§ 9-72. Classification of contractors.

(a)

Building contractor. The scope of work of a building contractor shall be as defined in the various building contractor classifications listed in this subsection:

(1)

General building contractor is a building contractor whose contracting business consists of the execution of contracts involving two (2) or more trades and who has the financial means and has a qualifying agent with the experience, knowledge and skill gained by not less than ten (10) years' experience, either as a superintendent for a general contractor or as a licensed building contractor for such period (or has had an education equivalent thereto), or any combination thereof, to construct and properly supervise, direct and coordinate the construction of buildings and other structures in such a manner as to comply with all plans, specifications, codes, laws and regulations applicable and who has satisfactorily passed a general building contractors' examination. The scope of work of the general contractor shall be unlimited as to height, area and complexity of the construction such contractor undertakes. Such contractor shall subcontract to a qualified contractor in the field concerned, all other work specified herein as being the exclusive work of a plumbing, electrical, mechanical or liquefied petroleum gas contractor, including the specialties and categories thereunder. A general contractor may do, contract for, and take out permits for, the work of a general engineering contractor, room air conditioning contractor, installation only, and any specialty building contractor as defined in this section.

(2)

Subgeneral building contractor is a building contractor whose contracting business consists of the execution of contracts involving two (2) or more trades and who has the financial means and has a qualifying agent with the experience, knowledge and skill gained by not less than five (5) years' experience, either as a superintendent for a general contractor or a subcontractor, or has been licensed as a subbuilding contractor for such period (or has had an education equivalent thereto), or any combination thereof, to construct and properly supervise, direct and coordinate the construction of buildings and other structures in such a manner as to comply with all plans, specifications, codes, laws and regulations applicable, and has satisfactorily passed a subgeneral contractors' examination. The scope of work of a subgeneral contractor shall be limited to construction of buildings or building additions not more than three (3) stories in height and not over thirty-five (35) feet maximum height, but this proviso shall not prohibit him from engaging in nonstructural interior alterations and to repairs to buildings of greater height or to act as a subcontractor under the supervision or responsibility of a general contractor in the construction of a structure of a greater height. Such contractor shall subcontract to a qualified contractor in the field concerned all other work specified herein as being exclusive work of a plumbing, electrical, mechanical or liquefied petroleum gas contractor, including the specialties and categories thereunder. A subgeneral contractor may construct, contract for, and take out permits for sidewalks, curbs and gutters on rights-of-way or proposed rights-of-way, when such work is incidental and pertinent to the work of a subgeneral contractor, and may perform the work of a room air conditioning contractor, installation only, and of any specialty building contractor within the limits of work of a subgeneral contractor, except that of house moving. Demolition work of such a contractor shall be limited to the size and scope of buildings or structures which a subgeneral contractor is permitted to erect.

(3)

Subbuilding contractor is a building contractor whose contracting business consists of the execution of contracts involving two (2) or more trades and who has the financial means and has a qualifying agent with the experience, knowledge and skill gained by not less than three (3) years' experience as a superintendent for a general, subgeneral or subbuilding contractor (or has had an education equivalent thereto), or any combination thereof, to construct and properly supervise, direct and coordinate the construction of buildings and other structures in such a manner as to comply with all plans, specifications, codes, laws and regulations applicable and has satisfactorily passed a subbuilding contractors' examination. The scope of work of the subbuilding contractor shall be limited to construction, addition, alteration or repair of buildings not exceeding fifteen hundred (1500) square feet in area and one (1) story in height, except that such contractor may construct, add to or repair single-family or two-family buildings of any area where such building is of simple design with load bearing walls, not to exceed two (2) stories in height, and not over twenty (20) feet maximum height. Such contractor shall subcontract to a qualified contractor in the field concerned, all other work specified herein as being the exclusive work of a plumbing, electrical, mechanical or liquefied petroleum gas contractor, including the specialties and categories thereunder. A subbuilding contractor may construct, contract for and take out permits for sidewalks, curbs and gutters on rights-of-way or proposed rights-of-way when such work is incidental and pertinent to the work as a subbuilding contractor and may perform the work of a room air conditioning contractor, installation only, and of any specialty building contractor within the scope of work of a subbuilding contractor, excepting that of house moving. Demolition work of such a contractor shall be limited to the size and scope of buildings or structures which a subgeneral building contractor is permitted to erect.

