§ 5.5-63. Examination and certification of contractors.

(a)

All persons desiring to engage in the business of contracting and to enter into contracts to perform work as a registered general, building, residential building, sheet metal, solar heater installation, mechanical, roofing, electrical, plumbing, residential pool or commercial pool, underground utility and excavation air condition "A" or air condition "B", or gypsum drywall specialty, specialty structure, and marine specialty are required to establish their competency pursuant to F.S. ch. 489, or, by maintaining a valid certificate of competency issued by the county building department prior to the effective date of this article, or by obtaining a county certificate of competency through reciprocity. Applicants must pass the competency examinations, one in the technical trade, and one in the business and law.

All persons desiring to engage in the business of and entering into contracts to perform work as an aluminum "A" and "B", concrete, masonry, carpentry, demolition, garage door, irrigation, or siding, windows and door contractor are required to establish their competency by meeting experience requirements as defined in F.S. ch. 489, and by successfully passing the required examinations for such trade administered by a testing agency approved by the county. A score of seventy-five (75) percent is the minimum passing grade. Applicants must pass the competency examinations, one in the technical trade, and one in business and law.

All persons other than a landscape architect or a professional engineer desiring to engage in the business of and entering into contracts to perform work as a landscape contractor are required to establish their competency by successfully passing the business and law examination administered by a testing agency approved by the county; effective six (6) months after the effective date of this ordinance. A score of seventy-five (75) percent is the minimum passing grade.

(b)

Any person who desires to take the examination shall apply in writing to the building department. The applicant shall be entitled to take the examination when the LRB, upon review of the application, determines that the applicant:

(1)

Is eighteen (18) years of age;

(2)

Is of good moral character; and

(3)

Meets all other eligibility requirements.

(c)

The LRB may refuse to certify an applicant for failure to satisfy the requirement of good moral character only if:

(1)

There is a substantial connection between the lack of good moral character of the applicant and the professional responsibilities of the applicable category of contractor applied for; and

(2)

The finding by the board of lack of good moral character is supported by clear and convincing evidence.

(3)

When an applicant is found to be unqualified for a certificate because of a lack of good moral character, the board shall furnish the applicant a statement containing the findings of the board, a complete record of the evidence upon which the determination was based, and a notice of the rights of the applicant to a rehearing and appeal.

(d)

A certificate of competency in the trade tested shall be issued upon passing the competency examination and proof of insurance as specified herein. Certificates must be renewed upon payment of a renewal fee established by resolution of the board of county commissioners. Failure to renew a certificate shall automatically place the certificate in an inactive status. Each certificate shall be renewed for a period of two (2) years.

(e)

The county building official is authorized to issue a letter of reciprocity advising other jurisdictions of the class(es) of competency that a contractor possesses.

(f)

The applicant must show proof of insurance showing liability coverage in the minimum amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) per occurrence for property damage, and one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) per occurrence for personal injury. The insurance certificate must show Marion County as the certificate holder and must contain the licensee's name, a DBA if applicable and the licensee's Marion County Competency Card number or the state certified contractor number. The applicant must show proof of workers' compensation insurance or present a valid exemption form.

(g)

Inactive status.

(1)

A contractor may request that his certificate be placed in an inactive status by making application to the building official and by paying any applicable fees.

(2)

A certificate which has been inactive for less than two (2) years may be renewed upon payment of the renewal fee, plus a late renewal fee per year of inactivity.

(3)

A certificate which is delinquent or has been inactive for more than two (2) years may be reactivated upon application to the building official and payment of the applicable fee. The contractor shall demonstrate compliance with continuing education requirements as a condition of reactivating a certificate. The continuing education requirements for reactivating a certificate shall be seven (7) classroom hours for each year the certificate was inactive and in no event shall they exceed seventy (70) classroom hours for all years in which the certificate was inactive. In lieu of the classroom hours a certificate may be reactivated upon submittal of documentation to the building official of employment in the particular trade.

(h)

Journeyman .

(1)

For the purposes of this ordinance the following definition of journeyman shall apply. In the event of any questions regarding particular types of work the common practice in the industry shall prevail.

a.

Journeyman electrician means any person who possesses the necessary qualifications, training, and technical knowledge to install electrical wiring, apparatus, or equipment for light, heat, or power, under the supervision of a licensed registered or certified electrician.

b.

Residential journeyman electrician means any person who possesses the necessary qualifications, training, and technical knowledge to install electrical wiring, apparatus, or equipment for light, heat, or power, in residential dwellings under three (3) stories in height with not more than four (4) dwelling units, under the supervision of a licensed registered or certified electrician.

(2)

Examination and certification. Certificates of competency for a journeyman electrician or residential journeyman electrician shall be issued to:

a.

Any person who desires to take the examination shall apply in writing to the building department. The applicant shall be entitled to take the examination when the LRB, upon review of the application, determines that the applicant:

1.

Is eighteen (18) years of age;

2.

Is of good moral character; and

3.

Meets all other eligibility requirements.

b.

Taken and passed an examination administered by a testing agency approved by the county. A score of seventy-five (75) percent is the minimum passing grade; and

c.

Submitted satisfactory evidence that they have had a minimum of four (4) years' experience in the field for which certification is being sought. Four (4) years' experience shall be gained through working as an apprentice or helper in the appropriate trade for four (4) years, or three (3) years of education in a recognized accredited college or vocational school plus one year of manual experience in the applicable trade. Applicants for residential journeyman electrician shall submit satisfactory evidence that they have had a minimum of two (2) years' experience or education, two (2) years' experience shall be experience gained through working as an apprentice or helper in that trade for two (2) years, or one year of education in a recognized accredited college or vocational school plus one year of manual experience in the trade.

d.

A certificate of competency in the trade tested shall be issued upon passing the competency examination. Certificates must be renewed upon payment of a renewal fee established by resolution of the board of county commissioners. Failure to renew a certificate shall automatically place the certificate in an inactive status. Each certificate shall be renewed for a period of two (2) years.

(Ord. No. 09-23, § 2, 8-4-2009; Ord. No. 18-25, § 1, 11-6-2018)