Chapter 124 - Licensing of Electricians

124.01    TITLE AND PURPOSE.  This chapter shall be known as the City of Marion, Iowa, Electrical Licensing Code.  The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the licensing and insuring of electrical apprentices, journeymen and contractors in order to protect public health, safety and welfare.

124.02    LICENSING REQUIRED.  No person shall install, alter, and add to, repair, relocate, replace, or maintain any electrical system within the City unless such person is licensed as provided in the Metro Electrical Licensing Agreement as approved by Council Resolution No. 12397, and has obtained a permit for said electrical work from the Building Official according to the provisions of the Marion Electrical Code.

124.03    ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS.  Any individual holding a valid City of Marion Electrical Contractor’s License on and before December 1, 1996, who does not qualify for a Metro Electrical License may apply for renewal of the Marion Electrical Contractor’s License under the following conditions:

1.                  Fees.  The Electrical Contractor annual renewal fee is $50.00.

2.                  Expiration and Renewal.  Each license shall expire on the next December 31 after the date of issue and may be renewed annually upon request for such renewal by the licensee, and provided that the annual renewal fee or fees have been paid to the City.

3.                  Penalty Fees.  Any licensee who allows his or her license to lapse for a period of up to and including 30 days shall be required to pay a $20.00 penalty fee.  A lapse of over 30 days requires mandatory re-examination, unless waived by the Board for undue hardship.

4.                  Inactive License.  Any holder of a valid Marion Electrical Contractor’s License issued pursuant to this chapter may place his or her license on an inactive status by filing written notice of such action to the Board accompanied by payment of a $20.00 processing fee.  By placing a license on inactive status, the licensee is assured that the license may be reinstated by written request to the Board and payment of the current year’s license fee.  The Board shall reinstate any inactive license to normal status upon such request unless it is the determination of the Board that the holder of the license is either incompetent to perform work allowed by the license or has performed work requiring a license during the period of inactive status.

5.                  City of Marion and Metro Agreement Compliance.  Any holder of a City of Marion Electrical Contractor’s License shall comply with all other applicable requirements of this Code, the Metro Electrical Licensing Agreement, and the Marion Electrical Code.

124.04    LICENSE NOT REQUIRED; HOMEOWNERS.  Any homeowner may do work in a single-family dwelling in which said homeowner resides or will reside without being licensed provided that said homeowner demonstrates a capability to do such work by successfully passing the homeowner’s examination, and further provided that the homeowner obtains an electrical permit and otherwise complies with the provisions of the Marion Electrical Code.  If in the opinion of the Building Official, for projects involving minor remodeling, or repair of electrical systems by a homeowner, the homeowner demonstrates sufficient knowledge and capabilities to complete the project in compliance with current codes, an electrical permit may be issued to the homeowner without requiring that an electrical homeowner’s test be taken.  If an owner does electrical work on a house under construction based upon such a homeowner’s examination, and sells the dwelling having never resided therein, he or she shall be denied the privilege of doing electrical work as a homeowner on any subsequent dwelling under construction again.

124.05    EXAMINATION FEE.  The homeowner’s examination fee is $20.00.

124.06    CERTIFICATION IN LIEU OF LICENSING.  Certification by an independent agency qualified and approved by the Licensing Board to make such certification may be accepted in lieu of licensing.  Certification shall state that the electrical work wholly or partially enclosed within the prefabricated assembly has been inspected by the certifying agency and complies with the Marion Electrical Code and contains such other information as may be required by the Building Official.

124.07    LICENSE NOT TRANSFERABLE.  It is unlawful for any license holder to transfer a license to another or to allow it to be used, directly or indirectly, by another person.  A license holder shall not obtain permits for more than one contracting person, firm, corporation or other association.

124.08    CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE.  Before any permit for electrical work shall be issued to an electrical contractor in the City, he or she shall file with the Building Department a Certificate of Insurance written by a company authorized to transact business in the State of Iowa in limits of not less than $250,000 liability to any person and $500,000 liability to more than one person on account of any one occurrence, and $500,000 liability for property damage.  The certificate shall be written on a standard form carrying an endorsement naming the City and its employees as additional insured as its interest may appear and conditioned upon the faithful performance of all duties required of such electrical contractor by this chapter, or by the rules and regulations of the City.  It shall be a further condition of the Certificate of Insurance that the obligators will hold the City harmless from any and all damages sustained by reason of neglect or incompetence on the part of such electrical contractor, the contractor’s agents or employees in the performance of the work done, or any negligent guarding of hazardous areas or by reason of any other cause growing out of the negligence or carelessness of such electrical contractor, the contractor’s agents or employees, or the issuance of the license or permit.  The Certificate of Insurance shall be for one year and shall expire no sooner than December 31 of each year, and shall be refiled on or before said date for each subsequent year.  It is the intent and purpose of the Certificate of Insurance also to cover the individual company, firm, association, corporation or partnership, whether it be a trade name, corporation or other business association or arrangement with which the electrical contractor is associated.