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COMMITTEE REPORT
February 24, 2021
H. 3606
S. Printed 2/24/21--H.
Read the first time January 12, 2021.
To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3606) to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 40-59-265 so as to exempt certain improvements made to residential property from building permit, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking 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, including Section 40-59-260, 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;
(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 five 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.
WILLIAM E. SANDIFER III for Committee.
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 40-59-265 SO AS TO EXEMPT CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY FROM BUILDING PERMIT REQUIREMENTS, AND TO EXEMPT PROPERTY OWNERS WHO MAKE SUCH IMPROVEMENTS FROM RESIDENTIAL BUILDERS COMMISSION LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 40-59-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDERS COMMISSION AND ITS LICENSEES, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF RESIDENTIAL SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
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.
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