Business Occupations and Professions (GBO) — Title 12. Plumbers

under the direction and control of the master natural gas fitter; and

in training to become a journeyman natural gas fitter.

under the direction and control of the master plumber or holder of the limited master plumber license; and

in training to become a journey plumber.

containing not more than 0.2% lead for solder and flux;

except as provided in item (3) of this subsection, containing not more than:

containing a percentage of lead for plumbing fittings and fixtures that is in compliance with standards established under 42 U.S.C.A. § 300g–6(e) of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act; and

containing not more than a weighted average lead content of 0.25% for the wetted surfaces of a pipe, pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, or fixture intended to dispense water for human consumption through drinking or cooking.

“License” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by the Board to:

“License” includes, unless the context requires otherwise, each of the following licenses:

“Limited license” means a license issued by the Board as limited by § 12–310 of this title to:

“Limited license” includes:

“Master plumber” means, unless the context requires otherwise, an individual who is licensed by the Board to provide plumbing services and natural gas services.

“Master plumber” includes a master plumber gas fitter.

“Provide natural gas services” means the installation, maintenance, extension, alteration, and removal of piping, gas–fired equipment, appliances, or appurtenances in connection with a natural gas supply system downstream of the gas utility point of delivery.

“Provide natural gas services” does not include the installation, maintenance, extension, alteration, or removal of any of the following with respect to the plumbing water supply and drainage system:

“Provide plumbing services” means to install, maintain, extend, alter, or remove piping, a plumbing fixture, a plumbing appliance, a plumbing appurtenance, or other plumbing apparatus:

“Provide plumbing services” includes installing, repairing, servicing, and replacing gas piping, gas utilization equipment, and associated accessories.

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, “providing plumbing services” does not include using piping, equipment, or material only for:

are based on principles of environmental sanitation and safety; and

provide for properly designed, acceptably installed, and adequately maintained plumbing systems.

identifying each component of a pipe, pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, or fixture that water flows through and comes into contact with during normal operation;

identifying the percentage of lead content of each component of the pipe, pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, or fixture;

determining the wetted surface area of each component of the pipe, pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, or fixture;

determining the percent of total wetted surface area of the pipe, pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, or fixture, represented in each component;

calculating the contributing percent lead for each component that comes into contact with water by multiplying the percentage of lead content of the component by the percent of total wetted surface area represented by the component; and

calculating the sum of each contributing percent lead value determined for each component under item (5) of this subsection.

The Board consists of 9 members.

Of the 9 members of the Board:

Of the 7 plumber members of the Board:

Subject to paragraph (6) of this subsection, of the 7 plumber members of the Board:

A consumer member may not reside in the same county as a plumber member.

A member may not reside in a county or area of a county that is exempted from this title.

The Governor shall appoint the members with the advice of the Secretary and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

shall be a member of the general public;

may not be a licensee or otherwise be subject to regulation by the Board;

may not be required to meet the qualifications for the professional members of the Board; and

may not, within 1 year before appointment, have had a financial interest in or have received compensation from a person regulated by the Board.

have a financial interest in or receive compensation from a person regulated by the Board; or

grade an examination given by or for the Board.

The term of a member is 3 years and begins on May 1.

The terms of members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Board on October 1, 1989.

At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

The Governor may remove a member for incompetence or misconduct.

Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection and subject to paragraph (4) of this subsection, a member shall be considered to have resigned if the member did not attend at least two–thirds of the Board meetings held during any consecutive 12–month period while the member was serving on the Board.

The Governor may waive a member’s resignation and allow the member to continue serving if the member has been unable to attend meetings for reasons satisfactory to the Governor and the reasons are made public.

In accordance with § 8–501 of the State Government Article, the chairman shall provide notice to the Governor and the Governor shall appoint a successor.

an annual salary of $3,600; and

reimbursement for reasonable expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations.

The Board may adopt, as part of the State Plumbing Code, regulations to carry out the purposes of and to enforce §§ 12–605 and 12–606 of this title.

The Board may adopt standards of the American National Standards Institute or any other nationally recognized organization.

The Board shall adopt, as part of the State Plumbing Code, regulations to carry out the purposes of and to enforce §§ 12–605.1 and 12–605.2 of this title.

At least once a year, the Board shall review:

If the Board finds that a water conserving appliance, device, fitting, or fixture that conforms to the standards of the American National Standards Institute or any other organization listed in the State Plumbing Code or the Model Performance Building Code is readily available at reasonable cost, the Board shall amend the State Plumbing Code to:

Notwithstanding the availability and cost of the appliance, device, fitting, or fixture, the Board may allow, under the State Plumbing Code, the installation of a water conserving appliance, device, fitting, or fixture that meets the standards of the American National Standards Institute or any other organization listed in the State Plumbing Code or the Model Performance Building Code, subject to the use of a water supply system and a venting and drainage system design based on the hydraulic requirements of the appliance, device, fitting, or fixture.

periodically publish an updated version of the State Plumbing Code; and

make available on request of any person a copy of the State Plumbing Code for a reasonable fee.

enforce the State Plumbing Code; or

adopt and enforce a local plumbing code that meets or exceeds the minimum standards of the State Plumbing Code for the proper design, acceptable installation, and adequate maintenance of plumbing systems.

