Article 02: Plumbing Code & Regulations

97-6.  Permit required.

It shall be unlawful to alter, remove, demolish or install any components of water distribution systems or sanitary waste disposal systems in the Town of Durham, N.H. without first obtaining a plumbing permit.

97-7.  Permit requirements.

Application shall be submitted in such form as the Code Enforcement Officer prescribes and shall be accompanied by the required fee as prescribed.

97-8.  Permit applicant.

The permit for plumbing work as required by the Ordinance shall be procured by a Master Plumber that is currently licensed by the State of New Hampshire Plumbing Board under RSA 329-A.

97-9.  Additional information.

The Code Enforcement Officer may require, if deemed necessary, additional specifications and/or drawings to accompany the permit application.

97-10.        Permit fee.

A.  Establishment of Permit Fee: The Town Administrator, with the advice and consent of the Town Council, shall establish the plumbing permit fee schedule and it shall be included within the Town-wide Master Fee Schedule.

B.  Fee For Work Started Without a Permit: Any person who is found to have demolished, altered, removed or installed any component of water distribution systems or waste disposal systems without the benefit of a plumbing permit shall, upon issuance of said permit(s), be assessed a permit fee of twice the normal rate of the actual permit.

C.  Payment of Fee: The plumbing permit fee (per fee schedule) is to be paid prior to any plumbing permit being issued.  The fee is to be paid to the Building Inspector’s Office or other centralized receipt agent as determined by the Town.

D.  Fire suppression (sprinkler, alarm, etc.) installation permits shall be obtained from the Durham Fire Department.

E.   No permit or fee shall be required for minor repairs or maintenance necessitated by ordinary wear and tear, such as replacing a valve, a faucet, or resetting a new water closet, etc. This does not include changing the sanitary sewer lines.

(Section 97-10 amended by Ord. #2007-06 dtd 04/23/07 and Ord. #2013-04 dtd 4/1/13).

97-11.        Commencement of work.

If the proposed work also involves a building permit, then no work shall be started on the proposed site and no building shall be altered, remodeled or demolished until said building permit is first obtained from the Code Enforcement Officer.

97-12.        Issuance of permit.

A.  A plumbing permit will be issued after the Code Enforcement Officer has determined that there is a current building permit for the project or that only a plumbing permit is required and the required fee has been paid.

B.  The Code Enforcement Officer shall be given at least 48 hours notice that the work is ready for inspection, this may be waived if the work is emergency in nature.

97-13.        Time limit of permits.

All plumbing permits shall be valid for six (6) months from date of issuance; after which the permit becomes null and void.  A three (3) month extension may be granted by the Code Enforcement officer for special circumstances; otherwise, a new permit will be needed.

97-14.        Assignability of plumbing permit.

A plumbing permit, once issued, shall not be assignable.  A change of plumbing contractors will require a new permit.

97-15.        Revocation or lapse of plumbing permits.

A violation of or variation from the terms, conditions or authorization of a plumbing permit by the holder thereof or his agent, architect or contractor shall be cause for the revocation of said permit.  Such revocation shall be made at the discretion of the Code Enforcement Officer and an appeal from such action may be made to the Director of Planning, Zoning and Code Enforcement.

97-16.        Plumbing permit action.

Should the Code Enforcement officer or Director of Planning, Zoning and Code Enforcement fail to take action on an application for a plumbing permit within 30 days of the filing, the applicant may apply to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for a plumbing permit.

97-17.        Construction safety clause.

Any building site in the Town of Durham shall be left in a safe state at all times.  The owner/contractors shall assume the responsibility for leaving the construction site so that no dangerous or hazardous conditions shall exist.