CONTRACTORS

Southaven Code of Ordinances tit. IV, ch. 5

in effect

Southaven Code of Ordinances § 4-201 Master, journeyman categories.

Sec. 4-201. - Master, journeyman categories. For the purpose of this chapter, there are hereby established the categories of master and journeyman to apply to the trades of plumber, electrician and mechanical contractor. (Ord. No. 21, § 1, 4-6-82)

Southaven Code of Ordinances § 4-202 License required.

Sec. 4-202. - License required. (a) No permits shall be issued, nor shall any work be performed which is regulated by the plumbing code, electrical code, mechanical code and the administrative ordinances adopted by the city until the person desiring to perform such work obtains a master license from the city to perform such work. This master license shall be obtained in accordance with the subsequent sections of this chapter. The work items listed below shall be exempt from the above-stated license requirements: (1) Repairs or replacements of existing plumbing fixtures, washing machines, dishwashers and disposals; (2) Servicing and repair of mechanical systems; (3) Replacement of internal components of mechanical systems; (4) Electrical repairs-replacements of ballast in light fixtures, change out fixture in the same location as removed from, and any electrical repair where no additional wiring and moving of conduit or wiring are involved. (b) Not to be confused with the above exemptions are replacements of any electrical wiring, panel boxes, residential or commercial sewers, hot water heaters, condensing units, furnaces, and refrigerated cases and freezers for display and sale of merchandise. (c) Regardless of whether a license and permit is required, nothing in this section shall preclude the necessity of all work, replacements, servicing and repairs being performed in accordance with the codes adopted by the city, nor shall it preclude the necessity of obtaining a city privilege license or any other license required by any other law. (Ord. No. 21, § 2, 4-6-82; Ord. of 1-5-93(2), § 1; Ord. of 5-6-93, § 1; Ord. of 6-7-94(2), § II)

Southaven Code of Ordinances § 4-203 Qualifications.

Sec. 4-203. - Qualifications. Before any journeyman license shall be issued, the applicant shall prove to the license commission that he has had at least two (2) years of experience acquired by active and continuing work in the trade for which he is applying for a license. Before any master license shall be issued, the applicant shall prove to the license commission that he has at least four (4) years of experience acquired by active and continuing work in the trade for which he is applying for a license. (Ord. No. 21, § 3, 4-6-82)

Southaven Code of Ordinances § 4-204 Examinations.

Sec. 4-204. - Examinations. (a) In order to receive a master or journeyman license, a person must submit an application with the information requested on the form provided by the director of the license commission. The master and journeyman application fees shall be established by the governing authority by resolution. The applicant shall be given a written examination administered by the license commission. The master license examination shall be sufficient to test the ability of the applicant to determine the proper quantity, size and type of piping, wiring, equipment and other apparatus, and to properly install the same. The journeyman license examination shall be less difficult and shall be designed to ensure that the prospective journeyman is capable of properly installing pipes, wiring equipment and other apparatus. (b) The license commission reserves the right to deny issuance of a license to any person who the commission determines to be unqualified or who has a record of performing unacceptable work and work which does not comply with the adopted codes. Such determination shall be made at a license commission meeting at which the applicant shall be given the right to answer all charges. Denial of the license shall require a two-thirds vote. (c) Exempt from taking and passing this test in order to secure a license are the following: (1) Persons in compliance with MCA 1972, § 27-17-457; (2) Persons holding a current certificate of responsibility as issued by the state board of public contractors authority work for which the license is being requested. (Ord. No. 21, § 4, 4-6-82; Ord. of 3-19-85, § 1; Ord. of 4-16-96(2); Ord. of 4-21-98)

Southaven Code of Ordinances § 4-205 County license holders.

