GENERAL LICENSE PROVISIONS

Omaha Municipal Code ch. 49, art. II, div. 1

in effect

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-200 Business activities requiring licensure.

Sec. 49-200. - Business activities requiring licensure. (a) Within the jurisdictional area, it shall be unlawful to provide services or operate any business consisting of the following activities without the proper license issued by the plumbing board: (1) Plumbing. (2) Lawn sprinkling. (3) Water conditioning. (b) Within the jurisdictional area, it shall be unlawful to operate a drain cleaning business without registration with the board. (c) In the case of a partnership, corporation or other entity operating or providing services covered under this chapter, at least one executive officer, who is liable to service of regular processes, shall be required to hold a master plumber, water conditioning contractor or lawn sprinkler contractor license. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15)

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-201 Individuals requiring licensure.

Sec. 49-201. - Individuals requiring licensure. (a) Within the jurisdictional area, it shall be unlawful to represent oneself as one of the following without the proper license issued by the board: (1) Master plumber. (2) Journeyman plumber. (3) Lawn sprinkling contractor. (4) Sewer layer. (5) Water conditioning contractor. (6) Water conditioning installer. (b) The following individuals shall not require licensure, but shall be required to register with the board: (1) Drain cleaners. (2) Lawn sprinkler installers. (3) Plumber apprentices. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15)

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-202 Licensee compliance under all jurisdictional authorities.

Sec. 49-202. - Licensee compliance under all jurisdictional authorities. Each license holder shall comply with all provisions of this Code, as well as all federal and state laws, city ordinances, rules and regulations related to plumbing. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15)

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-203 Workmanship quality and supervision.

Sec. 49-203. - Workmanship quality and supervision. All plumbing work shall be executed by, or under the supervision of, a master plumber, water conditioning contractor, or lawn sprinkler contractor. Such supervisor assumes responsibility for all workmanship compliance with chapter requirements and industry standards. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15)

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-204 License examination.

Sec. 49-204. - License examination. (a) Schedule. (1) Upon satisfactory completion of all license prerequisites outlined in this chapter and written application for examination for the applicable license, the plumbing board may approve an eligible applicant or former licensee to sit for the appropriate license examination. (2) Upon approval of the applicant or former licensee to sit for examination and payment of the examination and payment of the examination fee required below, the examination shall be given at the next scheduled or adjourned meeting of the plumbing board. (b) Examination fees. The applicant or licensee shall be required to pay an examination fee to the recording secretary of the plumbing board prior to sitting for the appropriate license examination. Examination fees shall be as follows: Master plumber .....$75.00 Journeyman plumber .....50.00 Lawn sprinkling contractor .....25.00 Water conditioning contractor .....25.00 Water conditioning installer .....25.00 Sewer layer .....30.00 (c) Re-examination after failure. In the event an applicant or former licensee fails to pass a license examination to the satisfaction of the plumbing board, the applicant or former licensee may take another examination after paying the required examination fee as follows: (1) First, second and third failed attempt: The applicant or former licensee must wait 90 days after the failed examination date to sit again for re-examination. (2) Fourth and all subsequent failed attempts: Allowed to retest 180 days after each failed attempt. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15; Ord. No. 42654, § 2, 8-13-21)

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-205 License fees.

Sec. 49-205. - License fees. Original license and renewal fees shall be determined as provided in section 19-73 and section 19-74. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15)

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-206 License bond requirement.

Sec. 49-206. - License bond requirement. Upon passage of the applicable licensing examination, any license holder desiring to operate a business under the provisions of this chapter shall file a $10,000.00 bond with sufficient sureties with the plumbing board. Such bond shall protect the city against liability resulting from the license holder's carelessness or negligence resulting in substandard or unsafe workmanship performed by the license holder or workers under the license holder's supervision. Such a bond shall be in effect during the entirety of the license. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15)

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-207 License holder registration.

