(A) The Electrical Examining and Appeals Board is hereby constituted consisting of the Building Official, the Electrical Inspector of the city, a representative of the electrical utility company, a licensed electrical contractor who is also a licensed master electrician, a licensed master electrician, a licensed journeyman electrician with ten years experience and an electrical engineer. The licensed journeyman shall not participate in the masters examinations.
(B) The members of said Board shall be appointed by the City Council for such terms as shall be designated at the time of appointment. This Board shall examine all applicants for electrical, fire, and sign contractor’s license, journeyman and master electrician license, fire alarm specialty technician license and sign specialist license and the registration of apprentice electricians and fire alarm specialty apprentice technicians.
(C) Applicants for journeyman and master electrician license, fire alarm specialty technician license and sign specialist license shall designate their residence as the location of their legal address. All applicants for contractor licenses shall designate their principal place of business as their legal address.
(D) All electrical contractors, fire alarm contractors, sign specialty contractors, master electricians, journeyman electricians, fire alarm specialty technicians, sign specialists, apprentice electricians and fire alarm specialty apprentice technicians having their legal address within the corporate limits of the city shall secure their license or registration from the city.
(E) (1) The Board shall prepare the application forms, prescribe the examination and meet as requested by the Electrical Inspector to hold examinations. In the months of June, July, August and December, there will be no scheduled meeting.
(2) Due notice shall be given applicants of the date of examination. All applications for examination shall be in writing. The examination shall consist of a written examination as the Board shall determine, and other practical tests at the discretion of the Board.
(F) The examination for journeyman and master electricians, fire alarm specialty technician license, and sign specialist license shall include, but not be limited to, questions designed to test an individual’s knowledge of this chapter, the State Construction Code Act of 1972, being M.C.L.A. §§ 125.1051 et seq., and any code adopted by the city, as well as the theory relative to those codes.
(G) The examination for electrical contractor’s license, fire alarm contractor’s license and sign specialty contractors license shall include, but not be limited to, questions designed to test an individual’s knowledge of this chapter and any rules promulgated under this chapter, the State Construction Code Act of 1972 and the administration and enforcement procedures of any code adopted by this municipality.
(H) All application forms and examinations shall be in English and all applicants shall be able to read and write in the English language.
(I) A person holding a valid electrical contractor’s license, master electrician’s license, electrical journeyman’s license or apprentice electrician’s registration shall not be required to hold any specialty licenses in order to perform specialty installations.
(J) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to engage in the business of electrical contractor, fire alarm contractor, sign specialty contractor and install, alter or repair electrical wiring, equipment, apparatus or fixtures for light, heat, power or fire alarm system in or about buildings and/or structures located within the corporate limits of the city without first having procured the appropriate contractor’s license.
(1) Contractor’s license; requirements.
(a) Electrical contractor. The Building Department shall issue an electrical contractor’s license to a person who does all of the following:
1. Holds a Master electrician’s license or has not less than one master electrician residing in this state who is in his or her full time employ. That master electrician shall be actively in charge of and responsible for code compliance of all installations of electrical wiring and equipment, and represents no other person, firm or corporation as the master electrician;
2. Files a completed application on a form provided by the Building Department;
3. Pays the examination fee and passes an examination provided for by the Board and the Building Department; and
4. Pays the license fee prescribed by this chapter.
(b) Fire alarm contractor. The Building Department shall issue a fire alarm contractor’s license to a person who does all of the following:
1. Holds a fire alarm specialty technician’s license or has not less than one fire alarm specialty technician residing in this state who is in his or her full time employ. The fire alarm specialty technician shall be actively in charge of and responsible for code compliance of all installations of fire alarm system wiring and equipment;
2. Files a completed application on a form provided by the Department;
3. Pays the examination fee and passes the examination provided by the Board and the Department; and
4. Pays the license fee prescribed by this chapter.
(2) Special circumstances.
(a) Beginning the effective date of the ordinance that added this division (J) and for a period of three years from that date, the department shall issue a license to a person qualified for fire alarm specialty licensure except for the requirement of certification by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technology or the equivalent as determined by the Board. Under these circumstances, the applicant shall furnish a notarized statement from current and past employers documenting past work experience.
(b) Work experience of not less than 4,000 hours obtained over a period of not less than two years shall qualify the person for fire alarm specialty licensure under this division (J)(2).
(3) Sign specialty contractor.
(a) The Building Department shall issue a sign specialty contractor’s license to a person who does all of the following:
1. Holds a sign specialist’s license or has not less than one sign specialist residing in this state who is in his or her full-time employ. The sign specialist shall be actively in charge of and responsible for code compliance of all installations, maintenance, connection and repair of electric signs and related wiring;
2. Files a completed application of a form provided by the Department;
3. Pays the examination fee and passes an examination provided for by the Board and the Department;
4. Pays the license fee prescribed by this chapter; and
5. Provides evidence of public liability insurance coverage.
(b) Beginning the effective date of the ordinance that added this division (J) and for a period of 360 days from that date, the Department shall issue a license to a person applying for licensure as a sign specialty contractor who has not less than two years experience, presented by affidavit, as a sign contractor and who is qualified under this chapter except for the examination requirement. Beginning the effective date of the ordinance that added this division (J) and until the expiration of 180 days after the Department and Board administer and make available the examination described in this chapter. A person not eligible for a license under this chapter may engage in the installation, alteration or repair of electric signs and related wiring.
(Ord. 122, passed 3-21-1995) Penalty, see § 155.99