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Harford County, MD
 
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[Adopted by Bill No. 78-3[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This legislation was included as Ch. 2, Art. IV, of the 1978 Code.
There is hereby created the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits pursuant to Sections 402 and 413 of the Charter. The Department shall be administered by a Director of Inspections, Licenses and Permits, who shall be appointed solely with regard to his qualifications for the duties of his office by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council in accordance with Section 223 of the Charter.
A. 
The Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits shall issue all county licenses heretofore issued by the Clerk of the Court, or any other office, department, board or commission of the county government. The Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits shall be responsible for the administration and enforcement of all laws and regulations relating to permits, licenses and inspections of all kinds within the authority of the county, including but not limited to those relating to weights and measures, electrical installations, building and construction, plumbing, taxicabs, dogs, amusement devices, miscellaneous industrial and commercial uses, gas installations and public parks, provided that permits and inspections for water, sewers and roads shall remain with the Department of Public Works. Licenses and permits to be issued by the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits shall be approved by such other offices or agencies of the county as may from time to time be provided or required by law. The Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits shall do and perform such other related duties and functions as may be assigned thereto by directive of the County Executive. The County Executive is authorized to enter into agreements with any of the municipal corporations located within the county to provide for the rendering of inspection services to the municipal corporations, to establish procedures for the issuance of appropriate permits in the municipalities and for the compensation to be paid by the municipality for such services.
B. 
The functions of the Electrical Board, Plumbing Board and other boards, commissions and agencies concerned with inspections, licenses and permits are henceforth to be functions of the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits and shall be administered as units of the Department, except for permits and inspections concerning water, sewers and roads, which shall remain within the Department of Public Works. The appointing authority for members of all such boards, commissions and agencies shall be the County Executive with confirmation by the County Council in accordance with the Charter.
C. 
All employees of such boards, commissions and agencies shall become employees of the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits, and the funds in the custody of the boards, commissions and agencies shall be paid into the treasury of the county.
D. 
Members of the boards, commissions or agencies shall continue their present functions and shall receive no compensation for their services except reasonable and necessary expenses as may be provided in the budget.
E. 
Administrative functions of any board, commission or agency existing or created for the regulation, examination or inspection of the qualifications or work of occupational groups or the issuing of licenses or permits shall be performed by employees of the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits. Rules and regulations of such boards, commissions and agencies not inconsistent with Executive Order 73-8 shall remain in force and effect unless and until changed by law.
A. 
Composition; qualifications; terms.
(1) 
The Board of Electrical Examiners of the county shall consist of the following 5 persons:
[Amended by Bill No. 06-04]
(a) 
Three master electricians, actually working as such, who are residents of the County and whose principal place of business is located in the County.
(b) 
An architect or an engineer who is a resident of the County and who is a professional duly registered and licensed in accordance with the requirements of the state.
(c) 
One citizen who is a resident of the County.
(2) 
The members of the board shall be appointed for terms conterminous with the term of the County Executive and County Council, and any member may succeed himself in office.
(3) 
At the expiration of a member's term or if a vacancy occurs during a term, the County Executive shall appoint a member with confirmation by the County Council in accordance with the Charter.
B. 
Duties. The duties of the Board shall be to examine applicants for master, limited, restricted and limited journeyperson as defined in the electrical laws of the County[1] and to recommend to the County the issuance of registrations to qualified applicants and to adopt reasonable rules and regulations for the conduct of their duties, to hold hearings on charges of misconduct of any of the registrants and to recommend revocation of the registrations if the charges are of sufficient gravity as to warrant revocation, after a proper hearing wherein the defendant may be represented by counsel of his own choice.
[Amended by Bill No. 21-018]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 105, Electricity.
C. 
Election of Chairperson; rules and regulations. The members of such Board shall respectively take and subscribe the oath required by other state officers. They shall have power to elect from among their own number a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson and to adopt such rules, regulations and bylaws for the transaction of the business of the Board as they may deem expedient and proper. Any rules, regulations and bylaws adopted by the Board shall be subject to approval of the Director of Inspections, Licenses and Permits and shall be adopted and changed in accordance with Section 807 of the Charter.
D. 