(4)

Specialty building contractor is a building contractor who specializes in one (1) or more of the following building crafts and whose scope of work is so limited under the certificate of competency held, and whose principal contracting business is the execution of contracts, usually subcontracts, and who has the financial means and has a qualifying agent with the experience, knowledge and skill as evidenced by three (3) years' experience as a mechanic, or supervisory or managerial experience or education equivalent thereto, or any combination thereof, in the particular building specialty concerned, in such a manner as to comply with all plans, specifications, codes, laws and regulations applicable, and has satisfactorily passed an examination for the specialty concerned. Such contractor shall subcontract with a qualified contractor any work which is incidental to the work of the specialty but which is specified herein as being the work of other than that of the building specialty for which certified. The following are the various crafts of specialty building contractors:

a.

A concrete placing contractor is a contractor qualified and certified to proportion, batch and mix aggregates, cement and water to agreed specifications; to construct forms and framework for the casting and shaping of concrete; to place and erect reinforcing steel and miscellaneous embedded steel; and to pour, place and finish concrete.

b.

A glazing contractor is a contractor, qualified and certified to select, cut, assemble and install all makes and kinds of glass and glass work and execute the glazing frames, sash and doors, in such manner that under agreed specifications, acceptable glass work and glazing can be fabricated and installed and shall include the manufacture, fabrication or installation in any building or structure of any glass-holding metal frames, ornamental metal decorations, metal fascias, store front awnings or canopies and prefabricated glass, metal or plastic curtain walls or panel walls.

c.

A lathing contractor is a contractor qualified and certified to apply and affix wood, gypsum or metal lath or any other product prepared or manufactured to provide key or suction bases for the support of plaster coatings, to provide hangers, channels and other mechanical suspension work for acoustical tile and other prefabricated ceiling materials, in such a manner that under an agreed specification, acceptable lathing can be executed and installed including the channel ironwork for the support of metal or other fire-resistive lath, on walls, ceiling or soffits or for solid plaster partitions; but shall not include any plaster work, or the erection of wood stud or block wall or partition to which such key or suction plaster bases are applied. Such contractor may perform the work of a drywall contractor.

d.

A drywall contractor is a contractor qualified and certified to install gypsum drywall products to wood and metal studs, wood and steel joists and metal runners in buildings of unlimited area and height. The scope of work shall include the preparation of the surface over which the drywall product is to be applied, including the placing of metal studs and runners and all necessary trim.

e.

A masonry contractor is a contractor qualified and certified to select, cut and lay brick and concrete block or any other unit masonry products, lay brick and other baked clay products, rough cut and dress stone, artificial stone and precast blocks, structural glass brick or block, laid at random or in course, with or without mortar, or to do any part, or any combination of any thereof, in such a manner that under an agreed specification, acceptable brick and other concrete or baked clay products, stone and structural glass brick can be executed, fabricated and erected, but shall not include the application of tile to existing surfaces or the pouring, placing or finishing of cast-in-place concrete.

f.

A plastering contractor is a contractor qualified and certified to coat surfaces with a mixture of sand or other aggregate gypsum plaster, Portland cement or quick-lime and water or any combination of such material as to create a permanent surface coating, and which coatings are usually applied with a plasterer's trowel or by pneumatic pressure over any surface which offers a mechanical key for the support of such coatings or to which the coating will adhere by suction. Such contractor may perform the work of the lathing contractor.

g.

A roofing contractor is a contractor qualified and certified to install, repair and replace roof covering to stop water from passing by such applied protective material, membrane, surface or seal. Work may include, but shall not be limited to, roof deck insulation, roof coating, painting and covering, including use of sheet metal and installation of other sheet metal products incidental to roofing work, or other material in connection therewith or any combination thereof and including installation of nonstructural decking and siding.

h.

A reinforcing steel placing contractor is a contractor qualified and certified to fabricate, place and tie steel reinforcing bars (rods), of any profile, perimeter, or cross-section, that are or may be used to reinforce concrete buildings and structures, in such a manner that under an agreed specification, steel reinforcing bars (rods) for concrete buildings and structures can be fabricated, placed and tied.

i.

A structural steel erection contractor is a contractor qualified and certified to erect structural steel shapes and plates including such minor field fabrication as may be necessary of any profile, perimeter or cross-section that are or may be used as structural members for buildings and structures, including riveting, welding and rigging only in connection therewith.

j.

