Licensing
1. Contractor Definitions
2. Insurance Requirements
3. Contractor License Requirements
DEFINITIONS
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: A contractor whose services are unlimited as to the type or work which he or she may do, who may contract for any activity requiring license under this part, and who may perform any work requiring license under this part, except that a contract shall subcontract all electrical, mechanical, plumbing, roofing, sheet metal, swimming pool, and air-conditioning work, unless such contractor holds a state certificate or registration in the respective trade category.
BUILDING CONTRACTOR: A contractor whose services are limited to construction or structural repair of commercial buildings and residential buildings that do not exceed 3 stories in height.
RESIDENTIAL CONTRACTOR: A contractor whose services are limited to construction and repair or 1,2, or 3 family residences not exceeding 2 habitable stories above no more than 1 uninhabitable story.
ROOFING CONTRACTOR: A contractor whose services are unlimited in the roofing trade.
CLASS A AIR-CONDITIONING: A contractor whose services are unlimited in the installation and repair or air-conditioning, heating and ventilation systems, and ductwork for those systems, boilers, piping, condense piping, and pneumatic control piping.
This category includes the ability to replace or reconnect power wiring on the load side of a dedicated existing electrical disconnect and the installation of low voltage heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning control wiring. This category does not include potable water lines, sanitary sewer lines, swimming pool piping, or LPG and natural gas lines within buildings.
A class A air-conditioning contractor is required to submit engineered plans for installations with a value greater than $50,000; and requiring a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system greater than 15-ton capacity, or designed to accommodate more than 100 persons.
CLASS B AIR-CONDITIONING: A contractor whose services are limited to 25 tons of cooling and 500,000 Btu of heating in any one system, installation of ductwork & piping for heating and cooling systems installed under this license.
This category includes the ability to replace or reconnect power wiring on the load side of a dedicated existing electrical disconnect and the installation of low voltage heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning control wiring. This category does not include potable water lines, sanitary sewer lines, swimming pool piping, or LPG and natural gas lines within buildings.
A class B air-conditioning contractor is required to submit engineered plans for installations with a value greater than $50,000; and requiring a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system greater than 15-ton capacity, or designed to accommodate more than 100 persons.
CLASS C AIR-CONDITIONING: A contractor whose business is limited to the servicing of air-conditioning, heating, and duct systems. Class C licenses are limited to those persons who held such license on October 1, 1988.
MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR: A contractor whose services are unlimited in installing and repairing central air-conditioning, heating, and ventilation systems, including duct work for those systems, boiler and unfired pressure vessel systems, lift station equipment and piping, gasoline tanks and pump installations and piping for same, standpipes, air piping, vacuum line piping, oxygen lines, nitrous oxide piping, ink and chemical lines, fuel transmission lines, and natural gas lines within buildings.
This category includes the ability to replace or reconnect power wiring on the load side of a dedicated existing electrical disconnect and the installation of low voltage heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning control wiring. This category does not include LPG gas fuel lines within buildings, potable water lines or connections thereto, sanitary sewer lines, swimming pool piping, or electrical power wiring.
A mechanical contractor is required to submit engineered plans for installations with a value greater than $50,000; and requiring a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system greater than 15-ton capacity, or designed to accommodate more than 100 persons.
PLUMBING CONTRACTOR: A contractor whose services include the installation and repair of sanitary drainage or storm drainage facilities; venting systems; public or private water supply systems; septic tanks; drainage and supply wells; swimming pool piping; irrigation systems; or solar heating water systems, boilers, installation of water, natural gas (excluding LPG), and storm and sanitary sewer lines; and water and sewer plants and substations.
The scope of work also includes installation of air-piping, vacuum line piping, oxygen piping, nitrous oxide piping, medical gas systems; fire line standpipes and fire sprinklers to the extent allowed by law; fuel oil and gasoline piping and tank systems. A plumbing contractor is required to submit engineered plans for installations with a value greater than $50,000; and requires a plumbing system with 250 or more fixture units.
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR: A contractor whose services include installation and repair of electrical wiring, fixtures, appliances, raceways, conduit, or any part thereof, which generates, transmits, transforms, or utilizes electrical energy in any form, including electrical installations and systems within plants and substations. An electrical contractor is required to submit engineered plans for installations with a value greater than $50,000; and an aggregate service capacity greater than 600-amperes (residential) or greater than 800 amperes (commercial or industrial).
CERTIFIED CONTRACTOR: Means any contractor who possesses a certificate of competency issued by the state and who shall be allowed to contract in any jurisdiction in the state without being required to fulfill the competency requirements of that jurisdiction.
A contractor can become state certified by taking an exam given by the state or through the registered contractor “grandfather” method. If a state certified contractor’s home office is in the incorporated area of Taylor County, they must obtain an occupational license from the Tax Collectors office.
A state certified contractor whose home office is not in the incorporated area of Taylor County and does not have a branch office located in Taylor County, must show a copy of their state certification and proof of insurance to the Building Department to obtain a Building Permit.
REGISTERED CONTRACTOR: Means any contractor who obtains a license in their home County or Municipality by meeting the requirements for that area.
A contractor that obtains a license in this manner is required to register with the state, and must obtain a separate competency card in each County or Municipality that he or she contracts in.
SPECIALTY CONTRACTOR: Means a contractor whose scope of work and responsibility is limited to a particular phase of construction and whose scope is limited to a subset of the activities. Examples of a specialty contractor are masonry, drywall, vinyl siding, insulation, etc.
|
General & Building Contractors |
General Liability |
$300,000 |
|
Property Damage |
$50,000 |
|
|
Electrical Contractors |
General Liability |
$100,000 |
|
Property Damage |
$500,000 |
|
|
Specialty Contractors |
General Liability |
$25,000 |
|
Property Damage |
$10,000 |
|
|
All Other Contractors |
General Liability |
$100,000 |
|
Property Damage |
$25,000 |
CONTRACTOR LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
EXAM: An individual may qualify by taking the Block & Associates (Exterior) exam and passing with a score of 75% or higher, or presenting proof of having taken the Block & Associates exam and passing with a score of 75% or higher. An individual whose exam was not proctored by Block & Associates must submit a reciprocal agreement from the County that proctored the exam.
SPECIALTY CONTRACTOR: A specialty contractor is not required to take an exam for license, but must show proof of a minimum of 2 years experience in the field.
AGE: The Applicant must be a minimum of 18 years old.
GRANDFATHER: An individual may be grandfather by presenting proof that he or she has a license of the type issued in the home county prior to January 1, 1978, and must have kept it active and in good standing since that time. The home county must participate with Taylor County in a reciprocal agreement for all construction license categories.
CREDIT REFERENCE: Applicants must submit 3 letters of credit, and 3 personal references.
INSURANCE: Applicants must submit a certificate of insurance (originals only). Name of insured must reflect the exact name of the business organization qualified by the applicant, and the fictitious name or D/B/A, if any.
WORKERS COMP: Applicant must a certificate of worker’s compensation, or ACM 204 exemption. A 30-day temporary exemption form will be accepted for license, however, the license will not become valid until the contractor submits the permanent exemption form and proof of state registration.