Article II. Registration and Licensing of Plumbers and Fitters.

It shall be unlawful for any person to install, repair or maintain any plumbing or gas fitting equipment unless such person shall have obtained a license as provided for in this article.

Applicants holding a current, valid license issued by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, or from the state board of commissioners of practical plumbing, may obtain a plumber's or gas fitter's license from the Department of Permitting Services upon delivery to the County of a corporate bond executed by a surety or guaranty company qualified to transact business in the state in the amount of $1,000; except that a journeyman need not furnish this bond. Bonds must run to the County, and must be conditioned on the licensee performing all work done by the licensee in the County in accordance with applicable plumbing and gas fitting regulations. The County has no responsibility nor may the County pass judgment in any financial or other controversy between the master plumber or gas fitter and the public under the bond or under any circumstances.

Applicants for a license under this Article must apply for registration with the Department of Permitting Services. Applicants applying for registration as a master plumber, master gas fitter or master plumber-gas fitter, must pay to the County a fee of $5 at the time of filing an application on a form provided by the Department. At the time of filing an application for a journeyman plumber's license or journeyman gas fitter's license, the applicant must pay to the County a fee of $3. The fees are not returnable under any circumstances. After qualification and payment of the required fee, including in the case of master plumbers or gas fitters the presentation of a current trader's license, and approval of the bond as specified in this Article, the Department must place the name of the master plumber or gas fitter, along with other pertinent data, on the Department's register and issue a card designating "master plumber" or "master plumber-gas fitter" or "master gas fitter" or "journeyman plumber" or "journeyman gas fitter" to the applicant.

The qualifications for registration as a plumber or journeyman shall be the same as set forth in sections 303.1, 303.2, 303.5, 304.1, 304.2, 304.4, and 306 of the plumbing regulations adopted by section 34-2 and the qualifications for registration as a gas fitter or journeyman shall be set forth in sections 202.31, 202.32, 202.42, and 202.6 of the gas fitting regulations adopted by section 34-2.

Registration cards will not be issued under this article to a firm or corporation, but only to an individual master plumber or master gas fitter who shall then be considered as the responsible representative of the firm or corporation. A master plumber or gas fitter may represent only one firm or corporation.

The registration card issued under this article shall be kept on the person of the licensee at all times while he is engaged in plumbing or gas fitting work.

The holder of a plumber's registration card as provided for in this article permits the performance of gas fitting in accordance with the gas fitting rules and regulations as well as plumbing work. However, gas fitters will be permitted to do gas fitting work only.

A registration card issued under this article may not be transferred under any circumstances. A registration card issued to any member of a firm or officer of a corporation shall become void upon the dissolution of the firm or corporation, and a new registration card shall be necessary for the party to continue in business.

No plumber or gas fitter shall allow his name or registration to be used by any other person for obtaining permits, doing work or for any purpose whatsoever.

Holders of licenses issued under this article shall display the same in a prominent place at their place of business and, upon demand, shall give the number of the license to any person who shall demand the same.

If any license issued under this article is lost, defaced or destroyed, the licensee may obtain a duplicate upon application to the director and payment of a fee of one dollar ($1.00).

Plumbing or gas fitting licenses or certificates from any other state, territory or the District of Columbia will not be honored.

Licenses issued under this article shall expire on May 31 of each year and may be renewed upon application to the director. Applicants for renewal of a master plumber's or master gas fitter's license shall pay to the county, at the time of filing such application, a fee of five dollars ($5.00), and for a journeyman's license, three dollars ($3.00).

If a master plumber or gas fitter goes out of business, takes other associates into the business with him or if an organization with which he is associated changes, he shall promptly notify the director, in writing, of that fact, and his registration card shall become void. Before entering into a new business organization, he will be required to re-register and take out a registration card in the same manner and at the same cost as at the time of the original registration.

Permits may be withheld, at any time, from any licensee who violates the regulations adopted by section 34-2, performs generally unsatisfactory work, refuses to remedy defective work or who refuses or neglects to compensate the county for damage caused to its property, or to discharge any other indebtedness to the county. In addition, the county may call upon his bonding company for such indemnity as may be necessary.

The director may revoke or suspend any license issued under this article if he finds that the licensee has given false information on his application for license or renewal of license or has violated any provision of this chapter or any provision of the plumbing and gas fitter's regulations adopted by section 34-2.

If any licensee shall have his state registration revoked or his registration revoked with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, his registration with Montgomery County shall immediately become void.

Before revoking or suspending any license, except when the same has been revoked by the state or the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, the director shall afford the licensee an opportunity for a hearing to show cause why his license should not be revoked or suspended. The director shall give such licensee at least ten (10) days' notice of such hearing by registered mail and such notice shall state the complaint and alleged violation.

Any person who believes himself aggrieved by any action of the director under this section may appeal to the county board of appeals by filing a notice of such appeal with the clerk of the board of appeals within not more than ten (10) days after receiving notice of the action of the director.

Any master plumber, gas fitter, journeyman plumber or journeyman gas fitter regularly employed for public work or by any institution, industrial establishment or public utility shall be exempt from this article, but he shall not carry on any outside business of plumbing or gas fitting unless he complies with this article. The plumbing or gas fitting business so carried on shall be in strict accordance with the plumbing and gas fitting regulations.