CHAPTER 8 - BUILDING CODES ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS - South Carolina Statutes

Title 6 - Local Government - Provisions Applicable to Special Purpose Districts and Other Political Subdivisions

CHAPTER 8.

BUILDING CODES ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

SECTION 6-8-10. Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

(1) "Building codes enforcement officer" means a person employed by a local jurisdiction, who is responsible for administering a building inspection department, enforcement or rendering interpretations of building, residential, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, fuel gas and energy conservation codes, performing building plan reviews, or performing inspections on one or more building systems.

(2) "Construction trade discipline" means a discipline, other than any activity regulated by Chapter 13, Title 46, related to the construction of a building including, but not limited to, building, electrical, gas, plumbing, mechanical, or energy services.

(3) "Contract inspector" means a person certified to perform a building inspection, other than a special inspection, in a construction trade discipline within a local jurisdiction on a contract basis.

(4) "Local jurisdiction" means a municipality or county of this State.

(5) "Special inspector" means a person certified to perform special inspections in one or more construction trade disciplines pursuant to the International Building Code.

(6) "Special registration" means a current authorization issued by the South Carolina Building Codes Council for a person who holds a certification by a recognized code organization, approved by the council, in no more than one construction trade discipline.

(7) "General registration" means a current authorization issued by the South Carolina Building Codes Council for a person certified in multiple construction trade disciplines by a code organization recognized and approved by the council.

SECTION 6-8-20. South Carolina Building Codes Council; powers and duties.

(A) The South Carolina Building Codes Council is responsible for the registration of a building codes enforcement officer, contract inspector, and special inspector pursuant to this chapter. The council or its designated representative may conduct hearings and proceedings required by law or considered necessary by the council. The Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation shall employ and supervise personnel needed to administer this chapter. The council may promulgate regulations for the proper enforcement of this chapter.

(B) The council shall keep a record of its hearings and proceedings and publish a roster of its registrants. A registrant shall notify the council of a change in required information within ten days of the change.

SECTION 6-8-30. Certificates of registration; provisional registration.

(A) Certificates of registration issued without examination to building codes enforcement officers employed in codes enforcement by July 2, 2003, remain valid only for the position and locality held at the time of registration and may be renewed.

(B) Upon initial employment by a local jurisdiction, an uncertified individual must be granted a provisional registration without examination which is valid from the date the individual is assigned to perform code enforcement, for the time period authorized by regulation for the requested registration classification. A current or previously registered individual holding all certifications required for the registration classification for which the person was hired, may be granted a provisional registration for a different classification. The provisional registration may not be renewed.

SECTION 6-8-40. Registration requirement for codes enforcement officer, contract inspector and special inspector; penalties.

(A) Unless registered pursuant to the requirements of this chapter, a person may not practice as a code enforcement officer, contract inspector, or special inspector in this State, except an architect licensed by the Board of Architectural Examiners of this State or an engineer registered by the Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors of this State may practice as a special inspector without additional registration required by this chapter.

(B) It is unlawful to act as a building codes enforcement officer, contract inspector, or special inspector without having first obtained authorization from the Building Codes Council and the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. A person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days for a first violation of this section. For each subsequent violation, a person is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars.

(C) A separate violation occurs on each day of a violation.

SECTION 6-8-50. Violations of chapter; injunction.

If the council has reason to believe that a person is violating or intends to violate a provision of this chapter, in addition to other remedies, it may order the person to refrain from the conduct. The council may apply to the Administrative Law Court for an injunction restraining the person from the conduct. The court may issue a temporary injunction ex parte not to exceed ten days and upon notice and full hearing may issue other orders in the matter it considers proper. No bond is required of the council by the court as a condition to the issuance of an injunction or order pursuant to this section.

SECTION 6-8-60. Application for registration; special and general registration.

(A) A person seeking registration as required by this chapter shall apply on a form prescribed by the council.

(B) An applicant shall furnish satisfactory proof to the council of valid certification by a recognized code organization or testing agency in the general or special construction trade discipline for which he is employed to perform an inspection. A special registration authorizes the registrant to practice in the named construction discipline only. A general registration authorizes a registrant to practice in all construction trade disciplines for which certification has been obtained. The council or its designated representatives shall review the guidelines employed by the code organization or testing agency in order to determine their continued compatibility with the requirements considered by the council to be consistent with this chapter.

(C) A local jurisdiction may impose additional requirements upon a person employed as a building codes enforcement officer or contract inspector in its jurisdiction.

SECTION 6-8-70. Duration of certificates; renewal; continuing education requirements; funding.

(A) All registrations, except provisional, expire on July first of each odd-numbered year unless renewed before that date. Renewal of a registration must be based upon a determination by council of the applicant's participation in approved continuing education. The council may promulgate regulations setting forth the continuing education requirements for a registrant. A person failing to renew registration by the expiration date may not practice until registered in accordance with this chapter and shall qualify in the manner provided for new registrants.

(B) Funding for the certification, training, and continuing education of building code enforcement officers employed by local jurisdictions must be appropriated to the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation in the manner provided in Section 38-7-35.

(C) Certification, training, and continuing education of building code enforcement officers providing inspection services to local jurisdictions on a contractual basis do not qualify for funding as provided in subsection (B).