Plumbers

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County tit. 6, div. I, ch. 6.52, art. I

in effect

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.52.010 Classifications—Established.

6.52.010 - Classifications—Established. A. For the purposes of this chapter and Chapters 2.92 and 16.12, every person engaged in the business of plumbing or in the performance of any plumbing work within the metropolitan government area shall be licensed by the board of plumbing examiners and appeals in one of the following classifications: 1. Metropolitan master plumber. 2. Metropolitan journeyman plumber. 3. Metropolitan apprentice plumber. B. For purposes of this chapter, "plumbing work" means the construction, renovation, installation, alteration, extension, removal, reparation, maintenance, or servicing, of any plumbing system. C. Nothing in this chapter shall apply to plumbing work performed by persons at or in their own residences. (Amdt. 1 to Ord. BL2008-292 § 1, 2008; Ord. BL2008-292 § 1, 2008; Ord. BL2004-178 § 3, 2004)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.52.020 Classifications—Defined.

6.52.020 - Classifications—Defined. For the purposes of this chapter and Chapters 2.92 and 16.12, the classifications of plumbers shall be defined as follows: "Metropolitan master plumber" means an individual who has successfully completed the required master plumber's examination and holds a current and valid metropolitan master plumber's license duly issued by the metropolitan board of plumbing examiners and appeals. "Metropolitan journeyman plumber" means an individual who has successfully completed the required journeyman plumber's examination and holds a current and valid journeyman plumber's license duly issued by the board of plumbing examiners and appeals; one who is regularly employed as a journeyman and works under the direction and supervision of a metropolitan master plumber. "Metropolitan apprentice plumber" means an individual who holds a current and valid metropolitan apprentice plumber's license duly issued by the board of plumbing examiners and appeals; one who is regularly employed as an apprentice by a registered and bonded metropolitan plumbing contractor and who works at the trade of plumbing under the direct supervision and in the immediate presence of a metropolitan master or journeyman plumber; and one who is enrolled in an apprenticeship program registered with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training in accordance with the requirements of 29 C.F.R. § 29, or any nationally accredited apprenticeship program, and consists of, at a minimum, eight thousand hours of documented practical experience combined with a minimum of six hundred hours of classroom and/or shop instruction in the plumbing trade. (Ord. BL2004-178 §§ 1 (part), 4, 2004; prior code § 33-1-61)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.52.030 Examination, licensing and registration required.

6.52.030 - Examination, licensing and registration required. It is unlawful for any person to engage in the business of plumbing and/or to do or perform any plumbing work as defined in Section 6.52.010, as a master plumber, journeyman or apprentice plumber, without first having been examined, licensed and registered as such by the board of plumbing examiners and appeals. (Ord. BL2008-292 § 2, 2008; Ord. BL2004-178 §§ 2 (part), 5, 2004)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.52.040 Application for examination and licensing.

6.52.040 - Application for examination and licensing. A. It shall be the duty of every person engaged in or desiring to engage in the business of plumbing, to do or perform any plumbing work or to make any plumbing installation as a master plumber, journeyman or apprentice plumber to make application to the board of plumbing examiners and appeals for an examination and issuance of a license. Application for an examination and license shall be made on forms provided by the director of codes administration and shall be accompanied by the required examination fee. B. In addition to the requirements in subsection A of this section, each applicant must furnish evidence that he has at least three years' experience in the next lower classification. A degree in civil or mechanical engineering may be accepted in lieu of the experience requirement. (Ord. BL2004-178 §§ 1 (part), 2 (part), 2004; Ord. 94-1226 § 7, 1994; prior code § 33-1-63)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.52.050 Examination—Notice.

6.52.050 - Examination—Notice. Each applicant for examination and licensing as a master plumber, journeyman or apprentice plumber shall be notified, in writing, by the secretary of the board of plumbing examiners and appeals as to the time and place of such examinations, not less than seven days prior to the date scheduled for such examination. (Ord. BL2004-178 § 2 (part), 2004; prior code § 33-1-64)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.52.060 Examination—Conducting authority—Type.

6.52.060 - Examination—Conducting authority—Type. A. An examination of each applicant for a master plumber's journeyman or apprentice plumber's license shall be conducted by the board of plumbing examiners and appeals at a time and place determined by such board. The examination may be written or oral or a combination of both, at the discretion of the board, and shall, in each instance, be of such nature as to satisfy the board as to the applicant's proficiency in the art of plumbing and plumbing installations and his knowledge of the provisions and material requirements of this chapter, Chapters 2.92 and 16.12, and any subsequent amendments made thereto, as such are related to the applicant's request for licensing; except, that no written examination shall be required of any applicant for a metropolitan apprentice plumber's license. B. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, any person who is unable to read and write shall be given an oral examination for master plumber, journeyman, or apprentice plumber's license. (Ord. BL2004-178 §§ 1 (part), 2 (part), 2004; prior code § 33-1-65)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.52.070 Examination—Failure to appear.

6.52.070 - Examination—Failure to appear. The failure of an applicant to appear before the board of plumbing examiners and appeals for examination, at the time and place scheduled for examination, shall not be construed as denying any applicant the right to request a rescheduling of such examination at a later date; except, that no application for examination and licensing shall be held pending by the board, except for just cause, for more than ninety days following receipt of such application. In the event an applicant, after due notice, shall fail to appear before the board for examination, during such ninety-day period, as set forth in this section, the application shall be rejected, the applicant shall be notified of the action taken by the board and the examination fee shall be forfeited. (Ord. BL2004-178 § 2 (part), 2004; prior code § 33-1-66)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.52.080 Reexamination.