A prestressed and precast concrete erection contractor is a contractor who is qualified and certified to erect structural precast concrete units such as decks, beams, girders, walls, columns and stairs and to erect precast concrete units for guard rails and decorative panels above the ground floor, including such minor field fabrication as may be necessary, any profile, perimeter or cross section that are or may be used as structural members for buildings and structures, including welding and rigging in connection therewith.

k.

A swimming pool contractor is a contractor whose work involves two (2) or more building trades or crafts and who is qualified and certified to excavate, construct, fabricate, install and equip swimming pools, and such contractor shall subcontract to a qualified contractor in the field concerned all other work specified herein as being the exclusive work of a plumbing, electrical, mechanical or liquefied petroleum gas contractor.

l.

A roof deck contractor is a contractor who is qualified and certified to erect, construct, fabricate and install roof decks of Portland cement or gypsum concrete, using lightweight aggregate, on joists or other supporting members erected by others and shall include the placing of forms and miscellaneous reinforcing of the deck and the proportions, mixing and placing of cement, aggregate and water in such a manner that under an agreed specification structurally adequate roof decks may be installed. The work of this classification shall not include roof decks of wood, metal, heavy aggregate concrete, glass or plastic and shall not include the application of roofing felts or other water-resistant membranes.

m.

A welding inspector is a person qualified and certified to inspect welds as provided under the Florida Building Code and more specifically, The American Welding Society Code for Welding and Building Construction, A.W.S.D. 1.0-66, as amended. Misrepresentation of any material fact in the application for examination or inspection reports shall be grounds for suspension or revocation of a welding inspector's certificate of competency. The procedure for disciplinary action shall be as outlined in this article for contractors, wherever such procedure is applicable.

(b)

Contractor annex is any contractor, merchant builder, subcontractor and specialty contractor connected with the building industry, holding a current certificate of competency issued by the county, in the process of building or work or who holds commitments or contracts for construction work entered into prior to annexation by the city.

(c)

Electrical contractor is a contractor doing work on any premises or in any building or structure requiring the installation, repair, alteration, addition or changes to any system of electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment for light, heat or power, and who is, or who employs, a supervising master electrician at all times.

(d)

Electrical sign contractor is a contractor doing work on any premises or in any building or structure requiring the installation, repair, alteration, addition or change to any system of electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment for electrical signs, and who is, or who employs, a supervising master sign electrician at all times.

(e)

Engineering contractor is a contractor who does work such as, but not limited to, harbors, docks, excavating, filling and grading, drainage, pile-driving, levees, pumping stations, and similar type of work in conjunction with waterpower, water control, waterworks and water supply; paving and sidewalks; curbs and gutters; streets and roads; bridges and overpasses and underpasses in streets, roads and public thoroughfares; underground sewage collection and disposal systems; bulkheading and underground utility line construction; both sanitary and storm sewer systems, and similar work, or that portion of such installation and systems not generally defined or considered under the provisions of this chapter, or in general trade practices, as building structures, plumbing, electrical, gas or mechanical installation, as defined under mechanical contractor.

(f)

Gas fitting contractor is a contractor doing work on any premises or in any building or structure requiring installation, maintenance, repair, alteration or extension of fuel gas piping or appliances, including liquefied petroleum gas piping and appliances if such contractor qualifies under state law.

(g)

House transporter is a contractor whose operation consists of and shall be limited to transporting a building from one (1) location to another. House transporting contractors shall not be permitted to perform any construction work involved in disconnecting a building from the foundation, demolishing the foundation or cleaning the premises, nor shall a house transporting contractor be permitted to perform any construction work required to relocate a building upon new premises. House transporting contractors operating under a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the state public service commission who have posted insurance with such commission in the amounts set forth in section 9-158 are exempt from compliance with sections 9-106, 9-133 and 9-158, provided that a certificate evidencing such insurance is filed with the building inspector.

(h)

House moving contractor is a contractor whose operations consist of moving a building and the performance of construction work requiring special skills accessory to moving a building from one (1) location to another, such as, but not limited to, disconnecting the building from the foundation, demolishing the foundation and clearing the premises and any construction work required to relocate the building upon new premises.

