§ 17-38-204 - Local regulatory authority -- Exceptions. - Arkansas Statutes

17-38-204. Local regulatory authority -- Exceptions.

(a) Any city, town, or county having a system of either water, sewerage, or gas utility, or a combination of utilities, by ordinance, rules, regulations, or customer contract shall prescribe rules and regulations governing the regulations of plumbing not in conflict and equal to or exceeding the minimum standards prescribed by the Department of Health.

(b) No plumbing installation shall be installed in any building within this state except in accordance with or exceeding the minimum requirements of the department.

(c) No plumbing installation shall be started without the prescribed licenses, permits, and acceptable review of plans and specifications when required.

(d) Any city, town, sewerage district, water district, sewer association, water association, utility gas system, or county having a system of either water, sewerage, or gas utility, or a combination of utilities, shall set up a system of permits and inspections to assure that the public health and safety is protected.

(e) Reasonable fees for inspections may be charged.

(f) Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit any city, town, or county from having full authority to provide full supervision of the inspection of plumbing and plumbers by enactment of ordinances or regulations by the legal local government body.

(g) However, when a system of either water, sewerage, or gas has been or will be established which has not provided for a local board or inspector to supervise plumbing or gas, the department may take immediate charge and entire control of the plumbing inspection program. The State Board of Health shall prescribe full regulations including permits, permit fees, and inspections.

(h) When the plumbing control program of any county, city, town, water district, water association, sewerage district, sewer association, or water, sewer, or gas utility fails to provide a program at least equal to the minimum requirements of the department, the department shall take measures to assure that the minimum state requirements are met to protect the public health and safety of the county, city, town, water district, water association, sewerage district, or water, sewer, or gas utility.