The requirements and procedures for general contractor licensing shall be as follows:
(a) Any individual desiring a general contractor license of any type as herein defined shall be eighteen (18) years of age or older, shall make written application therefor with the Chief Building Official. Every application shall be on forms prescribed by the Chief Building Official; shall furnish all information and data required thereby. No application shall be required of any person desiring to renew a general contractor license previously issued or renewed provided that the information and data contained in such person's application therefor is correct or, if not, is corrected by or at the direction of such person and that all other provisions of this action are complied with.
(b) No general contractor license shall be issued or continue in effect pursuant thereto unless the applicant shall give evidence that the following items are valid and remain in effect during the duration of the general contractor license.
(1) The payment of a three hundred dollar ($300.00) fee upon application for a general contractor license; and the payment of a two hundred dollars ($200.00) fee for each renewal thereof. Payment shall be made to the City Treasurer.
(2) Comprehensive general liability insurance, including completed operations, with a minimum limit of liability of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) each occurrence combined single limit for bodily injury and property damage liability. General contractors performing demolition work shall provide collapse hazard coverage ("c" exclusion deleted) and shall also provide explosion hazard coverage ("x" exclusion deleted) if explosive materials are to be used. General contractors performing excavation work shall provide both collapse and underground hazard coverage ("c" and "u" exclusions deleted).
(3) Proof of Workers' Compensation coverage, if coverage is required by the State of Ohio.
(4) City income tax number.
(5) The execution by such applicant for such license of a bond in the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) with sureties thereon to the approval of the City Manager. Such bond shall be conditioned to save the City and its inhabitants harmless from all loss or damage of whatsoever nature that may result from any violation by the general contractor licensee and/or his authorized agents of any law, ordinance or rule governing work contemplated by the terms of such license which are then in force or thereafter established by proper authority.
(c) The Chief Building Official shall issue a general contractor license to any person who has complied with the provisions of this section. However, it shall not be mandatory upon the Chief Building Official to issue any such general contractor license should it be established to his satisfaction that the applicant in question has been guilty of acts, things or practices for which a general contractor license could be revoked, as hereinafter set forth. Every general contractor license issued or renewed pursuant to this section shall expire on December 31 of the year for which the same has been issued or last renewed unless otherwise renewed prior thereto in accordance with the provisions of this section. No fee required under the provisions of this section after payment thereof to the City shall be refunded for any cause whatsoever.
(d) Every license issued pursuant to this Section shall expire on December 31 of the year in which the license was issued or renewed. General contractor licensees may apply to renew their general contractor licenses during the period November 15 through December 31 of the year in which the general contractor license was issued or previously renewed by making application for renewal and paying the renewal fee two hundred dollars ($200.00). Holders of the general contractor license may request an extension of the general contractor license expiration date by filing with the Chief Building Official a request for an extension citing the reason an extension should be granted and by paying an extension request fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00). For good cause shown, the Chief Building Official may grant an extension of the general contractor license expiration date (either prospective or retroactive) of up to thirty days. General contractor licenses which are permitted to expire may not be renewed and a holder of an expired general contractor license who wishes to become licensed must apply for a new general contractor license pursuant to the provisions of this Section and pay the application fee of three hundred dollars ($300.00).
(e) Notwithstanding the above provisions, no general contractor license shall be issued unless the Director of Community Development is able to find that the applicant is a person of good character. Upon receipt of an application, the Chief Building Official shall request that the Police Division perform a criminal records investigation to determine whether the applicant has a record of criminal convictions and the results of the investigation shall be provided to the Director of Community Development. The Chief Building Official may perform such other investigations as he may deem appropriate to obtain information bearing on the character of an applicant and shall provide such information obtained to the Director of Community Development. The applicant shall have the burden of proving to the Director of Community Development that the applicant is a person of good character.
(Ord. 05-262. Passed 10-18-05.)