§ 5-286. Contractor qualifications and requirements.

(a)

Generally. Any person, firm or corporation acting as a contractor as defined in subsections (b) and (c) shall establish his/their competency and qualifications and be registered with the building division.

(b)

" Contractor" defined. The term "contractor" shall have the same definition and include the exemptions provided in Chapter 489, Florida Statutes, which states: "Contractor' means the person who is qualified for and responsible for the entire project contracted for and means except as exempted in this act, the person who, for compensation, undertakes to, submits a bid to, or does himself or by others construct, repair, alter, remodel, add to, subtract from, or improve any building or structure, including related improvements to real estate for others, or for resale to others."

(c)

"Commercial pool contractor" defined. "Commercial pool contractor" means any person whose scope of work involves, but is not limited to, the construction, repair, heater treatment, and servicing of any swimming pool whether public, private, or otherwise, regardless of use. The scope of such work includes layout, excavation, operation of construction pumps for dewatering purposes, steelwork, installation of light hitches, pouring of floors, guniting, fiberglassing, installation of piping, installation of all filter equipment and chemical feeders of any type, plastering of the interior, pouring of decks, construction of equipment rooms or housing for pool equipment, and installation of package pool heaters. However, the scope of such work does not include direct connections to a sanitary system or to potable waterlines.

(d)

Competency. Competency shall be established by presenting a copy of the information required in either items (1) or (2) as follows:

(1)

A current Florida state contractor's certification; or

(2)

A current Florida state contractor's registration along with a competency certificate from the board of examiners of Polk County where applicable.

(e)

Examining board. The term "examining board" shall be interpreted to mean the construction board of adjustment and appeals or such other board or agency as the board of county commissioners may designate, from time to time, as being acceptable to them for the purpose of certifying competency to perform work under this article. The examining board shall issue a Polk County certificate of competency to each applicant who shall qualify by passing an examination, given by said board, for the classes of contractors established in section 5-286(c).

(f)

Equivalent competency. As an alternative to successful passage of the examination requirements set forth in section 5-286(e) above, equivalent competency by those grandfathered contractors legally registered with the swimming pool division of Polk County during the 1974 year may be established by annual registration.

(g)

Occupational license. Before any person, firm or corporation engaged in business as a contractor, as defined in this article, whose work does not conform to the terms of this article or whose materials or representations do not meet minimum requirements of this article shall, on notice from the swimming pool official, make necessary changes or corrections at once, within fourteen (14) calendar days after notice from the swimming pool official, the swimming pool official may then refuse to issue further permits until such work has been corrected to fully comply with the code.

(Ord. No. 89-61, § 6, 12-19-89)