PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF PLUMBING REGULATIONS
SCOPE. The provisions of the Plumbing Code (hereinafter Code), shall apply to and govern plumbing as defined herein, including the practice, materials and fixtures used in the installation, maintenance, extension and alteration of all piping fixtures, appliances and appurtenances in connection with any of the following: sanitary drainage or storm water facilities, venting systems and the public or private water supply systems, within or adjacent to any building or other structure, or conveyance; also, the practice and materials used in the installation, maintenance, extension, or alteration of the storm water or sanitary sewerage system of any premises to its connection with any public disposal or other terminal.
PURPOSE. The purpose of this Code is to provide practical plumbing regulations for the safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from unsanitary and unhealthy plumbing conditions.
LICENSES. No individual shall provide plumbing services or assist in providing plumbing services in Carroll County unless licensed to do so as provided for in the Business Occupations and Professions Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, §§ 12-101 et seq. as amended, and § 3-108(b) of the Code of Public Local Laws of Carroll County.
LICENSES—HOMEOWNER. A homeowner license shall authorize an individual homeowner to submit a permit application to install plumbing (excluding water service and sewer main installations or alterations that extend more than 3 feet from the exterior wall of buildings) in his or her own home (excluding rental units), provided the individual homeowner applies for the required permit and signs an affidavit that acknowledges (1) the individual homeowner owns and resides in the property to be subject to the plumbing work by the individual homeowner; (2) that the property is not used for any commercial or public purpose; and (3) if the work is deemed to be substantially non-compliant the County reserves the right to require a licensed master plumbing contractor to complete the installation.
RULES, REGULATIONS AND INTERPRETATION. The County Commissioners shall from time to time make such rules and regulations, and such interpretations as are required to implement the enforcement and operation of this Code.
APPLICATION FOR SERVICE CONNECTIONS. Before any plumbing, drainage, or gas fitting is undertaken, the plumber shall make application at the Bureau of Utilities or jurisdiction of appropriate authority for this installation or extension of the service connections, and to the gas company for the necessary gas service connection.
CHARGE FOR SERVICE CONNECTION. The County may require for a charge for service connections.
COMMITTEE TO ASSIST CODE OFFICIAL. The County Commissioners may appoint a Plumbing Advisory Board to aid in making amendments to these regulations or interpretations thereof. The Board shall consist of four licensed plumbers, one utility contractor, one builder, one person representing the public, a plumbing inspector employed by the county, and an employee of the Carroll County Health Department. Any county or state employee shall be non-voting members.
EMERGENCY WORK. When work of an emergency nature must be performed to rectify a possible health or hazardous condition, the plumber may undertake such work prior to the issuance of a permit, but it will be the responsibility of the plumber to obtain a permit for the work within a reasonable time thereafter.
INDIVIDUAL SERVICES. These regulations apply to the introduction, maintenance, and/or extension of the public water supply or sewage service or any appurtenance thereof, in or upon any building, lot, premises, or establishment, provided, however, that it shall not be unlawful where a public water supply is not reasonably available, for any person or persons to install or cause to be installed or operate a water supply for sanitary or other purposes; but no such installations shall be connected to any public water supply unless it shall first be disconnected from its original source of supply and the connection from its original source of supply and the connection shall be made to any private water main or pipe that in turn is connected to any public owned water main or pipe.
INSPECTION. The County Commissioners, as of the effective date of these regulations, may designate the Carroll County Health Department as the Plumbing Inspector for individual sewage disposal systems as well as other phases or portions of these regulations. Such designation may change as the County Commissioners so determines in the best interests of Carroll County. The Building Official may waive the inspection of the plumbing system of any building if a qualified engineer certifies that all work was done in accordance with this Code. In such case, however, the engineer shall have personally supervised the plumbing installations.
Advance Notice. It shall be the responsibility of the plumber to give 24 hours advance notice to the Building Official when the work authorized by the permit is ready for inspection.
Plumber's Responsibility. It shall be the duty of the plumber to ensure that the work performed will pass inspection and any required tests before seeking the inspection.
Retesting. If the work performed fails inspection or a test, the plumber shall be required to make necessary corrections to the work and to resubmit the work for inspection and testing.
Testing. Tests shall be conducted in the presence of the Building Official or his or her duly appointed representative.
INSPECTION OF EXISTING SYSTEMS WHEN UNSANITARY CONDITIONS OR AN ILLEGAL DISCHARGE IS PRESENT. The plumbing system of any building in Carroll County may be inspected by the Building Official, or his or her designee, at any reasonable time and upon notification to the owner. If any defects are found therein, the Building Official shall have the authority to order the repair or reconstruction of such plumbing system in accordance with the provisions of this Code.
