(A) Title. Pursuant to the authority of Iowa Code § 380.10, the Uniform Plumbing Code, 2015 Edition, as amended by the state, except as hereinafter amended by this section, is hereby adopted by reference for the purpose of providing minimum provisions to safeguard life or limb, health, property and public welfare by regulating, licensing and controlling the design, installation, quality of materials, location and maintenance of all plumbing in buildings and premises within the city. The provisions of said Code, except as amended herein, shall be controlling in all matters contemplated therein within the city. The provisions of this section shall be known as the “Plumbing Code”.
(2011 Code, § 20.0301)
(B) Copies on file. An official copy of said Code, including amendments as adopted, is on file in the office of the Building Official.
(2011 Code, § 20.0302)
(C) Available for public inspection. A copy of said Code, as amended, shall be kept available at the Building Official’s office for public inspection.
(2011 Code, § 20.0303)
(D) Local amendments to the State Plumbing Code.
(1) Section 609.1. Insert the following language at the end of the section as follows: Water service piping shall have no less than five feet (5') of soil cover.
(2) Section 1208.5.3.4 Corrugated Stainless Steel. Insert the following language: Only CCST with an Arc Resistant Jacket or Covering System listed in accordance with ANSI LC-1 (Optional Section 5.16)/CSA 6.26-2016 shall be installed in accordance with the terms of its approval, the conditions of listing, the manufacturer's instructions and this code including electrical bonding requirements in Section 1211.2. CSST shall not be used for through wall penetrations from the point of delivery of the gas supply to the inside of the structure. CSST shall not be installed in locations where subject to physical damage unless protected in an approved manner.
(2011 Code, § 20.0304)
(E) Scope. The provisions of the Plumbing Code shall apply to the erection, installation, alteration, addition, repair, relocation, replacement, maintenance or use of any plumbing system, except as otherwise provided for in the Plumbing Code.
(2011 Code, § 20.0305)
(F) Existing installations. Any plumbing system lawfully installed prior to the effective date of the Plumbing Code may have its existing use, maintenance or repair continued if the use, maintenance or repair is in accordance with prior codes and the original design and location and no hazard to the public health, safety or welfare has been created by such system.
(2011 Code, § 20.0306)
(G) Maintenance. The owner or the owner’s designated agent shall be responsible for the maintenance of the plumbing system in a safe and sanitary condition.
(2011 Code, § 20.0307)
(H) Nuisance. Any portion of a plumbing system found by the administrative authority to be insanitary, as defined herein, is hereby declared to be a nuisance.
(2011 Code, § 20.0308)
(I) Authority to abate. Where a nuisance exists or a plumbing system is maintained in violation of the Plumbing Code or any notice issued pursuant to this section, the administrative authority shall require the nuisance or violation to be abated and, where necessary, shall seek such abatement in the manner provided by law.
(2011 Code, § 20.0309)
(J) Administrative authority. The administrative authority shall be the City Administrator or the City Administrator’s designee.
(2011 Code, § 20.0310)
(K) Duties and powers of the administrative authority. The administrative authority may appoint such assistants, deputies, inspectors or other employees as are authorized to carry out the functions imposed upon the administrative authority by this section.
(2011 Code, § 20.0311)
(L) Right of entry.
(1) Whenever necessary to make an inspection to enforce any of the provisions of the Plumbing Code, or whenever the administrative authority or an authorized representative has reasonable cause to believe there exists in any building or upon any premises any condition which makes such building or premise unsafe, as defined in the Plumbing Code, the administrative authority or an authorized representative may enter such building or premises at all reasonable times to inspect the same or to perform any duty imposed upon the administrative authority by the Plumbing Code; provided that, if such building or premises be occupied, the authority shall first present proper credentials and demand entry; and if such building or premises be unoccupied, the authority shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other persons having charge or control of the building or premises and demand entry. If such entry is refused, the administrative authority or an authorized representative shall have recourse to every remedy provided by law to secure entry.
