Trade worker registration, direct supervision, and ratios.
Saint Paul Legislative Code § 370.17
in effectSec. 370.17. - Trade worker registration, direct supervision, and ratios.
(a) Definition. Trade worker shall mean any person performing the type of work described in section 370.02 who has not obtained a certificate of competency as a master or journeyperson for the applicable trade classification.
(b) Registration required. Every trade worker who works on any building or structure within the city shall be registered with the department of safety and inspections prior to performing any type of work covered by section 370.02. Each trade worker is required to register with the department of safety and inspections once each year he/she will be performing trade work covered by section 370.02. The registration shall include the full name, employer, trade classification, previous trade work experience and contact information of each trade worker.
(c) Evaluation. Trade workers seeking to register with the department of safety and inspections after four (4) years of experience in the trade shall complete and submit a trade worker evaluation/progress report to the department of safety and inspections at the time of their fifth and all subsequent years of registration as a trade worker. Information obtained through this process will be utilized by the department of safety and inspections to assess skill development, facilitate professional development, and review the fee requirement, trade experience documentation and competency test eligibility of trade workers with four (4) or more years of experience in their trade.
(d) Registration fees. Each trade worker registering to perform trade work covered by section 370.02 shall pay an annual registration fee based upon the following schedule.
(1) Tier 1 (zero to four (4) years) - Trade workers that have worked in the trade and have registered with the department of safety and inspections for four (4) years or less shall pay an annual registration fee as outlined in Chapter 310.18 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code.
(2) Tier 2 (five (5) to six (6) years) - Trade workers that have worked in the trade and have registered with the department of safety and inspections for five (5) to six (6) years shall pay an annual registration fee as outlined in Chapter 310.18 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code.
(3) Tier 3 (seven (7) years or more) - Trade workers that have registered with the department of safety and inspections for seven (7) or more years and have six (6) or more years of experience in the trade shall pay an annual registration fee equivalent to the fees required by section 370.05 for the applicable trade. In lieu of paying the tier 3 trade worker registration fee, trade workers with six (6) or more years of experience in the trade may make application and submit to an examination as to the trade workers qualifications and competency to obtain a certificate of competency in the trade pursuant to the requirements of section 370.05.
(e) Direct supervision. Registered trade workers may only work under the direct supervision of a journeyperson or master who holds an applicable certificate of competency to perform the relevant type of work. For the purposes of this section, the term "direct supervision" shall mean that:
(1) A supervising journeyperson or master certificate of competency holder in the type of work being performed by a registered trade worker and employed by the same employer shall be physically present and immediately available for assistance and direction;
(2) Electronic or telephonic supervision of any kind shall not be sufficient to meet the requirement that a supervising journeyperson or master be immediately available;
(3) The supervising journeyperson or master shall actually review the trade work being performed by the registered trade worker; and
(4) The supervising journeyperson or master shall be able to determine and shall determine that all trade work performed by the registered trade worker is performed in compliance with all applicable code requirements.
(f) Ratios. On any project the ratios of registered trade workers to journeypersons or master certificate of competency holders for the type of work covered by section 370.02 shall be as follows:
(1) Fuel burner equipment and system installation and repair:
a. Gas: No more than one (1) registered trade worker for three (3) journeypersons or master certificate of competency holders.
b. Oil: No more than one (1) registered trade worker for three (3) journeypersons or master certificate of competency holders.
c. Fuels other than gas and oil: No more than one (1) registered trade worker for three (3) journeypersons or master certificate of competency holders.
(2) Lathing: No more than one (1) registered trade worker for the first journeyperson or master certificate of competency holder, and thereafter no more than one (1) registered trade worker for three (3) journeypersons or master certificate of competency holders.
(3) Plastering: No more than one (1) registered trade worker for the first journeyperson or master certificate of competency holder, and thereafter no more than one (1) registered trade worker for three (3) journeypersons or master certificate of competency holders.
(4) Plumbing: No more than one (1) registered trade worker for three (3) journeypersons or master certificate of competency holders.
(5) Refrigeration equipment installation and repair: No more than one (1) registered trade worker for three (3) journeypersons or master certificate of competency holders.
(6) Steam fitting and piping system installation and repair: No more than one (1) registered trade worker for the first journeyperson or master certificate of competency holder, and thereafter no more than one (1) registered trade worker for three (3) journeypersons or master certificate of competency holders.
(7) Warm air heating work - residential: No more than one (1) registered trade worker for each journeyperson or master certificate of competency holder.
(8) Ventilation work - commercial: No more than one (1) registered trade worker for the first journeyperson or master certificate of competency holder and thereafter no more than one (1) registered trade worker for three (3) journeypersons or master certificate of competency holders.
(9) Concrete masonry and cement finishing: No more than one (1) registered trade worker for the first journeyperson or master certificate of competency holder, and thereafter no more than one (1) registered trade worker for four (4) journeypersons or master certificate of competency holders.
(Ord. No. 17303, § 2, 10-29-85; C.F. No. 98-91, § 6, 3-4-98; C.F. No. 06-210, § 1, 3-22-06; C.F. No. 07-149, § 122, 3-28-07; C.F. No. 08-1011, § 2, 10-8-08; Ord 18-53, § 9, 11-14-18)
Source: City of Saint Paul, Minnesota, City Charter, Legislative Code and Administrative Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mn/st._paul/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIILECO_TITXXIXLI_CH370BUTRCECO_S370.17TRWOREDISURAFetched: 11/1/2026