Sec. 49-207. - License holder registration. Upon issuance, all license holders shall register their full name, residence, and place of business with the plumbing board recording secretary. The license holder shall notify the plumbing board recording secretary of any change of residence or business location within 30 days of said change. An applicant shall not be issued a license until registered as required herein. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15)

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-208 License issuance.

Sec. 49-208. - License issuance. The plumbing board shall issue a license to any eligible applicant or former licensee who fulfills all of the applicable licensing requirements of this chapter. The plumbing board may waive the pre-requisite of consecutive years of apprenticeship or experience for masters and journeymen applicants when active military service interrupts the applicant's employment. The plumbing board may also waive said requirement based on illness, disability, or other medically related condition. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15)

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-209 License transfer.

Sec. 49-209. - License transfer. All licenses issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be non-transferable. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15)

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-210 Assignability.

Sec. 49-210. - Assignability. A master plumber, water conditioning contractor or lawn sprinkler contractor license shall only be valid and in effect for one company or business, for whom the license holder is a full time employee, and shall not be assignable to, or be available for use by any other company, or business; except and unless that license holder owns 50 percent or more of more than one company, or business, in which case he may use the license for each such company, or business. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15)

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-211 License misappropriation.

Sec. 49-211. - License misappropriation. No master plumber, water conditioning contractor, or lawn sprinkler contractor shall directly or indirectly misuse their license by allowing another person to use their license to: (a) Engage in unlawful plumbing work. (b) Secure a plumbing permit. (c) Violate any provision of chapter 49 of this Code. Any licensee who allows another to use their license shall be in violation of this section. Said misuse of a license shall be considered cause for revocation (see section 49-217 for revocation procedure) and will be subject to a hearing before the board. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15)

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-212 Display identification on vehicles.

Sec. 49-212. - Display identification on vehicles. All vehicles utilized by an individual, business or company operating under the provisions of this chapter shall display the license holder's name, business or company name on both sides of the vehicle. Letter height shall be a minimum of two inches. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15)

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-213 Display of license in place business.

Sec. 49-213. - Display of license in place business. All license holders operating under the provisions of this chapter shall post and display their license and registration in a conspicuous location at their place of business. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15)

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-214 License expiration.

Sec. 49-214. - License expiration. All original and renewal licenses issued by the board shall expire on December 31 of each year. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15)

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-215 License renewal on or before the expiration date.

Sec. 49-215. - License renewal on or before the expiration date. All license renewals submitted on or before March 31 after the date of expiration shall be granted without a re-examination unless an affidavit or other evidence deemed sufficient by the plumbing board are filed alleging the licensee is incompetent or otherwise not entitled to renewal. Should such evidence be submitted to the plumbing board, the license holder shall receive prior written notice of the board hearing at which evidence shall be presented demonstrating the license holder's incompetence, willful breach of this chapter's provisions or other such violation of this Code or lawful board requirements. Should the plumbing board determine during such hearing the license should not be renewed, the license renewal shall not be granted until the applicant passes the applicable licensing examination. If during the hearing the board should determine to suspend or revoke the license, the license may only be reinstated as allowed in section 49-217. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15)

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-216 License renewal after expiration date.

Sec. 49-216. - License renewal after expiration date. The board may reinstate an expired license if the holder applies for reinstatement within 12 months of the expiration date and meets the following conditions: (a) Continuing education hours requirements are current per section 49-218. (b) No evidence has been submitted to the plumbing board of licensee incompetence. (c) Payment of a late re-issuance fee equal to four times the original renewal fee. Any license holder failing to renew his/her license within 12 months after the expiration date must pass the applicable licensing examination before the plumbing board reissues a license. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15)

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-217 License revocation or suspension.

