Title 30-A: MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES

Part 2: MUNICIPALITIES

Subpart 6: REGULATION, LICENSES AND PERMITS

Chapter 185: REGULATION OF CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENTS

Subchapter 3: REGULATION AND INSPECTION OF PLUMBING

Article 3: LOCAL PLUMBING INSPECTORS

§4221. Plumbing inspectors

1.  Appointment; compensation; removal.  In every municipality, the municipal officers shall appoint one or more inspectors of plumbing, who need not be residents of the municipality for which they are appointed. Plumbing inspectors are appointed for a term of one year or more and must be sworn and the appointment recorded as provided in section 2526, subsection 9. An individual properly appointed as plumbing inspector and satisfactorily performing the duties may continue in that capacity after the term has expired until replaced. The municipal officers shall notify the department and the Department of Public Safety, Office of the State Fire Marshal of the appointment of a plumbing inspector in writing within 30 days of the appointment.  

Compensation of plumbing inspectors is determined by the municipal officers and paid by the respective municipalities.  

The municipal officers may remove a plumbing inspector for cause, after notice and hearing.  

[PL 2019, c. 517, §4 (AMD).]

2.  Certification requirements.  A person may not hold the office of plumbing inspector unless currently certified as qualified pursuant to section 4451. Certification is effective for a period of 5 years unless sooner revoked or suspended by the District Court as provided for in section 4451.  

A. [PL 1997, c. 296, §4 (RP); PL 1997, c. 683, Pt. B, §15 (RP).]

[PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. FF, §7 (AMD); PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. FF, §16 (AFF).]

3.  Duties.  Plumbing inspectors shall:  

A. Inspect all plumbing for which permits are granted, within their respective municipalities, to ensure compliance with state rules and municipal ordinances and investigate all construction or work covered by those rules and ordinances;   [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]

B. Condemn and reject all work done or being done or material used or being used which does not comply with state rules and municipal ordinances, and order changes necessary to obtain compliance;   [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]

C. Issue a certificate of approval for any work that the inspector has approved;   [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]

D. Keep an accurate account of all fees collected and transfer those fees to the municipal treasurer;   [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]

E. Keep a complete record of all essential transactions of the office;   [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]

F. Perform other duties as provided by municipal ordinance;   [PL 2007, c. 568, §3 (AMD).]

G. Investigate complaints of alleged violations relating to plumbing or subsurface waste water disposal and take appropriate action as specified by the department by rule in the department's enforcement manual for subsurface waste water disposal and plumbing rules; and   [PL 2007, c. 568, §4 (AMD).]

H. Accompany staff of the Department of Environmental Protection or the department in the conduct of a sanitary survey intended to identify potentially failing subsurface waste water disposal systems affecting shellfish harvesting areas when requested by either agency.   [PL 2007, c. 568, §5 (NEW).]

[PL 2007, c. 568, §§3-5 (AMD).]

4.  Inspections and permits not required.  Plumbing inspections and permits are not required for:  

A. Minor plumbing work or minor installations that are performed in compliance with state laws and rules if that plumbing work or those installations are done inside the structure of a private residence by the owner of that residence;   [PL 2003, c. 304, §1 (AMD).]

B. Installation of domestic heating appliances by master oil and solid fuel burning technicians licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 139; and   [PL 2009, c. 344, Pt. D, §6 (AMD); PL 2009, c. 344, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]

C. Installation of stand-alone water meters, water meters in combination with nontestable backflow prevention devices and related valves by water utility personnel or water utility contractors. The water utility shall include in any notice it provides to a customer regarding entry to install such a meter or related valves a statement that installation of a backflow preventor may necessitate installation by the customer of additional devices, such as an expansion tank, due to thermal expansion.   [PL 2003, c. 304, §1 (NEW).]

[PL 2009, c. 344, Pt. D, §6 (AMD); PL 2009, c. 344, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1987, c. 737, §§A2,C106 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 104, §§A44,C8,C10 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 688, §2 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 404, §B1 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 296, §§3,4 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 456, §20 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 683, §B15 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 547, §B78 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 547, §B80 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 304, §1 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 568, §§3-5 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 344, Pt. D, §6 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 344, Pt. E, §2 (AFF). PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. FF, §§6, 7 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. FF, §16 (AFF). PL 2019, c. 517, §4 (AMD).