6.52.080 - Reexamination. Any applicant for examination and licensing as a master plumber or journeyman plumber who shall fail to pass the examination as required by the board of plumbing examiners and appeals may not apply for reexamination within thirty days following the date of such examination. (Ord. BL2004-178 § 2 (part), 2004; Ord. 89-828 § 3, 1989; prior code § 33-1-67)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.52.090 License—Issuance requirements.

6.52.090 - License—Issuance requirements. The board of plumbing examiners and appeals shall issue a license in each of the following classifications when the applicant has fulfilled the following requirements: A. A metropolitan master plumber's license shall be issued to every applicant who makes proper application for such license, successfully completes the required master plumber's examination and pays the required master plumber's licensing fee. B. A metropolitan journeyman plumber's license shall be issued to every applicant who makes proper application for such license, successfully completes the required journeyman plumber's examination, pays the required journeyman plumber's licensing fee and submits satisfactory evidence to the board that he is or will be regularly employed as a journeyman plumber by a duly registered and bonded metropolitan plumbing contractor and works under the direction and supervision of a licensed master plumber. C. A metropolitan apprentice plumber's license shall be issued to every applicant who pays the required apprentice plumber's licensing fee. D. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article to the contrary, any master plumber, journeyman plumber, or apprentice plumber who possesses a current and valid license issued in accordance with the provisions of Article I of Chapter 6.52 in effect at the time of the enactment of the ordinance requiring the licensing of plumbers, shall retain and be entitled to all of the rights and privileges of a licensed master plumber, licensed journeyman plumber, or licensed apprentice plumber, and shall be entitled to renew such license. (Ord. BL2004-178 §§ 1 (part), 2 (part), 6, 2004; Ord. 89-828 § 4, 1989; prior code § 33-1-68)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.52.100 Fees—Examination, licensing and renewal.

6.52.100 - Fees—Examination, licensing and renewal. A. The fees for examination and licensing of a master plumber, journeyman and apprentice plumber shall be as follows: Classification | Examination Fee | Original License | Renewal License Master plumber | $50.00 | $100.00 | $100.00 Journeyman plumber | 50.00 | 25.00 | 25.00 Apprentice plumber | — | 5.00 | 5.00 B. Renewal licenses for each classification shall be issued free of charge to any license holder over sixty-five years of age. (Ord. BL2004-178 § 2 (part), 2004; Ord. 94-1226 § 9, 1994; prior code § 33-1-69)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.52.110 License—Expiration and renewal—Penalty.

6.52.110 - License—Expiration and renewal—Penalty. A. Each license issued by the board of plumbing examiners and appeals shall expire on the last day of December following issuance and shall become invalid unless renewed. Such license shall be renewed annually and recorded in the office of the director of the department of codes administration, on or before the first day of January of each year. Such records shall be open to public inspection during the normal working hours of the department. B. There shall be in addition to the renewal fee set out in Section 6.52.100 a penalty of ten dollars per month for master plumbers or septic tank and overflow installers and five dollars per month for journeyman plumbers for each month in arrears past the expiration date of the license. (Ord. BL2004-178 § 1 (part), 2004; Ord. 94-1226 § 8, 1994; prior code § 33-1-70)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.52.120 License—Revocation and suspension—Penalties—Inspections.

6.52.120 - License—Revocation and suspension—Penalties—Inspections. A. The board of plumbing examiners and appeals shall revoke or suspend a license issued to any master plumber, journeyman, or apprentice plumber and may impose penalties including but not limited to the issuance of stop work orders, fines, and suspension of work privileges upon positive proof that such person or persons: 1. Knowingly violated the provisions of this chapter, Chapters 2.92 and 16.12, or the rules and regulations of the board; 2. Practiced fraud or deception in making application for or obtaining such license; 3. Is incompetent to perform a service to the public as a licensed plumber; 4. Permitted his license to be used, directly or indirectly, by another to obtain or perform plumbing work or services; 5. Is guilty of such other unprofessional or dishonorable conduct of such nature as to deceive or defraud the public; 6. Permitting himself or his company to represent itself as in the business or art of plumbing unless it employs a master plumber; 7. Knowingly took out a permit for work to be done by persons without a license issued by the board of plumbing examiners and appeals to engage in plumbing work, including the construction, renovation, installation, alteration, extension, removal, reparation, maintenance, or servicing of any plumbing installation for which a permit is required, as a master plumber, journeyman or apprentice plumber. B. No action of the board to suspend or revoke a license shall become final until the alleged offender has been given an opportunity to appear before the board to show cause as to why such action should not be taken. C. Notice, in writing, of the proposed action of the board to revoke or suspend a license shall be given to the holder of such license, stating the specific charges upon which such action is based. The notice shall stipulate that a hearing will be scheduled at a time and place set by the board for the aggrieved party to show cause why such action should not be made final. Such hearing shall not be held less than forty-eight hours following notice to the aggrieved party. Failure to appear before the board to answer the specific charges set forth in the notice shall be deemed just cause for final revocation or suspension of a license. D. In the event a license is revoked by the board, an application for reinstatement of such license shall not be accepted by the board within twelve months after the date of such revocation. E. The department of codes administration shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter through the use of initial work-site inspections, scheduled work-site inspections, and unannounced work-place inspections. (Ord. BL2004-178 §§ 1 (part), 2 (part), 7, 2004; prior code § 33-1-71)

Source: Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Metropolitan Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tn/metro_government_of_nashville_and_davidson_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CD_TIT6BULIRE_DIVIGERE_CH6.52PLPLSETACO_ARTIPLFetched: 10/28/2026