(2) “Authorized representative” shall include the persons named in division (K) above.
(2011 Code, § 20.0312)
(M) Entry refused. No owner or occupant or any other person having charge, care or control of any building or premises shall fail or neglect, after proper demand is made as herein provided, to properly permit entry therein by the administrative authority or an authorized representative for the purpose of inspection and examination pursuant to the Plumbing Code. Any person violating this division (M) shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(2011 Code, § 20.0313)
(N) Violation and penalties. Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of the Plumbing Code shall be deemed guilty of a simple misdemeanor. Each separate day or portion thereof during which any violation of the Plumbing Code occurs or continues shall be deemed to constitute a separate offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable as provided in § 10.99(A) of this code of ordinances. The issuance or granting of a permit or approval of plans and specifications shall not be deemed or construed to be a permit for or an approval of any violation of any of the provisions of the Plumbing Code. No permit presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of the Plumbing Code shall be valid, except insofar as the work or use which it authorized is lawful.
(2011 Code, § 20.0314)
(O) Correction of error. The issuance or granting of a permit or approval of plans shall not prevent the administrative authority from thereafter requiring the correction of errors in said plans and specifications or from preventing construction operations being carried on thereunder when in violation of the Plumbing Code or of any other ordinance or from revoking any certificate of approval when issued in error.
(2011 Code, § 20.0315)
(P) Expiration of permits. Every permit issued by the administrative authority under the provisions of the Plumbing Code shall expire by limitation and become null and void if the work authorized by such permit is not commenced within 60 days from date of issuance of such permit, or if the work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned at any time after the work is commenced for a period of 120 days. Before such work can be recommenced, a new permit shall be first obtained to do so and the fee therefor shall be one-half the amount required for a new permit for such work; provided, no changes have been made or will be made in the original plans and specifications for such work and provided further that such suspension or abandonment has not exceeded one year.
(2011 Code, § 20.0316)
(Q) Permit required.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to install, remove, alter, repair or replace or cause to be installed, removed, altered, repaired or replaced any plumbing, gas or drainage piping work or any fixture or water heating or treating equipment in a building or premises without first obtaining a permit to do such work from the administrative authority.
(2) A separate permit shall be obtained for each building or structure.
(3) No person shall allow any other person to do or cause to be done any work under a permit secured by a permittee, except persons in permittee’s employ.
(2011 Code, § 20.0317)
(R) Work not requiring a permit. No permit shall be required in the case of any repair work as follows: direct fixture change-out, the stopping of leaks in drains, soil, waste or vent pipe; provided, however, that, should any trap, drain pipe, soil, waste or vent pipe be or become defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material in any part or parts, the same shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be procured and inspection made as hereinbefore provided. No permit shall be required for the cleaning of stoppage or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures when such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures.
(2011 Code, § 20.0318)
(S) Application for a permit. A State of Iowa Licensed Plumbing Contractor shall apply for a permit on forms provided for that purpose. The applicant shall give a description of the character of the work proposed to be done and the location, ownership, occupancy and use of the premises in connection therewith. The administrative authority may require plans, specifications or drawings and such other information as the applicant may deem necessary.
(2011 Code, § 20.0319)
(T) Permit issued. If the administrative authority determines that the plans, specifications, drawings, descriptions or information furnished by the applicant is in compliance with the Plumbing Code, the administrative authority shall issue the permit applied for upon payment of the required fee as hereinafter fixed.
(2011 Code, § 20.0320)
(U) Cost of permit.
(1) Every applicant for a permit to do work regulated by the Plumbing Code shall state in writing on the application form provided for that purpose the character of the work proposed to be done and the amount and kind in connection therewith, together with such information pertinent thereto as may be required.
(2) Such applicant shall pay for each permit, at the time of issuance, a fee in accordance with the schedule of such fees adopted by resolution of the Council.