Sec. 49-217. - License revocation or suspension. Any license or registration issued under this chapter may be revoked or suspended at any time for cause upon submission of an affidavit or other evidence deemed sufficient by the plumbing board alleging the licensee is incompetent or otherwise violating the provisions of this chapter. Should such evidence be submitted to the plumbing board, the license holder shall receive prior written notice of the board hearing during which evidence shall [be] presented demonstrating the license holder's incompetence, willful breach of this chapter's provisions or other such violation of this Code or lawful board requirements. Should the plumbing board determine sufficient cause exists; the board may suspend or revoke the license for cause. License suspension shall be for such term or conditions judged appropriate by the board. No suspension shall exceed six months. License revocation for cause shall be in effect for one year. After the expiration of one year, the former license holder must pass the applicable license examination for license reinstatement. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15)

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-218 Requirements for continuing education.

Sec. 49-218. - Requirements for continuing education. All license holders shall fulfill a continuing education requirement to ensure their knowledge and skills remain current with industry innovation and pertinent state and local regulations. The following provisions shall apply: (a) License holders are required to submit proof of their continuing education participation to the plumbing board by December 31 of each calendar year. Failure to report compliance of the required hours may lead to license suspension or revocation by the plumbing board. The hours of continuing education required for each license are as follows: (1) Master plumber .....8 hours (2) Journeymen plumber .....8 hours (3) Sewer layer .....4 hours (4) Water conditioning contractor and installer .....4 hours (5) Lawn sprinkler contractor .....4 hours (b) All classes or seminars shall have prior plumbing board approval and may cover any of the following subjects: (1) Omaha Plumbing Code, MUD rules, plumbing theory, or other related subjects. (2) New and existing products and their installation. (c) The plumbing board may exercise the following options regarding written education waiver requests: (1) Extend the deadline for the license holder to complete the required hours or reassign excess hours from previous years when the license holder demonstrates good cause. (2) Allow a license holder who does not complete the required hours in a calendar year to complete missing hours plus: (i) An additional four-hour course for master and journeyman licensees for each year the license holder is delinquent. (ii) An additional two-hour course for sewer layer, lawn sprinkler contractor or water conditioning contractor licensees for each year the license holder is delinquent. (3) Grant a waiver based on license holder illness, disability or other medically-related condition (or that of an immediate family member). The written waiver request shall be accompanied by a letter: (i) Addressed to the plumbing board. (ii) Written and signed by a licensed physician stating the nature of the impeding medical condition and the correlation between that condition and circumstances that hinder the license holder's ability to comply with this section. (4) Grant a continuing education waiver for other demonstrated good cause. The request shall be in writing and accompanied by supporting documentation that the licensee desires the plumbing board to consider in connection to the request. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15)

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-219 Temporary license issuance.

Sec. 49-219. - Temporary license issuance. In the event of the death or resignation of a registered license holder, designated persons associated with the license holder's former employer or business may apply for a temporary license allowing the business to operate during its transitional period. Such licenses shall be valid for no longer than one year and shall not require a license examination. The temporary license holder shall be responsible to ensure business compliance with all chapter provisions. Eligible temporary license applicants are: (a) A licensed journeyman with a minimum of four years holding a license replacing a licensed master plumber. (b) A licensed water conditioning installer with a minimum of four years holding a license replacing a licensed water-conditioning contractor. (c) A business owner replacing the licensed lawn sprinkler contractor. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15)

Omaha Municipal Code § 49-220 Retired license.

Sec. 49-220. - Retired license. An active license holder may apply to the plumbing board for a retired license. Upon application and payment of renewal fees ordinarily applicable to an active license, the board may issue a retired license under the following provisions: (a) The holder of a retired license shall not engage in any activities for which a license is required by this chapter. (b) The continuing education requirements of section 49-218(a) shall not be required as prerequisite for the issuance, maintenance, or renewal of the retired license. (c) A retired license holder may request reactivation of the holder's active license. The board may reactivate the license upon compliance with the following: (1) Payment of applicable license renewal fees. (2) Fulfillment of board approved continuing education requirements in every year the applicant held a retired license. (3) Filing of a bond pursuant to sections 49-206 and 49-305. (Ord. No. 40524, § 1, 10-20-15)

Source: City of Omaha, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ne/omaha/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=OMMUCOCHGEORVOII_CH49PL_ARTIILI_DIV1GELIPRFetched: 10/28/2026