In this subsection:

A county may not adopt or enforce a provision of a local plumbing code that prohibits a system that recycles greywater, as authorized under the State Plumbing Code.

the State Plumbing Code; or

if the county has adopted a local plumbing code, that code.

a ground for disciplinary action under § 12-312 of this title; or

a violation of this title.

On receipt of the results of an investigation made under this section, the Board promptly shall take the action that is appropriate under this title to ensure compliance with this title.

If a complaint is made to the Board from a county, municipal corporation, or unit of the State government, the Board reasonably and promptly shall give the county, municipal corporation, or unit notice of the action taken.

If the Board concludes that conduct alleged to be a violation of this title may result in irreparable harm to any person, the Board may sue to enforce any provision of this title by ex parte, interlocutory, or final injunction.

In seeking an injunction under this subsection, the Board need not:

The Board shall bring suit under this subsection in the circuit court for the county where:

The Board may set by regulation reasonable fees for its services.

The fees charged shall be:

The Board shall pay all fees collected under this title to the Comptroller.

The Comptroller shall distribute the fees to the Occupational Mechanical Licensing Boards’ Fund established in § 2–106.9 of the Business Regulation Article.

Except as otherwise provided in this title or §§ 10–14A–03 and 10–14B–03 of the State Government Article, an individual shall be licensed by the Board to provide plumbing services before the individual may provide plumbing services in the State.

Except as otherwise provided in this title or §§ 10–14A–03 and 10–14B–03 of the State Government Article, an individual shall be licensed by the Board to provide or to assist in providing plumbing services before the individual may assist in providing plumbing services in the State.

Except as otherwise provided in this title or §§ 10–14A–03 and 10–14B–03 of the State Government Article, an individual shall be licensed by the Board to provide plumbing services or certified by the Board to provide propane gas services before the individual may provide propane gas services in the State.

Except as otherwise provided in this title or §§ 10–14A–03 and 10–14B–03 of the State Government Article, an individual shall be licensed by the Board to provide natural gas services before the individual may provide natural gas services in the State.

Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, this section does not apply to an individual who personally provides plumbing services in the residence of the individual.

An individual may not provide plumbing services that make a final connection between the residence of the individual and a public or private disposal system or water supply system.

a master plumber license or a limited master plumber license issued by the Board;

a master plumber license issued by the Baltimore County Plumbing Board;

a master plumber license issued by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission; or

a master plumber license issued by another state, if the individual became licensed in that state after passing an examination that is equivalent to the examination for a master plumber license given in this State.

An applicant for a journey plumber license:

The Board may allow the applicant to apply up to 1,500 hours of accredited, approved school study toward the experience requirement of paragraph (1)(i)2 of this subsection.

shall have completed at least 3,750 hours of training in providing plumbing services as a journey plumber licensed in this State or another state and under the direction and control of a licensed master plumber;

shall have completed at least 32 hours of training in the testing of backflow prevention devices, in a manner approved by the Board.

hold a current certification of completion of the National Propane Gas Association Certified Training Program for Distribution Systems Operations;

hold a gas fitters license from a county or municipal corporation authorizing the individual to provide propane gas services under a licensing program that is in existence prior to July 1, 1995 and that is acceptable to the Board; or

otherwise demonstrate qualifications that are satisfactory to the Board and that are at least equivalent to the qualifications required by the National Propane Gas Association Certified Training Program for Distribution Systems Operations.

An applicant for a journeyman natural gas fitters license:

Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, an applicant for a journeyman natural gas fitters license shall pass an examination given by the Board under this subtitle.

hold a gas fitters license from a county or municipal corporation authorizing the individual to provide natural gas services under a licensing program that is in existence prior to July 1, 1999, is acceptable to the Board, and at a minimum requires:

apply to the Board for a master natural gas fitters license before October 1, 2002 and provide proof that:

pass a written examination given by the Board and meet any other requirements specified by the Board, and at a minimum requires:

a master plumber license, a journey plumber license, or a master natural gas fitters license, in an amount not to exceed the cost of the required examination;

an apprentice plumber license or apprentice natural gas fitters license;

a propane gas fitter certificate;

a journeyman natural gas fitters license; or

a master natural gas fitters license without examination.

Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Board shall give examinations to qualified applicants at the times and places that the Board determines.

The Board shall give an examination at least once a year in Baltimore City.

The Board shall determine the subjects, scope, and form of and the passing score for examinations given under this subtitle.

The Board shall provide examination questions that test the competency and qualifications of the applicant.

When testing an applicant for a master plumber license or a master natural gas fitters license, the examination given by the Board shall include at a minimum the following areas:

If an applicant fails an examination given by the Board, the Board shall give the applicant notice of the right of the applicant to have the papers of the applicant regraded.

On written request to the Board, an applicant who failed an examination may:

set the time and place of examinations;

give qualified applicants notice of the time and place of examinations; and

furnish any other information that the Board may require the testing service to provide.

pays the appropriate license fee required under § 12-306 of this subtitle;

holds a license that is similar to the license for which the applicant is seeking a waiver;

if contracting to provide plumbing services in the name of the applicant or another person, submits proof of the liability insurance as required under § 12-501 of this title; and

provides adequate evidence that the applicant:

Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Board may grant a waiver of the qualification and examination requirements of § 12-302 of this subtitle only if Baltimore County or the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission waives the qualifications and examination required for individuals licensed by the Board to a similar extent as the Board waives those requirements for individuals licensed by Baltimore County or the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.

An agreement may be made with Baltimore County that, if an individual who is licensed by the Board as a journey plumber or a master plumber resides in Baltimore County, the individual may be required to pass a licensing examination for a journey plumber or master plumber given by Baltimore County.

pays the appropriate fee required under § 12–306 of this subtitle; and

provides adequate evidence that the applicant:

In this subsection, “BRAC” means the Base Realignment and Closure process as announced by the United States Department of Defense.

Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section, the Board shall grant a waiver to an applicant who files a request before July 1, 2012, if the applicant:

In this section, “BRAC” means the Base Realignment and Closure process as announced by the United States Department of Defense.

Subject to the provisions of this section, the Board shall waive the examination requirements for a journey natural gas fitters license for an individual who is licensed to provide gas fitting services as a journeyman in Virginia.

pays the appropriate fee required under § 12–306 of this subtitle;

provides adequate evidence that the applicant:

has relocated to the State as a family member of a BRAC employee.

the applicant has qualified for a license; and

the Board will issue a license to the applicant on receipt of:

Any master plumber, journey plumber, or apprentice holding a valid license is eligible to participate in a Board–approved cross connection/backflow prevention certification program to be certified as an approved cross connection/backflow prevention technician.

Only a master plumber or journey plumber possessing certification shall be authorized to certify the installation and testing of mechanical cross connection control devices.

For the purpose of certification of the installation and testing of mechanical cross connection control devices, a local jurisdiction may adopt regulations or enact laws that have qualifications comparable to or more stringent than paragraph (2) of this subsection.

after the effective date of the license; and

in an odd–numbered year.

At least 1 month before a license expires, the Board shall mail or electronically transmit to the licensee:

If an electronic transmission under paragraph (1) of this subsection is returned to the Board as undeliverable, the Board shall mail to the licensee, at the last known address of the licensee, the materials required under paragraph (1) of this subsection within 10 business days of the date the Board received the notice that the electronic transmission was undeliverable.

otherwise is entitled to be licensed;

pays to the Board a renewal fee set by the Board; and

submits to the Board:

applies to the Board for reinstatement within 4 years after the license expires; and

meets the renewal requirements for the appropriate license under § 12-308 of this subtitle.

meets the renewal requirements for the appropriate license under § 12-308 of this subtitle; and

passes the appropriate examination for obtaining a license under this subtitle.

meets the qualifications that the Board establishes for:

passes an examination given by the Board for:

submits to the Board an application on the form that the Board requires;

pays the appropriate application fee under § 12-303 of this subtitle for:

if contracting in the name of the applicant or another person to provide plumbing services, submits to the Board proof of the liability insurance as required under § 12-501 of this title.

While a limited master plumber license is in effect, it authorizes the licensee to provide plumbing services only in a specified geographical area of the State.

While a limited journey plumber license is in effect, it authorizes the licensee to provide plumbing services under the direction and control of a master plumber only in a specified geographical area of the State.

after the effective date of the limited license; and

in an odd-numbered year.

a master plumber license; or

a journey plumber license.

Each master plumber shall display:

Each holder of a limited master plumber license shall display:

Each holder of a propane gas fitter certificate shall display:

Each holder of a master natural gas fitters license shall display:

Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a county or municipal corporation may not require a person licensed under this subtitle to display a county or municipal corporation certificate number on each vehicle used on the job for providing plumbing, natural gas fitting, or propane gas fitting services.

This subsection does not apply to Baltimore County or the areas in the State under the jurisdiction of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.