Compensation; annual report. The Board shall receive such compensation for reasonable and necessary expenses as may be provided for in the budget of the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits. The Board shall file annually with the Director of the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits a report of its activities for the preceding year.
E. 
Meetings. The Board shall meet at least once each month, unless determined by the Chair that there is no business to be brought forth, and shall hold special meetings as the proper and efficient discharge of its business shall require.
[Amended by Bill No. 19-033]
A. 
The Chief of Electrical Services shall:
(1) 
Be hired by the Office of Personnel upon the recommendation of the Director of Inspections, Licenses and Permits.
(2) 
Have a valid master electrician's license and a minimum of ten (10) years of experience in electrical contracting.
(3) 
Have a minimum of three (3) years' experience as an administrator.
B. 
The Chief of Electrical Services shall:
(1) 
Be the administrator of electrical inspections, chief inspectors and county electrical maintenance.
(2) 
Administer the rules and regulations of the Electrical Examining Board.
(3) 
Coordinate the activities between the Electrical Examining Board and county electrical inspections.
(4) 
Maintain all license records and examination records.
C. 
The Chief of Electrical Services shall:
(1) 
Direct electrical inspections in conformity with the National Electrical Code.
(2) 
Be aware of changes in the National Electrical Code.
(3) 
Keep complete and accurate records of inspection permits.
(4) 
Issue all inspection certificates.
A. 
All inspectors employed by the Division of Electrical Services shall be, in the following classes, based on experience and ability:
(1) 
Class I: two (2) years as a master electrician.
(2) 
Class II: four (4) years as a master electrician.
(3) 
Class III: six (6) years as a master electrician.
B. 
All inspectors shall have a master electrician's license or its equivalent and shall meet the County Personnel Law requirements.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 38, Personnel.
C. 
It shall be the duty of the Class I, II and III inspectors to inspect electrical work in the county in order that the work shall be found to conform to the National Electrical Code.
Any county employee maintaining the electrical service on county property shall have a journeyman's license and shall only make electrical repairs on county-owned property.
A. 
Composition; qualifications; terms.
(1) 
The Plumbing Board of the county shall consist of five (5) members.
(2) 
The Board shall be appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council in accordance with the Charter and shall consist of the County Health Officer or his authorized representative, three (3) master plumbers and such department heads who shall be responsible for the enforcement of the Plumbing Code.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 202, Plumbing.
(3) 
The members shall be residents of the county, whose principal place of business is located in the county.
(4) 
The members of the Board shall be appointed for terms coterminous with those of the County Executive and County Council, and any member may succeed himself in office.
(5) 
At the expiration of a member's term or if a vacancy occurs during a term, the County Executive shall appoint a member with confirmation by the County Council in accordance with the Charter.
B. 
Duties. The duties of the Board shall be to examine applicants for a county master and journeyman certificate as defined by the County Plumbing Code and to adopt reasonable rules and regulations for the conduct of their duties, to hold hearings on charges of misconduct of any of the certificate holders and to recommend revocation of the certificates if the charges are of sufficient gravity as to warrant revocation after a proper hearing, wherein the defendant may be represented by counsel of his own choice.
C. 
Election of Chairperson; rules and regulations. The members of such Board shall respectively take and subscribe the oath required by other state officers. They shall have power to elect from among their own number a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson and to adopt such rules, regulations and bylaws for the transaction of the business of the Board as they may deem expedient and proper. Any rules, regulations and bylaws adopted by the Board shall be subject to the approval of the Director of Inspections, Licenses and Permits and shall be adopted or changed in accordance with Section 807 of the Charter.
D. 
Compensation of members. Each member of such Board shall receive compensation for reasonable and necessary expenses as may be provided for in the budget of the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits. The Board shall file annually with the Director of Inspections, Licenses and Permits a report of its activities for the preceding year and the number of meetings held by the Board.
E. 
Meetings. The Board shall meet at least once each month, unless determined by the Chair that there is no business to be brought forth, and shall hold special meetings as the proper and efficient discharge of its business shall require.
[Amended by Bill No. 19-034]
A. 
The Chief of Plumbing Services shall:
(1) 
Be hired by the Office of Personnel upon the recommendation of the Director of Inspections, Licenses and Permits.