Sec. 4-205. - County license holders. Everyone holding a master license from the DeSoto County License Commission to perform plumbing, electrical or mechanical work in the unincorporated areas of DeSoto County shall be issued a master license with no requirement to take an examination provided such individuals follow process to transfer all license and bond documentation and posting to the city for record and keep all annual fees current. If these credentials are allowed to lapse, the individual may be required to secure their license in the regular manner otherwise provided by this chapter - this shall be at the discretion of the city based on the particular circumstance of the lapse; however, any credential allowed to lapse for one (1) year or more shall require the individual in question to pursue a license per the manner otherwise provided by this chapter. If renewal is granted without reexamination, a penalty not to exceed double the original renewal fee shall be imposed. (Ord. No. 21, § 5, 4-6-82; Amd. of 4-20-04(2), § 11)

Southaven Code of Ordinances § 4-206 Homeowner exemption.

Sec. 4-206. - Homeowner exemption. (a) Any person who wishes to perform plumbing, electrical or mechanical work in a house or an addition to a house which he is constructing for himself and which he owns and will live in or in a residential accessory building to be constructed on his own residential lot is hereby exempt from the regulations contained in this chapter unless otherwise specifically stated. Such homeowner shall sign a statement certifying he will be performing the work and will not hire anyone to perform the work. (b) Nothing in this section shall preclude the necessity of the homeowner obtaining the required permits, performing the work in accordance with the construction codes and obtaining the necessary inspections. (Ord. No. 21, § 6, 4-6-82)

Southaven Code of Ordinances § 4-207 Supervision of work by license holder.

Sec. 4-207. - Supervision of work by license holder. (a) It shall be the responsibility of the master who has received the permit for the job to at least supervise the job if he does not actually perform the work. The master shall be responsible for the work being performed in accordance with the applicable codes. (b) If the master cannot be on the job when work for which he is licensed is being performed, there shall be at least one (1) journeyman, who is licensed through procedures of this chapter on the job to perform the work and to supervise other employees or subcontractors of the master. The following work items are exempt from the requirements that a license holder be on the job and supervising the work: (1) Trenching for drain pipes; (2) Installation of a building sewer. (c) In the trades of electrical, plumbing and mechanical, all workers other than master license holders and journeyman license holders will be required to carry an apprentice license for the city at a fee in the amount of twenty dollars ($20.00). (d) All journeymen on the job will be allowed no more than three (3) apprentices. In the event that more than three (3) are needed, another journeyman or master license holder will be required to be on the site. (Ord. No. 21, § 7, 4-6-82; Ord. of 4-19-88, § I; Ord. of 1-5-93(2), § 2; Ord. of 6-7-94(2), § III)

Southaven Code of Ordinances § 4-208 Bonds.

Sec. 4-208. - Bonds. Before any permit is issued to master license holder, the applicant shall provide a bond in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) issued to the city. This bond shall be written to expire December 31 of each year. A ten thousand dollar ($10,000.00) bond shall also be required for builders, sign, fence and pool contractors. The homeowner exemption in section 4-206 regarding licenses, shall also apply to bonds when the homeowner is performing his own building work. (Ord. No. 21, § 8, 4-6-82; Ord. of 6-7-94(2), § II; Res. of 1-19-21(1))

Southaven Code of Ordinances § 4-209 Renewal of license.

Sec. 4-209. - Renewal of license. All licenses shall expire on the last working day of each calendar year and may be renewed by submitting a renewal fee - as determined by the mayor and board of aldermen. The master license holders shall also submit a new bond drawn up to expire the last working day of each calendar year. Bonds for new master license holders drawn up during the year will expire the last working day of that calendar year. Renewal fees and bonds received after the last working day of each calendar year may render the license null and void and the applicable examination may have to be retaken for the reinstatement of the license - this shall be at the discretion of the city based on the particular circumstance of the delay in delivering the renewal fees and bonds; however, any credential allowed to lapse for one (1) year or more, without application for renewal, shall be required to retake the applicable examination for the reinstatement of the license. Appeals to any decision shall be brought before a body to be appointed by the mayor and board for such reviews - as required. If renewal is granted without reexamination, a penalty not to exceed double the original renewal fee shall be imposed. (Ord. No. 21, § 9, 4-6-82; Ord. of 11-20-90; Amd. of 4-20-04(2), § 12)

Southaven Code of Ordinances § 4-210 Identification on vehicles.

