(a) Single-Family Owner-Occupants. No provision of this chapter, or any regulation adopted by authority of this chapter, shall be interpreted to require that the owner of a single - or one-family dwelling shall be licensed or registered personally to perform work upon the premises occupied, or to be occupied, by the owner thereof as such owner's established residence. No such person may build more than one new dwelling within a twenty-four month period without obtaining property registration. Any such owner-occupant shall be required to obtain necessary permits and perform work in accordance with this Part Thirteen - Building Code. Such work shall be inspected. An oral test to ascertain the abilities of the owner-occupant to perform work for which a permit is required may be given by the Building Inspector. If, in the opinion of the Inspector, during the oral test or during an inspection, it is discovered that the ability of the owner-occupant is questionable, it may be required that a registered contractor perform the work.
(b) Two- or Three-Family Owner-Occupants.
(1) No provision of this chapter, or any regulation adopted by authority of this chapter, shall be interpreted to require that the owner of any one-, two- or three-family dwelling shall be licensed or registered to perform repairs, maintenance or alterations to such dwelling if such repairs, maintenance or alterations do not affect the safety of any of the occupants of such dwellings. Porch repair, roof covering replacement, window replacement, siding installation, gutter installation and other non-structural items may be done by the owner. However, any electrical, HVAC, plumbing and structural repairs, maintenance or alterations shall require registered contractors.
(2) Further, no provision of this chapter or any regulation adopted by authority of this chapter shall be interpreted to require that the owner of any one-, two-, or three- family dwelling shall be licensed or registered to construct or alter any building accessory to such one-, two-, or three-family dwelling. Said owner shall be permitted to perform electrical and mechanical installations and repairs to such accessory building.
(3) Construction plans and permits shall continue to be required.
(c) Government Agencies; Public Utilities. Provisions of registration shall not apply to Federal, State, County or Municipal governmental agencies or public utilities furnishing services to the City under Municipal-utilities franchise agreements, nor to industrial, commercial or institutional organizations wherein a maintenance department doing work within the provisions of this Building Code is provided, except that should work covered by the Building Code be contracted to outside concerns, then such contractors shall be registered in the City as provided in this chapter.
(Ord. 91-105. Passed 6-3-91; Ord. 2002-13. Passed 1-22-02.)