PERMIT FEES. The County Commissioners shall adopt a schedule of fees for the issuance of permits for plumbing work.
PERMIT REQUIRED FOR TAPPING SEWERS. A permit is required to tap into sewers or drains in public or private streets, alleys, or private ways, but such permit will not be issued except in emergency cases. When issued, the recipient assumes all risks, damage, injury, or loss resulting therefrom. All work outside of private property or reservations (streets, alleys, avenues, or other thoroughfares) when permitted, shall be installed under the supervision and to the satisfaction of the local jurisdiction.
PIPING THROUGH ADJACENT PROPERTY. Plumbing, piping, or sewer and water piping, shall not be connected up or laid through property other than the property to be served. Plumbing or water supply connections which cannot be made across some border of the property served directly into some adjacent lane, road, alley, street, or thoroughfare, or other land under public jurisdiction, may with the permission of the Code Official be carried through a right-of-way or easement across adjoining property provided that (1) all privileges of such right-of-way or easement are obtained by the property owner, desiring service, without any cost, liability, or damage to Carroll County; (2) that such easement or right-of-way shall meet all requirements and approval of the Code Official; and (3) such easement or right-of-way shall be granted and conveyed by formal deed recorded in the Land Records of Carroll County. This regulation, however, shall not prevent a dwelling and a stable or garage upon the same lot being supplied by the same service pipe.
PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS. The designer of the plans and specifications shall be a master plumber licensed in the State of Maryland, a registered professional engineer licensed to do business in the State of Maryland, or any other person as may be approved by the Building Official. The Building Official may provide for an affidavit of an engineer or architect, certifying that he or she has supervised formulation of the plans and specifications and that such, to the best of his or her knowledge, conformed to all of the provisions of the Code. In such case the Building Official may waive the examination of such plans and specifications.
PROTECTION OF WATER SUPPLY. The County Commissioners shall make such rules and regulations in furtherance of the purposes and not inconsistent with the specific provisions of this Code, for the connections of water supply to, of the discharges of water or waste from water operated or water using equipment, fixtures or devices, as may be deemed necessary to properly protect the public water supply system.
REGISTRATION AND USE OF LICENSE. Prior to doing business in Carroll County, every licensed plumber and utility contractor must register with the Building Official by his or her name, address of business, and name under which such business is conducted, and shall give immediate notice to Building Official of any change in either. A plumber and utility contractor shall not allow his or her name to be used by another person, firm, or corporation for the purpose of obtaining permits, or for doing plumbing business or plumbing work under his or her license. When an application is made to the Carroll County Health Department for septic systems or to the Bureau of Permits and Inspections for sewer and water connections, the applicant must be a licensed plumber or an approved utility contractor. A utility contractor may be approved (1) by satisfactorily passing an examination administered by the Building Official or his or her designee or (2) by showing proof of good standing under a valid license issued by another jurisdiction in Maryland or the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. A utility contractor shall sign an affidavit certifying that he or she has adequate liability insurance to cover any business conducted in Carroll County.
REMOVAL OF ORIGINAL PLUMBER. In any case where the plumber who originally signed the permit application and to whom the permit was issued is removed by the owner, the owner must notify the Bureau of Permits and Inspections in writing of the change. If work under the permit has been started, the first plumber will be notified by the Bureau of Permits and Inspections of the proposed change. No transfer of the permit will be made in less than 3 days provided that a transfer may be made in a shorter time pursuant to a written agreement between the first and second plumber. If work under the permit has not been started, the first plumber will be notified by the Bureau of Permits and Inspections of the change and the transfer shall be made immediately. The second plumber must file an application for the permit required and pay a fee as set by the County Commissioners. The new plumber will assume responsibility for the job including the work performed by the original plumber.
REVOCATION OF PERMITS. The Building Official may, at any time, revoke, for good cause, any permit previously issued. The owner of a property may, at any time, in writing, request the revocation of a permit previously issued to a plumber for work to be performed on the owner's property which may be revoked at the discretion of the Building Official. (See paragraph entitled "Removal of Original Plumber" for process.).
RIGHT OF ENTRY. The Building Official shall, after proper identification, have the right to enter any premises in Carroll County for the purpose of inspecting any plumbing system and at such times as may be reasonably necessary to protect the public health.
SEWER NOT ACCESSIBLE. When no public sewer or drain is accessible and the applicant proposes to tap a private sewer or drain, the written permission of the owner of the private sewer or drain shall accompany the application and shall be retained for the office files.