Sec. 4-210. - Identification on vehicles. The vehicles used by plumbers, electricians and mechanical contractors in the conduct of their business within the city shall have affixed or printed on both sides of the vehicle, a sign giving the name of the company and the license number of the license holder, in letters and numbers no less than two (2) inches high on the top line and no less than one and one-half (1½) inches on the second line. Such letters and numbers shall be of contrasting colors so as to be visible on the vehicle. After notification, the license holder shall have fourteen (14) working days in which to comply with this section. Failure to comply with this section shall result in the withholding of permits until such time as the license holder meets the requirements of this section. (Ord. No. 21, § 10, 4-6-82; Ord. of 10-21-86, § 1)

Southaven Code of Ordinances § 4-211 Penalties.

Sec. 4-211. - Penalties. (a) Any person licensed within the city to perform work as regulated by this chapter who violates any provision of this chapter shall be penalized as follows: (1) 1st offense—Penalty in the amount of the permit fee or fifty dollars ($50.00), whichever is greater. (2) 2nd offense within one (1) year—Penalty in the amount of the permit fee or two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00), whichever is greater. (3) 3rd offense within one (1) year—Penalty in the amount of the permit fee or five hundred dollars ($500.00), whichever is greater. (4) 4th offense within one (1) year—The person's license shall be suspended for a period of six (6) months, and there shall be imposed a one hundred dollar ($100.00) license reinstatement fee. In addition to the aforementioned prescribed penalties, any person licensed within the city to perform work as regulated by this chapter who violates any provision of this chapter may be issued a citation to appear before the municipal court of the city and upon conviction of the misdemeanor offense shall be sentenced to pay a fine not to exceed the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) and/or to serve six (6) months in jail. In case of continuing violations without reasonable effort on the part of the person to correct the same shall constitute a separate offense each day the violation continues. A penalty in the amount of fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first offense will be imposed on any contractor who does not call for routine inspections during the construction period. After thirty (30) days from the completion of the job, if a final inspection has not been called, the penalty will be imposed. (b) Any person who is not licensed in the city, other than a homeowner performing work under the homeowner exemption clause contained in section 4-206 of this chapter, who violates any provision of this chapter, including the requirements for license holders and contractors, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be sentenced to pay a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). (c) The penalties for violation of the provisions of this chapter committed by homeowners performing work under the homeowner exemption clause contained in section 4-206 of this chapter shall be in the amount of the permit fee. (d) If a person's master license is suspended, he shall be allowed to complete the jobs for which he already holds a permit; however, he shall not be issued any additional permits during the period of suspension. Any suspension may be appealed to the Southaven License Commission. The action of the license commission may be appealed to the mayor and board of aldermen. The suspension period shall not commence until the final decision is rendered. (e) If a violation of the city's construction codes is not corrected within ten (10) calendar days of the date the permit holder was notified of the violation, no further permits shall be issued to the offender until the violation(s) are corrected. The building official may grant an extension in time to correct the violation(s) if he deems it appropriate for the amount of time necessary to physically correct the violation(s). (f) The license commission, in its discretion, may call, collect or otherwise demand the proceeds of the license bond from the bonding company of any license holder who refuses or otherwise does not correct any violation of this chapter or the city's construction codes after having been given adequate time to correct the violation(s). The license shall automatically be revoked upon the calling of the bond. The person shall not be granted another license in the city until after one (1) year from the date of revocation of his former license, and, furthermore, the license shall not be granted until the person satisfies the examination exemption clause of MCA 1972, § 27-17-457, as amended. (g) The license commission shall also have the authority to suspend or revoke licenses upon repeated violations committed over a period in excess of one (1) year as contained in subsection (a) of this section. The license shall not be revoked until after the alleged offender has been given the opportunity to defend his actions. The city may also take any other legal action prescribed by law to uphold the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. No. 21, § 11, 4-6-82; Ord. of 12-17-85, § 1; Ord. of 1-5-93(2), § 3; Ord. of 6-7-94(2), § II)

Source: City of Southaven, Mississippi, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ms/southaven/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CO_TITIVBUBURE_CH5COFetched: 11/1/2026