[Amended in its entirety 4-22-2008 by Bill No. 08-2]
As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
The County department designated by the County Commissioners
to administer and enforce this Subtitle.
To install, maintain, extend, alter or remove piping, a plumbing
fixture, a plumbing appliance, a plumbing appurtenance or other plumbing
apparatus: (1) within or adjacent to a building, structure or property;
and (2) in connection with a public or private disposal system, sanitary
drainage facility or storm drainage facility; or a venting system;
or a public or private water supply system. Except for the first connection
to a potable water supply that is downstream of a backflow preventer
and the final connection that discharges indirectly into a public
or private disposal system, sanitary drainage facility or storm drainage
facility, "provide plumbing services" does not include using piping,
equipment or material only for: (1) environmental control; or (2)
the incorporation of a liquid or gas into a product or into a process,
including product development, in the manufacture or storage of a
product; or (3) the installation, alteration, repair or removal of
an automatic sprinkler system, related apparatus or standpipe that
is used only for fire protection; or (4) an overhead or underground
fire line beginning from where water is used only for fire protection;
or (5) strictly agricultural uses not connected to any other system;
provided, however, that a backflow preventer to prevent backsiphonage
of contaminated water into the water supply shall be installed between
individual agricultural systems and between an agricultural system
and any water supply; or (6) minor repair and maintenance of existing
facilities or installations.
The regulations adopted by the Secretary of the State Plumbing
Board, as amended by the State Plumbing Board, to provide standards
that: (1) are based on principles of environmental sanitation and
safety; and (2) provide for properly designed, acceptably installed
and adequately maintained plumbing systems.
The State Plumbing Code is hereby adopted and shall be in force
in Worcester County. The provisions of this Subtitle relating to permits
and inspections shall not apply in any area of the County where the
provisions of the State Plumbing Code are enforced by a duly constituted
municipal government. Where the provisions of this Subtitle are in
conflict with the State Plumbing Code, then the provisions herein
shall govern.
(a)
Permit and inspection required. No person
shall provide any plumbing services except as hereinafter provided
without obtaining a permit and having such work or installation inspected
as herein provided.
(b)
Issuance of permit. A permit for any such
work shall be obtained from the Department before commencing such
work. A fee may be charged for such permit. In the case of a bona
fide emergency where imminent danger to life and property is present,
work may be commenced, provided that a permit must be obtained within
twelve hours of the next time the Department is open for business.
(c)
Inspection of work. All work shall be inspected
by a duly designated County inspector or inspection agency and a report
filed with the Department.
(d)
Private inspection agencies authorized. The
County Commissioners may designate and contract with private inspection
agencies to perform any inspections.
(e)
Repairs and maintenance without permit. Repairs
and maintenance of existing facilities or installations shall not
be subject to inspection or require a permit.
(f)
Fees. Fees for permits and inspections shall
be set by resolution of the County Commissioners, collected by the
Department and paid to the general fund of the County. Where the County
Commissioners have contracted with a private inspection agency to
perform plumbing inspections, the contract shall set forth the inspection
fees, and those fees may be collected directly by the inspection agency.
(g)
Use of plumbing. No plumbing shall be used
until it has passed a final inspection.
Inspectors shall be appointed by the County Commissioners and
be qualified pursuant to state law. No fee shall be paid to a plumbing
inspector for an inspection hereunder other than by the County Commissioners.
Plumbing inspectors shall have all rights of entry as are necessary
and proper to ensure compliance herewith.
Any person who violates the provisions of this Subtitle shall
be guilty of a civil infraction.