SPECIAL PERMIT FOR "INSIDE PLUMBING ONLY." A special permit for "Inside Plumbing Only" may be issued to any plumber upon proper application for installation of plumbing inside a building and to a point five feet outside the foundation wall for properties abutting upon a street in which a sanitary sewer is being constructed but not available, such as an extension under a PWA.
TRANSFER OF PERMITS. When the plumber wishes to be removed as the plumber of record, the plumber must notify the Building Official in writing, requesting that the plumber be released from responsibility for the part of the work that has not been completed. The plumber will be responsible for the work that has been completed. The Plumbing Inspector's record will indicate the extent of such completed work and such responsibility.
WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS. When the water supply system is intended to serve more than one building owned by or intended for sale to different individuals or groups of individuals, then the plans for such water supply system or systems shall be submitted to the County Commissioners for approval and the entire work must conform in its entirety with these regulations. Application for a permit shall be made in writing to the County Commissioners prior to the commencement of any work on such system or systems.
WHEN PERMIT IS REQUIRED. It shall be unlawful to construct, enlarge, alter or demolish a structure; or change the occupancy of a building or structure requiring greater strength, exit or sanitary provisions; or to change to another use; or to install or alter any equipment for which provision is made or the installation of which is regulated by this Code, without first obtaining the required permit, except that repairs which do not involve any violation of this Code, shall be exempted from this provision.
WORK DONE BY INSTALLER OF WATER CONDITIONERS, APPLIANCES, APPURTENANCES, AND TREATMENT DEVICES. Any firm, person, or corporation licensed by the Maryland Board of Well Drillers for the installation of water conditioners, appliances, appurtenances, and treatment devices or any other person, firm, or corporation that installs said equipment shall file an application for permit with the Bureau of Permits and Inspections prior to beginning installation and shall have the conditioners, appliances, appurtenances and treatment devices inspected as provided in 2800.11, provided that, whenever said work involves connecting to a sanitary sewer line, the provision of 2800.2 and 2800.3 shall apply. Fees shall be regulated by the County Commissioners. Penalties shall be the same as set forth in the Carroll County Constructions Codes.
(A) Specific changes to the International Residential Plumbing Code 2021 shall be as follows:
(1) Add new sentence at end of Section P2501.1: "All testing requirements in sections P2503.4 through sections P2503.6 shall be at the discretion of the Building Official".
(2) Amend Section P2503.7: Delete language after "than" and replace with "an 80 psi hydrostatic pressure test on a 100 psi gauge".
(3) Amend and add sentence at end of Section P2603.5: Change "12 inches deep" to "30 inches deep", and add sentence to the end: "Water lines may be installed within 2x6 exterior walls or larger and must be held to the heated side of the wall".
(4) Fill in blanks of Section P2603.5.1: "18 inches for first blank and 36 inches for second blank".
(5) Amend Section 2801.6 by deleting: "in a location where water leakage from the tank will cause damage".
(6) Amend Section P2804.6.1 by deleting Number 5 and 10.
(7) Amend Section P2804.6.1 by adding Number 15: "Must discharge into a minimum two (2) inch trapped floor drain finishing at floor level or a hub drain finishing two (2) inches above the finished floor. Drains shall be constructed of material set forth in Table P3002.1(2)".
(7a) Amend Sections P2901.1.1, P2901.1.2, P2901.1.3 and P2901.1.4 by adding Section (C) Water Disinfecting Devices below to the corresponding sections.
(8) Add new Section P2902.1.2: "Provide a faucet located between the main water line shut off valve and the water storage or pressure tank, to provide access where a water sample may be taken. The faucet shall be installed at a minimum height of eight (8) inches from finish floor and no higher than sixty (60) inches from finish floor".
(9) Amend and add sentence at end of Section P2903.3: "Delete the wording "insufficient to provide for the minimum pressures and quantities" and replace with "35 psi or less" and add new sentence: " A pressure gauge shall be added after the house valve and before the next device. The gauge shall be rated at a minimum of 20 psi above the working pressure if the water main".
(10) Amend Section P2903.7 by deleting "¾ inch diameter" and replacing with "1 inch diameter".
(11) Amend Section P2903.10 by deleting the "Exception".
(12) Amend Sections P2903.12, P2903.12.1 and P2903.12.2 by adding Section (D) Multiple Well Systems below to the corresponding sections.
(13) Amend Section P2904 by deleting the entire section and refer to "NPDA 13D".
(14) Add new Section P2905.3, Hot Water Temperature Maintenance: "Heated water distribution systems where developed length of heated water piping from the source of the heated water to furthest fixture exceeds eighty (80) feet shall be recirculated to within ten (10) pipe feet of any heated water outlet."