Subject to the hearing provisions of § 12-313 of this subtitle, the Board may deny a license to any applicant, reprimand any licensee, or suspend or revoke a license if the applicant or licensee:

The Board shall pay any penalty collected under this subsection into the General Fund of the State.

the nature of the crime;

the relationship of the crime to the activities authorized by the license;

with respect to a felony, the relevance of the conviction to the fitness and qualification of the applicant or licensee to provide plumbing services;

the length of time since the conviction; and

the behavior and activities of the applicant or licensee before and after the conviction.

the person is a master plumber or holder of a limited master plumber license; or

the person:

the person is the holder of a propane gas fitter certificate; or

the person:

the person is the holder of a master natural gas fitters license; or

the person:

is licensed:

provides or assists in providing the services only within the scope of the license.

Before a master plumber or holder of a limited master plumber license may provide plumbing services through a person who engages in the business of providing plumbing services under this subtitle, a holder of a propane gas fitter certificate may provide propane gas services through a person who engages in the business of providing propane gas services under this subtitle, or a master plumber or a holder of a master natural gas fitters license may provide natural gas services through a person who engages in the business of providing natural gas services under this subtitle, the master plumber, holder of a limited master plumber license, holder of a propane gas fitter certificate, or holder of a master natural gas fitters license shall submit to the Board a notice stating the intent of the master plumber, holder of a limited master plumber license, holder of a propane gas fitter certificate, or holder of a master natural gas fitters license to do so.

The notice shall include:

for bodily injury in the amount of at least $300,000; and

for property damage in the amount of at least $100,000.

The insurance required under this section may be bought:

The insurance requirement of this section is not met for work that a master plumber or holder of a limited master plumber license does outside the scope of employment for the person who carries the insurance.

An applicant for a master plumber license or limited master plumber license shall submit proof of the insurance required under this section to the Board with the license application.

The Board may not issue a master plumber license or limited master plumber license to an applicant to whom the insurance requirements of this section would apply unless the applicant submits proof of the insurance.

to the extent money is provided in the State budget, by a State plumbing inspector; or

if not inspected by a State plumbing inspector, by an inspector of the county or local government where the plumbing services are provided.

each year attend a continuing education course that the Board or, with the approval of the Board, a county or local government conducts; and

meet minimum standards that:

Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a county or local government may employ an individual as a plumbing inspector only if the individual holds a master plumber license issued by the Board, the Baltimore County Plumbing Board, or the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.

Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply to a county or local government that uses combination building code inspectors to conduct concurrent trade–specific inspections on residential or commercial buildings to determine compliance with adopted plumbing codes and building codes if the combination building code inspector, as part of the inspector’s training, has passed:

On appointment or employment, the individual shall place the master plumber license, journey plumber license, or limited license on inactive status.

The Board may issue a plumbing inspector identification card to a plumbing inspector who has placed the appropriate license on inactive status.

On termination of the appointment or employment of an individual as a plumbing inspector, the Board shall reactivate the master plumber license, journey plumber license, or limited license of an individual who is on inactive status, without examination, if the individual:

is licensed by the Board as a master plumber or holder of a limited master plumber license; or

A person may not install a plumbing fixture or other device that does not meet the standards for approval as set out in the State Plumbing Code or any applicable local plumbing code.

A person may not sell or install a fixture or other device that does not limit water consumption in accordance with the standards adopted by the Board.

there is an inadequate supply of fixtures and devices that are required by and meet the standards for approval as set out in the State Plumbing Code or any applicable local plumbing code;

the configuration of a drainage system for a building requires a greater quantity of water to flush the system adequately than is delivered by fixtures and devices that are required by and meet the standards for approval as set out in the State Plumbing Code or any applicable local plumbing code; or

historic restoration would be affected adversely.

there is an inadequate supply of fixtures and devices that are required by and meet the standards for approval as set out in the State Plumbing Code or any applicable local plumbing code;

the configuration of a drainage system for a building requires a greater quantity of water to flush the system adequately than is delivered by fixtures and devices that are required by and meet the standards for approval as set out in the State Plumbing Code or any applicable local plumbing code; or

historic restoration would be affected adversely.

In this subsection, “officer” includes a superintendent, manager, and agent of a corporation regardless of whether it engages in the business of providing plumbing services.

A person, including an officer, who violates any provision of the following sections of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $50 for each day or part of each day that the violation continues:

A person who violates any provision of the following sections of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $100 or imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or both for each day or part of each day that the violation continues:

This subsection does not apply to a violation of any prohibition on the sale or installation of a fixture or other device that is not water–conserving.

In addition to any other penalties under this title, the Board may impose on a person who violates any provision of this subtitle a penalty not exceeding $5,000 for each violation.

In setting the amount of the penalty, the Board shall consider: