mechanic, and employs others licensed in plumbing, electrical or
heating, ventilation and air conditioning mechanics for the purpose
of his/her business.
Sec. 6-802 General Provisions
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, copartnership, corporation,
association, or combination thereof, to carry on or engage in the
business of plumbing, electrical or heating, ventilation and air
conditioning mechanic as regulated by the city code or act in the
capacity of plumber, electrician, heating, ventilation and air conditioning
mechanic contractor, without first having been issued a valid city
occupational license and the proper permits obtained by the master.
Any person, firm, copartnership, corporation, association, or combination
thereof, licensed to engage in business shall be or shall at all
times keep in its employ, a qualified master, who shall be in charge
of and responsible for all installations by said person, firm, copartnership,
corporation, association, or combination thereof. The name of the
master shall appear on the license with d.b.a. (doing business as)
and the name of the company following.
Any person, firm, copartnership, corporation, association, or combination
thereof, shall at all times have the master of his approved journeyman
obtain the permit application for any work to be done by said person,
firm, copartnership, corporation, association, or combination thereof.
Sec. 6-803 Application.
Every person desiring to make application for an occupational license
shall fill out an application information form furnished by the
administrative authority, which shall state the experience and qualifications
of the applicant.
Sec. 6-804 Qualifications Needed for Issuance of Occupational License.
Each person desiring to engage in the business of electrical, plumbing,
or heating, ventilation and air conditioning mechanic, who has not
been previously licensed by the city, shall fill out an application
information form as outlined above. Upon filing the application
for an occupational license the candidate shall show verification
of holding a certificate of competency issued under K.S.A. 12-1508
for plumbers, K.S.A. 12-1525 for electricians and K.S.A. 12-1541
for mechanical heating, ventilation and air conditioning mechanic
and amendments thereto or a copy of a previously issued occupational
license from the City of Ottawa and other requirements as specified
in this ordinance. A contractor who previously qualified as a gas
fitter by the City of Ottawa, shall be deemed qualified as a master
heating, ventilation and air conditioning mechanic.
Sec. 6-805 Qualifications Needed for Issuance of Alternate Occupational
License.
If a person in the trade of electrician, plumber, or heating, ventilation
and air conditioning mechanic shows proof of having passed a state
examination for the equivalent of a master in the said trade and
who holds a current license equivalent to a master from another
state or any person shows proof a license from another city in Kansas,
of the first or second class, and currently holds a license equivalent
to a master, the City shall issue an alternate license for obtaining
a job permit when plans for said job have been drawn by a licensed
professional engineer or architect. All person’s shall meet
all the other requirements for licensing in this ordinance before
said license shall be issued, and said alternate license procedure
maybe utilized only once.
If a person in the trade of electrician, plumber, or heating, ventilation
and air conditioning mechanic shows proof of having passed a state
examination for the equivalent of a journeyman in the said trade
and who holds a current license equivalent to a journeyman from
another state or shows proof of a license from another city in Kansas,
of the first or second class, and currently holds a license equivalent
to a journeyman and a master of said trade has already licensed
with the City, the City shall issue an alternate license for obtaining
a job permit when plans for said job have been drawn by a licensed
professional engineer or architect. Said alternate license procedure
may be utilized only once.
Sec. 6-806 Bonding/Insurance.
No occupational or alternate occupational license shall be issued
until a good and sufficient bond be given to the City of Ottawa
by the person, firm, copartnership, corporation, association, or
combination thereof desiring the occupational license in the sum
of five thousand dollars ($5,000), conditioned that he/she or they
will comply with the regulations of the City of Ottawa. Also required
is a one hundred thousand dollar ($100,000) liability insurance
policy and a fifty thousand dollar ($50,000) property damage insurance
policy. It will be the responsibility of the person, firm or corporation
to make sure the City receives a current copy of said insurance
and bond. If said insurance or bond expires, said license will be
null and void until said copies are received. Said bond and insurance
shall stay in force at the time of the completion of any work and
shall continue in force so far as such work is concerned for a period
of one (1) year from the completion of such work. Further the City,
or any other person who may deem him/herself injured by the principal’s
failure to comply with such regulations, may sue on such bond or
insurance policy to recover his/her damage.
Sec. 6-807 License, Fees, and Expiration.
No person, firm, copartnership, corporation, association, or combination
thereof shall engage in business without first having procured a
license therefore from the City of Ottawa’s Inspection Division
upon written application therefore.
A. Each license shall be renewed annually and such license shall
expire on December 31st, regardless when the license was secured.
The renewal of each license shall be made no later than January
31st, following its expiration. The license fee shall be deemed
delinquent after January 31st, of the new license year and there
will be a penalty of twenty (20) percent added to the renewal fee
when it becomes delinquent. After April 1st, a new application will
be required to secure a license at the full rate.
B. The license issued to each certificate holder and the annual
license renewal shall be made upon payment of a fee to the Inspection
Division. Fees are as follows:
Master electrician, initial fee $50.00
Master electrician, renewal fee $25.00
Journeyman electrician, initial fee $25.00
Journeyman electrician, renewal fee $15.00
Master plumber, initial fee $50.00
Master plumber, renewal fee $25.00
Journeyman plumber, initial fee $25.00
Journeyman plumber, renewal fee $15.00
Master HVAC mechanic, initial fee $50.00
Master HVAC mechanic, renewal fee $25.00
Journeyman HVAC mechanic, initial fee $25.00
Journeyman HVAC mechanic, renewal fee $15.00
Sec. 6-808 Revocation of Occupational License.
The appropriate Board of Appeals may cancel or revoke any occupational
license issued by the City to any person, firm, copartnership, corporation,
association, or combination thereof, if such person, firm, copartnership,
corporation, association, or combination thereof, show incompetency,
continued violation of city codes or material lack of knowledge
in matters relevant to such license. In the event such occupational
license has been so canceled or revoked, another such license shall
not be granted within twelve (12) months after the date of cancellation
or revocation.
Occupational licenses are not transferable from one person, firm,
copartnership, corporation, association, or combination thereof,
to another and the lending of any certificate or the obtaining of
permits there under for any other person shall be deemed cause for
revocation.
Sec. 6-809 Penalty.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this
code shall be deemed guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor and upon
conviction thereof shall be punishable by a fine of not less than
$50..00 nor more than $500.00, or by imprisonment not to exceed
thirty (30) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each separate
day or part thereof shall constitute a separate offense.
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