(15) Amend Section P3005.2.6 by adding sentence: "A cast iron clean out shall be required at the property line. Any clean out located in a vehicular travel surface shall be of cast iron and have a lamp hole cover installed".
(16) Amend Section P3005.4 by adding new line: "6. Piping installed below slabs shall be minimum of two (2) inch pipe and all fittings (with the exception of water closet fittings) shall be of the long sweep type."
(17) Amend Section P3007.4 by adding sentence: "Audible alarms shall be installed".
(18) Amend Section P3104.6 by deleting text in its entirety and replacing with: "All new construction shall have a two (2) inch minimum vent installed between the basement and the attic or tied into an existing properly sized vent and capped for future use. The cap must be water tight and identified as a future vent".
(19) Amend Section P3114.1 by adding sentence at end: "Air admittance valves shall be allowed only with prior approval of the Building Official".
(20) Amend Section P3303.1.3, Electrical: "Change wording from Chapters 34 through 43 to NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, 2023 Edition".
(21) Add new Section P3303.1.5: "Drainage from a foundation, a sump pit, a water conditioner, condensation or similar equipment shall be discharged to a storm drain, approved water course or at grade. When discharged at grade, the discharge shall be at least ten (10) feet from any adjoining property line and shall not create a nuisance on neighboring properties, streets, or public ways".
(22) Add new Section P3304: "With prior approval from the Building Official, private garages housing no more than four motor vehicles are not required to have an oil interceptor if drains are installed. Drains must discharge to grade."
(23) Amend section 3010.2 Applicability: by adding at the end "and shall have sufficient slope in accordance with P3005.3".
(B) Specific changes to the International Commercial Plumbing Code 2021 shall be as follows:
(1) Amend Section 305.4.1: Delete "six (6) inches" and replace with "to eighteen (18) inches", and delete "twelve (12) inches" and replace with "thirty (30) inches".
(2) Add new sentence at end of Section 312.1: "All testing requirements in sections 312.2 through sections 312.9 shall be at the discretion of the Building Official".
(3) Amend Section 312.5: Delete "fifty (50) psi" and replace with "eighty (80) psi on a one hundred (100) psi gauge".
(4) Add new sentence at end of Section 312.10.2: "Testing shall be the responsibility of the building owner or contractor".
(4.1) Add a new section 413.5 Floor Drains: "Floor drains shall be installed in commercial kitchens in accordance with COMAR 10.15.3.21.F, one floor drain shall be provided for each 400sf. of floor area or fraction thereof.”
(5) Add new sentence at end of Section 419.5: "Buildings with a use group classifications of Assembly, Business, Educational, and Mercantile, self-closing faucets are required".
(5.1) Add a new section 422.4 Service sinks: "Service sinks located in facilities with commercial kitchens or food prep areas, shall be floor mounted or curbed type.”
(6) Add new Section 423.4, Waterless Urinals: "Waterless urinal shall not be installed unless approved by the Building Official and the Carroll County Health Department".
(6.1) Amend section 504.6, Requirements for discharge piping by deleting number 5 and replacing with:
5. Discharge to a waste receptor or to the outdoors via a 2 inch drain.
(7) Amend Section 603.1: Delete "¾ inch" and replace with "one (1) inch".
(8) Amend Sections 608.18.9, 608.18.9.1, 608.18.9.2, 610.2, 610.2.1, 610.2.2. and 610.2.3 by adding Sections (C) Water Disinfecting Devices and (D) Multiple Well Systems below to the corresponding sections.
(9) Amend Section 708.1.10 by adding sentence: "A cast iron clean out shall be required at the property line. Any clean out located in a vehicular travel surface shall be of cast iron and have a lamp hole cover installed".
(10) Amend Section 712.3.4 by adding sentence: "Audible alarms shall be installed".
(11) Amend Section 903.1 by filling in blank space with "six (6) inches."
(12) Amend Section 918.1 by adding: "Exception: Requires Building Official's approval prior to installing and shall only be considered if it is technically infeasible to install a standard relief vent".
(13) Add new sentence at end of Section 1003.2: "All interceptors shall have an engineered certified drawing with a current engineer's stamp submitted to the Building Code Official. The design shall comply with Section 1003".
(14) Add new sentence at end of Section 1004.1: "All grease lines shall be painted black on the top half of the pipe".
(15) Add new sentence at end of Section 1112.1: "Drainage from a foundation shall discharge to a storm drain, approved water course or at grade. When discharged at grade, the end of the discharge pipe shall be at least ten (10) feet from any adjoining property line and shall not create a nuisance on neighboring properties or public roadways".
(C) Water disinfecting devices.