(2) 
Have a valid master plumbing certificate and a minimum of ten (10) years of experience in plumbing contracting.
(3) 
Have a minimum of three (3) years' experience as an administrator.
B. 
The Chief of Plumbing Services shall:
(1) 
Be the administrator of plumbing inspections and county plumbing maintenance.
(2) 
Administer the rules and regulations of the Plumbing Board.
(3) 
Coordinate the activities between the Plumbing Board and county plumbing inspections.
C. 
The Chief of Plumbing Services shall:
(1) 
Direct plumbing inspections in conformity with the County Plumbing Code.
(2) 
Keep complete and accurate records of inspection permits.
(3) 
Issue all inspection certificates.
A. 
All inspectors employed by the Division of Plumbing Services shall be, in the following classes, based on plumbing experience and ability:
(1) 
Class I: two (2) years as a master plumber.
(2) 
Class II: four (4) years as a master plumber.
(3) 
Class III: six (6) years as a master plumber.
B. 
All inspectors shall have a master plumber's certificate or its equivalent and shall meet the County Personnel Law requirements.
C. 
It shall be the duty of the Class I, II and III inspectors to inspect plumbing work in the county in order that the work shall be found to conform to the County Plumbing Code.
Any county employee maintaining the plumbing service on county property shall have a journeyman's certificate, and he shall only make plumbing repairs on county-owned property.
The functions and duties of the Chief of Building Inspections shall be transferred from the Department of Public Works to the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits. The Chief Inspector shall be hired by the Office of Personnel upon the recommendation of the Director of Inspections, Licenses and Permits, and all employees under the Chief Inspector shall be employees of the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits hired under the Personnel Law of the county.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 38, Personnel.
[Added by Bill No. 09-40]
A. 
Composition; qualifications; terms.
(1) 
The Mechanical Board of the County shall consist of 5 industry members and 1 ex-officio member from the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits to serve as a Board liaison.
(2) 
The Board members shall be appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council in accordance with the Charter.
(3) 
Industry Board members shall either be currently licensed as a master or master restricted contractor with the State of Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors or a mechanical engineer licensed with the State of Maryland Board of Professional Engineers.
(4) 
Industry Board members shall be residents of the County and, if applicable, shall have their principal place of business located within the County.
(5) 
The members of the Board shall be appointed for terms coterminous with those of the County Executive and County Council, and any member may succeed himself in office.
(6) 
At the expiration of a member's term or if a vacancy occurs during a term, the County Executive shall appoint a member with confirmation by the County Council in accordance with the Charter.
B. 
Duties. The duties of the Board shall be to examine applicants for a County master and journeyman registration as defined by the County Mechanical Code,[1] establish minimum requirements for an individual to be qualified to obtain a homeowner's permit and adopt reasonable rules and regulations for the conduct of their duties, to hold hearings on charges of misconduct of any of the registration holders and to recommend revocation of registration if the charges are of sufficient gravity as to warrant revocation after a proper hearing, wherein the defendant may be represented by counsel of his own choice.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 82, Building Construction, Art. III, 2006 International Mechanical Code.
C. 
Election of Chairperson; rules and regulations. The members of such Board shall respectively take and subscribe the oath required by other state officers. They shall have power to elect from among their own number a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson and to adopt such rules, regulations and bylaws for the transaction of the business of the Board as they may deem expedient and proper. Any rules, regulations and bylaws adopted by the Board shall be subject to the approval of the Director of Inspections, Licenses and Permits and shall be adopted or changed in accordance with Section 807 of the Charter.
D. 
Compensation of members. Each member of such Board shall receive compensation for reasonable and necessary expenses as may be provided for in the budget of the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits. The Board shall file annually with the Director of Inspections, Licenses and Permits a report of its activities for the preceding year and the number of meetings held by the Board.
E. 
Meetings. The Board shall meet at least once each quarter and shall hold such special meetings as the proper and efficient discharge of its business shall require.
[Added by Bill No. 09-40]
Any County employee maintaining mechanical services regulated by the Mechanical Code on County property shall have at a minimum a journeyman's certificate.