Reference is to Printer's Date 3/22/18-H.
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting all after the enacting words and inserting:
/ SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 59, title 40 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 40-59-265.
(A) This chapter does not apply to an
owner of residential property who improves the property when the
improvements are for the following:
(1) building:
(a)
one-story detached accessory structures, provided that the
floor area does not exceed two hundred square feet;
(b)
fences not over seven feet high;
(c)
retaining walls that are not over four feet in height
measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall,
unless supporting a surcharge;
(d)
water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity
does not exceed five thousand gallons and the ratio of height to
diameter or width does not exceed two to one;
(e)
sidewalks and driveways;
(f)
painting, papering, tiling,
carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work;
(g)
prefabricated swimming pools that are less than
twenty-four inches deep;
(h)
swings and other playground equipment;
(i)
window awnings supported by an
exterior wall that do not project more than fifty-four inches
from the exterior wall and do not require additional
support;
(j)
decks not exceeding two hundred
square feet in area, that are not more than thirty inches above
grade at any point, are not attached to a dwelling and do not
serve the exit door that serves as egress from habitable levels
including habitable attics and basements;
(2) electrical:
(a)
listed cord-and-plug connected temporary decorative
lighting;
(b)
reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles but not the
outlets;
(c)
replacement of branch circuit overcurrent devices of the
required capacity in the same location;
(d)
electrical wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus or
equipment operating at less than twenty-five volts and not
capable of supplying more than fifty watts of energy;
(e)
minor repair work, including the replacement of lamps or
the connection of approved portable electrical equipment to
approved permanently installed receptacles;
(3) gas:
(a)
portable heating, cooking or clothes drying
appliances;
(b)
replacement of any minor part that does not alter approval
of equipment or make such equipment unsafe;
(c)
portable-fuel-cell appliances that are not connected to a
fixed-piping system and are not interconnected to a power
grid;
(4) mechanical:
(a)
portable heating appliances;
(b)
portable ventilation appliances;
(c)
portables cooling units;
(d)
steam, hot- or chilled-water piping within any heating or
cooling equipment regulated by the South Carolina Residential
Building Code;
(e)
replacement of any minor part that does not alter approval
of equipment or make such equipment unsafe;
(f)
portable evaporative coolers;
(g)
self-contained refrigeration systems containing ten pounds
or less of refrigerant or that are actuated by motors of one
horsepower or less;
(h)
portable-fuel-cell appliances that are not connected to a
fixed-piping system and are not interconnected to a power
grid;
(5) plumbing:
(a)
the stopping of leaks in drains, water, soil, waste or
vent pipe; provided, however, that if any concealed trap,
drainpipe, water, soil, waste or vent pipe becomes defective and
it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new
material, such work must be considered as new work and a permit
must be obtained and inspection made as provided in the South
Carolina Residential Building Code;
(b)
the clearing of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in
pipes, valves or fixtures, and the removal and reinstallation of
water closets, provided such repairs do not involve or require
the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes, or
fixtures.
(B) The improvements
delineated in subsection (A) are exempt from building permit
application requirements and a homeowner who makes these
improvements is not required to have a residential builder or
residential specialty contractor's license or be subject to the
penalties provided in this chapter."
SECTION 2. Section 40-59-20(7) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(7) 'Residential
specialty contractor' means an independent contractor
who is not a licensed residential builder, who
contracts with a licensed residential builder, general
contractor, or individual property owner to do construction
work, repairs, improvement, or reimprovement which requires
special skills and involves the use of specialized construction
trades or craft, when the undertakings exceed two hundred
dollars and are not regulated by the provisions of Chapter 11.
A residential specialty contractor is not authorized to
construct additions to residential buildings or structures
without supervision by a residential builder or other
appropriately licensed person or entity. Residential
specialty contracting includes the following areas of
contracting and other areas as the commission may recognize by
regulation:
(a)
plumbers;
(b)
electricians;
(c)
heating and air conditioning installers and repairers;
(d)
vinyl and aluminum siding installers;
(e)
insulation installers;
(f)
roofers;
(g)
floor covering installers;
(h)
masons;
(i)
dry wall installers;
(j)
carpenters;
(k)
stucco installers;
(l)
painters/ and wall paperers.
Plumbers, electricians, and heating and
air conditioning installers and repairers must be issued
licenses after passing the required examination. Vinyl and
aluminum siding installers, insulation installers, roofers,
floor covering installers, masons, dry wall installers,
carpenters, stucco installers, and painters and wall paperers
must be issued registrations.
A residential specialty contractor is
prohibited from undertaking work outside the scope of his
license or registration, including employing, hiring, and
contracting or subcontracting with others to perform such work
on his behalf.
The provisions of this chapter do
not preclude a licensed residential builder from also obtaining
licensure or registration as a residential specialty contractor
in an area of contracting identified in statute or recognized by
the commission. In addition, a residential builder, who is
licensed by examination in this State, is authorized to perform
work in any of the areas of residential specialty contracting
without separately obtaining a residential specialty contractor
license or registration."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.