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.