(A) The term
HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING AND REFRIGERATION CONTRACTOR, as used in this section, means any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of installing or altering any heating, air conditioning or refrigeration equipment. Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, as used in this subchapter, shall not include room air conditioners of the portable window or through-the-wall type, nor a refrigeration unit used for family household purposes.
(B) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to engage in the business of heating, air conditioning, or refrigeration contractor, as herein defined, in the city, without being licensed as a contractor as provided herein, except for a one-job, temporary license for first-time work in the city as provided below.
(C) Any person, firm or corporation desiring to engage in the business of heating and air conditioning contractor shall, before engaging in any such business in the city, exhibit to the Director of Community Development or his or her designee, a valid license issued by a municipality which has minimum standards for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration construction substantially equivalent to those of the city or shall apply to the Director of Community Development or his or her designee for a license. Upon filing of such application in proper form and the payment of the license fee fixed herein, the Director of Community Development or his or her designee shall determine whether to grant or deny the license based on the applicants knowledge of the installation, maintenance and repair of air conditioning, heating and refrigeration equipment, and the contractor’s business reputation. If the decision is to grant the license, the Director of Community Development or his or her designee shall keep a suitable record of such license. If the decision is to deny the license, the Director of Community Development or his or her designee shall so advise the applicant, in writing, with the reasons for denial, and a copy of such report provided to the Construction Codes Commission.
(D) If a contractor has never previously been licensed to work in the city, said contractor shall be given a one-job only, temporary license. The city inspectors charged with inspection of this type of mechanical work shall inspect the initial job performed by the contractor under the temporary license with a heightened level of scrutiny, in order to determine the contractor’s knowledge of installation, maintenance and repair of air conditioning, heating and refrigeration equipment, as provided for in division (C) above. If the work is satisfactory, and in accordance with all applicable codes, and if the contractor’s business reputation is satisfactory as above, a license shall be granted. This requirement shall in no way imply that standards are lessened for those contractors operating in the city on existing licenses; all contractors shall conform to city codes and acceptable standards of good workmanship.
(E) The fee for the license as a heating, air conditioning and refrigeration contractor shall be as set out in the fee schedule, per annum, which sum shall be paid by the applicant to the city, in advance, upon filing the application for license. Each such license shall terminate on December 31 next following its issuance. Fees to be paid shall be reduced in proportion to the full calendar months which have expired to the issuance of the license.
(F) Any person, firm or corporation that shall engage in the business of heating, air conditioning or refrigeration contractor without obtaining license, as herein provided, or that shall violate any of the provisions of this section, shall be fined.
(G) The license of any contractor who fails to comply with the ordinances of the city may be revoked by the Director of Community Development upon the written recommendation of the Construction Codes Commission as provided in §§ 150.105 through 150.111. The license may be reinstated by action of the City Council.
(Prior Code, § 9-21) (Ord. 1025, passed 9-12-1977; Ord. 1029, passed 9-24-1977; Ord. 03-37, passed 7-7-2003) Penalty, see § 150.999