(A) Plumbing license required. No person shall engage in or work at the business of a master plumber or journeyman plumber unless licensed to do so by the State Board of Health. A master plumber may also work as a journeyman plumber. Anyone not so licensed may do plumbing work which complies with the provisions of the minimum standard prescribed by the State Board of Health on premises or that part of premises owned and actually occupied by him or her as his or her residence. Minnesota State licensed plumbers shall obtain a permit from the city to engage in or work at the business of plumbing within the corporate limits of the city. Upon application on a form prescribed by the city, a license shall be issued without charge.
(B) Plumbing Inspector: qualifications and appointment.
(1) There is hereby created the office of Plumbing Inspector. The person chosen to fill the office of Plumbing Inspector shall be of good moral character, shall be possessed of such executive ability as is requisite for the performance of his or her duties and shall have a thorough knowledge of the standard materials and methods used in the installation of modern plumbing. He or she shall be well versed in the approved methods of plumbing construction for safety of persons and property, the statutes of the state related to plumbing work, and any orders, rules
and regulations issued by authority thereof. He or she shall have a valid state Masters Plumbing License.
(2) The salary to be paid to the Plumbing Inspector shall be determined by the Council.
(C) Duties of the Plumbing Inspector. It shall be the duty of the Plumbing Inspector to enforce the provisions of this section. He or she shall upon application grant permits for the installation or alteration of plumbing fixtures and equipment and plumbing systems and shall make inspections of plumbing installations all as provided in this section. He or she shall keep complete records of all permits issued, inspections and reinspections made and other official work performed in accordance with the provisions of this section. The Plumbing Inspector is empowered to employ, after receiving the approval of the Council, any assistant inspectors and clerical assistants necessary for the proper conduct of his or her office and the inspection of plumbing installation as provided for in this section. The salaries of such assistants shall be determined and fixed by the Council.
(D) Authority of Plumbing Inspector. The Plumbing Inspector shall have the right during reasonable hours to enter any building or premises in the discharge of his or her official duties or for the purpose of making any inspection or reinspections or test of plumbing installations, systems or equipment contained therein. When any plumbing equipment, fixture or installations are found by the Plumbing Inspector to be dangerous to persons or property because it is defective or defectively installed or does not meet appropriate minimum standards, the person responsible for the plumbing equipment, fixtures or installation shall be notified in writing and shall make any changes or repairs required in the judgment of the Plumbing Inspector to place such equipment, fixtures or installation of system in a safe condition, and if such work is not completed within 15 days or any longer period that may be specified by the Plumbing Inspector in such notice, the Plumbing Inspector shall have the authority to disconnect or order the discontinuance of plumbing service and sewage disposal service to the premises in question. In case of emergency where necessary to insure the safety of persons or property or where plumbing fixtures, equipment or plumbing system may interfere with municipal operations, the Plumbing inspector shall have the authority to disconnect or cause the disconnection immediately thereof.
(E) Permits. No plumbing systems, equipment or fixtures shall be installed contrary to this section within or on any building, structure or premises, publicly or privately owned, nor shall any alteration or addition thereto or to existing fixtures, equipment or systems be made without first securing a permit therefor from the Plumbing Inspector, except that no permit will be required to execute any of the classes of plumbing work specified in the following divisions:
(1) Public service corporations shall not be required to obtain permits or inspections for work upon or in connection with their own properties.
(2) Manufacturers shall not be required to obtain permits or inspection for work incorporated within equipment as a part of product manufacturing. Application for such permit, describing the work to be done, shall be made in writing to the Plumbing Inspector by the person installing the work. The application shall be accompanied by such plans, specifications and schedules as may be necessary to determine whether the installations as described will be in conformity with the requirements of this section. If it shall be found that the installation as described will conform with all legal requirements and if the applicant has complied with all provisions of this section, a permit for such installation shall be issued.
(F) Permits and inspections and fees therefor. The Council shall promulgate and make public such regulations and provisions for applications for and issuance of permits and making of inspections as the Council may from time to time deem expedient and proper. The Council may further from time to time provide for such fees, permits and inspections incident to or in connection with the intent and purpose of this section as the Council may deem expedient.
(G) Inspections and certificates. Upon the completion of any installation of plumbing or plumbing fixtures or equipment which has been made under a permit, it shall be the duty of the person making the installation to give notice of the completion thereof to the Plumbing Inspector within 24 hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and holidays or as soon thereafter as practicable, to permit the Plumbing Inspector to make inspection thereof. When a certificate of approval is issued authorizing the connection and use of a temporary installation, such certificate shall be issued to expire at a time to be stated therein and shall be revocable by the Plumbing Inspector for cause. When any plumbing equipment is to be hidden from view by the permanent placement of parts of a building or by filling with earth or other material, the person installing the equipment shall notify the Plumbing Inspector and such equipment shall not be concealed until it has been inspected and approved by the Plumbing Inspector or until 24 hours exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and holidays shall have elapsed from the time of such notification; provided, that on large installment, where the concealment of equipment proceeds continuously, the person installing the plumbing equipment shall give the Plumbing Inspector due notice and inspections shall be made periodically during the process of the work. At regular intervals the Plumbing Inspector may visit the premises where work may be done under annual permits and may inspect all plumbing equipment installed under such permit since the date of his or her last previous inspection and shall issue a certificate of approval for such work as is found to be in conformity with the provisions of this section, after the fee required has been paid. If under inspection the installation is not found to be fully in conformity with the provisions of this section, the Plumbing Inspector shall at once deliver personally or by mail to the person making the installation a written notice stating the defects which have been found to exist.
(H) Connection to installations. It is unlawful for any person to make connections with municipal water or sewage disposal systems with any plumbing installation, fixtures or system for the installation of which a permit is required. The public or private water or sewer utility providing service shall discontinue the same upon a written order from the Plumbing Inspector, if the Inspector considers any plumbing installation unsafe to life and property or installed contrary to the code.
(I) Board of Review. The Council shall act as a Board of Review under this section. Any person may register an appeal with the Council for a review of any decision of the Plumbing Inspector, provided that such appeal is made in writing within five days after such person shall have been notified by such decision by the Plumbing Inspector. Upon receipt of such appeal the Council shall proceed to determine whether the decision of the Plumbing Inspector complies with this section and within five days shall make a decision in accordance with its findings.
(J) Liability for damages. This section shall not be construed to affect the responsibility or liability for any party owning, operating, controlling or installing any plumbing equipment for damages to persons or property caused by any defect therein nor shall the city be held as assuming any such liability by reason of the inspection or reinspection authorized herein or the certificate of approval issued as herein provided or by reason of the approval or disapproval of any equipment authorized herein.
('69 Code, § 4.22) (Ord. 534, eff. 9-4-74)