(i)

Journeyman is any person who possesses the necessary qualifications, training and technical knowledge to do work connected in his particular trade. There shall be at least one (1) journeyman for every three (3) trainees on each construction or installation job site for which a permit is required and which involves a trade in which journeymen are required and certified. It shall be the responsibility of the employing contractor to provide journeymen on each job site in accordance with this subsection, and failure to do so shall be a violation of this article, subject to the penalties provided herein. In addition, any work in the trade concerned on any such job site wherein journeymen are not provided in accordance with this subsection shall be stopped by the enforcing agency or administrative agency concerned until journeymen are provided. Further, any person working at a trade which requires journeymen on the job site where no journeymen or master in the trade concerned is present, shall be in violation of this article. A journeyman may only work in the employ of a contractor holding a certificate of competency in the field in which the journeyman is certified. The term "trainee" shall mean any person working on the job in the capacity of a learner, apprentice, helper, or improver who does not possess the skill, knowledge, experience or ability of a journeyman and does not possess a certificate of competency, but he can work at the trade on a job for which a permit is required only when a journeyman or a master is present at the particular job site concerned.

(j)

Liquefied petroleum gas installation contractor is a contractor doing work on any premises or in any building or structure requiring the installation, maintenance, repair, alteration or extension of liquefied petroleum gas piping or appliances or who furnishes the liquefied petroleum gas to the consumer and maintains the gas mains, lines, laterals, tanks, regulators, meters and other paraphernalia in connection therewith.

(k)

Maintenance personnel , other than as defined elsewhere in this section, shall mean all maintenance personnel who are regularly employed to maintain and make minor repairs to systems, apparatus, equipment or structures within the scope of work of any of the contractors defined in this section, where such systems, apparatus, equipment or structures are owned, occupied or controlled by the person by whom such personnel are employed. Such maintenance personnel, when employed by the owner of a building or plant, must hold a certificate of competency for the particular maintenance work involved or a certificate as a master or a journeyman in the trade in which he is are engaged, except that such maintenance personnel regularly employed by a state, county or municipal franchised gas, electrical, water or communications utility firm shall be exempt from the requirement of being qualified and holding a certificate of competency for the doing of maintenance work in connection with the utility, including the service of systems, apparatus, equipment, lines or meters in connection therewith owned or controlled by such utility company, whether on public or private property. The word "maintenance," as used in this subsection, is not intended to include operators of appliances, apparatus or equipment. The application of this subsection shall not apply to employees of a state, county or municipal franchised public utility doing maintenance on the utility equipment or within the utility plant.

(l)

Master shall mean any person who possesses the necessary qualifications, training and technical knowledge to do, plan, lay out and supervise the work connected in his particular trade. He must be a qualified contractor or work for a qualified contractor, and hold a current certificate of competency indicating his qualifications, in order to work in his trade.

(m)

Mechanical contractor is a contractor doing work on any premises or in any building or structure requiring the installation, repair, alteration, addition or change to any system of refrigeration, air conditioning, heating, ventilating, boiler and unfired pressure vessel systems and apparatus or equipment used in connection therewith.

(n)

Plumbing contractor is a contractor doing work on any premises or in any building or structure requiring the installation, maintenance, repair, alteration or extension of plumbing, septic tank, wells, swimming pool and solar heating systems and all appurtenances, apparatus or equipment used in connection therewith, including any incidental excavation work, and who is, or who employs, a supervising master plumber at all times.

(o)

Septic tank contractor is a contractor who does any work involving the installation, cleaning, repair, alteration or extension of a septic tank or laundry waste treatment system and all appurtenances, apparatus or equipment used in connection therewith.

(p)

Superintendent is a person who has passed the same written examination as a general contractor, who shall meet all of the requirements established by the building contractors' examining board, and who is employed to supervise work for a contracting company, corporation, partnership, or private individual in performing a building contract.

(q)

Well drilling contractor is a contractor who operates a well drilling machine, apparatus or appliance in the drilling of water or drainage wells or who is engaged in the installation, maintenance, and repair of pumping and piping incidental to a private swimming pool, not under the regulation of the state board of health, and having a closed system not connected to a water supply used for human consumption.

(Code 1953, § 48-6.2(c)—(s); Ord. No. C-70-69, § 1, 9-1-70; Ord. No. C-03-23, § 2, 7-1-03 )

State law reference

State classification of contractors, F.S. §§ 489.105(3), 489.505(2), (12), (19).