(1) The use of an ultraviolet or a chlorine injection disinfection system requires written approval from the authority having jurisdiction prior to installation.
(2) Requirements for ultraviolet disinfection units on water supplies.
(a) The unit shall be designed to permit the user to clean the water contact surface of the jacket.
(b) An automatic flow control valve, accurate within the expected pressure range, shall be installed to restrict flow to the maximum design flow of the treatment unit.
(c) Ultraviolet radiation at a level of 2,537 Angstrom units must be applied at a minimum dosage of 16,000 microwatt-seconds per square centimeter at all points throughout the water disinfection chamber.
(d) Maximum water depth in the chamber, measured from the tube surface to the chamber, shall not exceed three inches.
(e) An accurately calibrated ultraviolet intensity meter, properly filtered to restrict its sensitivity to the disinfection spectrum, shall be installed in the wall of the disinfection chamber at the point of greatest water depth from the tube or tubes. Countdown timers alone do not meet this requirement.
(f) A flow diversion valve or automatic shut-off valve shall be installed which will permit flow into the potable water system only when at least the minimum ultraviolet dosage is applied. When power is not being supplied to the unit, the valve should be in a closed (failsafe) position which prevents the flow of water to the potable water system. THERE CAN BE NO BYPASS OF THIS VALVE. This includes any bypass switch built into the valve.
(g) A valve to allow sampling of the water supply prior to treatment must be installed if it is not already present.
(3) Requirements for chlorine injection systems on water supplies.
(a) A retention (blending) tank must be included in the installation that will allow the water to have a minimum of 20 minutes contact time with the chlorine.
(b) A valve to allow sampling of the water supply prior to treatment must be installed if it is not already present.
(c) The residual chlorine level must be maintained between 0.5 and 1.0 ppm.
(D) Multiple well systems.
(1) Well lines from multiple well systems shall be brought into the building independently and may not be interconnected outside the building.
(a) The well lines shall be permanently labeled or tagged with the well tag number to readily identify from which well they emanate.
(b) A check valve or other approved backflow prevention device shall be installed in each well line prior to the place where the well lines interconnect to prevent combined water from the plumbing system to flow back into the well lines.
(2) Each well shall be able to be independently sampled.
(a) A sampling faucet shall be installed in each well line prior to the point where well lines are joined together to allow for independent sampling of each well.
(b) Sampling faucets shall be installed at least eight inches above the floor level.
(c) Electrical controls shall allow for each well pump to be operated independently.
(E) General gas regulations. The Building Official shall have the authority to require the Plumber, Gas fitter or Certificate holder to verify and provide certification that all or a portion of the existing gas system be tested and verified to be sound prior to being placed in service.
(1) Requirements for the installation of gas appliance and gas piping shall be in compliance with the International Fuel Gas Code, 2021 Edition.
(2) Amend the International Fuel Gas Code to read: "The test pressure to be used shall be no less than 20 PS1 using a 30 PSI gauge".
(2.1) Amend Section 310.2 to read "The use of non-arc-resistance CSST is prohibited".
(2.2) Amend section 310.3 to add a new sentence "The requirements of sections 310.2.1 through 310.2.5 shall apply to arc-resistance CSST."
(3) Amend Section 503.4.1 Marking by adding a sentence at the end to read: "All plastic PVC vent flues and make up air piping shall be color coded yellow. The marking shall start at the appliance and continue to a point in which it exits the structure".
(4) The International Fuel Gas Code as adopted shall not be construed so as to prevent licensed liquefied gas companies and their employees from making minor installation connections of gas appliances for domestic use. Liquefied propane gas installers shall have an issued propane gas certificate referred to in §§ 12-101(e), 12-101(i)(l)(iii), 12-101(i)(2)(v), 12-301(a)(3) of the Business Occupations and Professions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
(5) Propane installations shall comply with NFPA 58 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code, 2020 Edition and The International Fuel Gas Code 2021 Edition.
(2004 Code, § 97-7.2) (Ord. 02-01, passed 1-3-2002; Ord. 02-19, passed 11-21-2002; Ord. 04-25, passed 12-22-2004; Ord. 07-06, passed 4-19-2007; Ord. 2010-01, passed 2-25-2010; Ord. 2011-04-A, passed 7-21-2011; Ord. 2011-09, passed 11-10-2011; Ord. 2012-03, passed 5-10-2012; Ord. 2015-05, passed 6-25-2015; Ord. 2015-10, passed 12-8-2015; Ord. 2018-01, passed 3-1-2018; Ord. 2019-05, passed 10-31-2019; Ord. 2023-09, passed 8-24-2023)