(3) A State of Iowa Licensed Plumbing Contractor who shall commence any work for which a permit is required by the Plumbing Code without first having obtained a permit therefor shall, if subsequently permitted to obtain a permit, pay double the permit fee fixed by this section for such work; provided, however, that, this provision shall not apply to emergency work when it shall be proved to the satisfaction of the administrative authority that such work was urgently necessary and that it was not practical to obtain a permit therefor before commencement of the work. In all such cases, a permit must be obtained as soon as it is practical to do so and, if there be an unreasonable delay in obtaining such permit, a double fee as herein provided shall be charged.
(4) For the purpose of this section, a sanitary plumbing outlet on or to which a plumbing fixture or appliance may be set or attached shall be construed to be a fixture. Fees for re-connection and retest of plumbing systems in relocated buildings shall be based on the number of plumbing fixtures, gas systems, water heaters and the like involved.
(5) When interceptor traps or mobile home site traps are installed at the same time as a building sewer on any lot, no sewer permit shall be required for the connection of any such trap to an appropriate inlet fitting provided in the building sewer by the permittee constructing such sewer.
(6) When a permit has been obtained to connect an existing building or existing work to the public sewer or to connect to a new private disposal facility, backfilling of private sewage disposal facilities abandoned consequent to such connection is included in the permit.
(2011 Code, § 20.0321)
(V) All work to be inspected. All plumbing and drainage systems shall be inspected by the administrative authority to ensure compliance with all the requirements of the Plumbing Code.
(2011 Code, § 20.0322)
(W) Notification.
(1) It shall be the duty of the State of Iowa Licensed Plumbing Contractor doing the work authorized by the permit to notify the administrative authority, orally or in writing, that said work is ready for inspection. Such notification shall be given not less than 24 hours before the work is to be inspected.
(2) It shall be the duty of the State of Iowa Licensed Plumbing Contractor doing the work authorized by the permit to make sure that the work will stand the test prescribed elsewhere in the Plumbing Code before giving the above notification.
(2011 Code, § 20.0323)
(X) Stop orders. Whenever any work is being done contrary to the provisions of the Plumbing Code, the administrative authority or an authorized representative may order the work stopped by notice in writing served on any persons engaged in the doing or causing such work to be done, and any such person shall forthwith stop such work until authorized by the administrative authority to proceed with the work.
(2011 Code, § 20.0324)
(Y) Suspension or revocation. The administrative authority may, in writing, suspend or revoke a permit issued under provisions of the Plumbing Code whenever the permit is issued in error or on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or in violation of any ordinance or regulation of any provisions of the Plumbing Code.
(2011 Code, § 20.0325)
(Z) Liability. The administrative authority or any employee charged with the enforcement of the Plumbing Code, acting in good faith and without malice for the city in the discharge of authority’s duties, shall not thereby render themselves liable personally and the authority or employee hereby is relieved from all personal liability for any damage that may accrue to persons or property as a result of any act required or by reason of any act of omission in the discharge of authority’s duties. Any suit brought against the administrative authority or employees because of such act or omission performed by the authority or employee in the enforcement of any provisions of the Plumbing Code shall be defended by the City Attorney until final termination of the proceedings.
(2011 Code, § 20.0326)
(AA) Board of Appeals. The Building Trades Board shall act as Board of Appeals in making a correct determination of any appeal arising from actions of the administrative authority. Appeals shall be made in writing and the appellant may appear in person before the Board or be represented by an attorney and may introduce evidence to support appellant’s claims. Appeals shall be heard at reasonable times at the convenience of the Board, but not later than 30 days after receipt thereof. The appellant shall cause to be made at the appellant’s own expense any tests or research required by the Board to substantiate appellant’s claims.
(2011 Code, § 20.0327)
(BB) Plumbers.
(1) License required. It shall be the duty of any person, before engaging in the plumbing trades, to be licensed by the State of Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board as required by State of Iowa Code Ch. 105.
(2011 Code, § 20.0343) (Ord. 2336, passed 6-18-2018)