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Construction Work Regulated?

Who Regulates Construction?

Requirements?

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Construction Work Regulated?

Licensing is required for any commercial and industrial work involving construction, superintending, alterations, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, reclamation or demolition of any building, highway, sewer, structure, site work, grading, paving or any improvement where the contract between owner and general contractor is $50,000 or more. Additionally, general contractors, constructing, superintending, repairing or renovating swimming pools where the cost is $5,000 or more, must be licensed. Subcontractors performing work of $50,000 or more under a licensed general contractor also come under licensing requirements. A subcontractor is not required to be licensed at the time a project, but must be licensed with the board prior to beginning work on the project. The above applies even if you have electrical, plumbers, gas fitters, heating and air conditioning, refrigeration, or some of the other trade licenses when your contract is $50,000 or more.

Licensing is required for residential home builders and remodelers, if a residential home builder or remodeler constructs a residence or structure for sale or who, for a fixed price, commission, fee or wage, undertakes or offers to undertake the construction or superintending of the construction of any residence or structure which is not over three floors in height and which does not have more than four units in an apartment complex, or repair, improvement thereof, to be used by another as a residence, when the cost of undertaking exceeds $10,000.

Plumbing and HVAC contractors and journeyman are required to be licensed. Manufactured housing installers, retailers, manufacturers and sales persons must also be licensed.

Who Regulates Construction?

Highway Prequalification information can be obtained from: Alabama Department of Transportation 1409 Coliseum Boulevard, Montgomery, AL 36110 (334)242-6444/Fax (334)264-9776 http://www.dot.state.al.us

General commercial contractors and swimming pool contractors may obtain applications and licensing information from: Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors 2525 Fairlane Drive, Montgomery, AL 36116 (334)272-5030/Fax (334)395-5336 http://www.genconbd.alabama.gov

Residential contractors and remodelers may obtain application and licensing information from: Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board 445 Herron Street, Montgomery, AL 36130, (334)242-2230/Fax (334)263-1397

Plumbers and gas fitters may obtain application and licensing information from: Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board 216 Aquarius Drive, Suite 319, Homewood, AL 35209, (205)945-4857/Fax (205)945-9915 http://www.pgfb.alabama.gov

Electrical contractors and journeyman may obtain applications and licensing information from: Alabama Electrical Contractors Board 2777 Zelda Road, Montgomery, AL 36106, (334)420-7232, (866)873-4664/Fax (334)63-6115 http://www.aecb.alabama.gov

Fire alarm contractors, sprinkler contractors, fire pumps and blasters may obtain applications and licensing information: Alabama Insurance Department State Fire Marshal's Office PO Box 303351, Montgomery, AL 36130-3352, (334)241-4166/Fax (334)241-4158 http://www.aldoi.gov

Heating and air conditioning and/or refrigeration contractors may obtain application and licensing information: Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors 100 North Union Street, Suite 986, Montgomery, AL 36104, (334)242-5550/Fax (334)242-5555 http://www.hacralabama.gov

Manufactured Housing installers, retailers, manufacturers and sales persons may obtain applications and licensing information from: Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission 350 South Decatur Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 (334)242-4036/Fax (334)240-3178 http://www.amh.alabama.gov

Requirements?

General Commercial Contractors: Prime contractors must submit a financial statement, verification of 3 years experience and an application fee of $300. Project financial limits are based on the applicant's net worth or working capital (whichever results in the lower amount). Licenses expire annually and are renewed for 1 year at the cost of $200. amount of $100 from each new application or renewal fee is designated by law to go to qualifying institutions of higher education for building construction or civil engineering programs. An agreement with a prime contractor, but must be licensed prior to beginning work. The application fee for subcontractors is $150 with an annual renewal fee of $100.

Residential Home Builders and Remodelers: New applicants are required to pass an examination, which includes testing on experience and ability. A new applicant and renewal applicant must submit a credit report and a license fee of $250. Renewal deadline is November 30th of each year; licenses expire annually on December 31st. The average processing time for a new application is 60 days.

Residential home builders and remodelers must participate in a recovery fund by paying an annual fee of $15 (included in the license and renewal $250 fee).

Electricians: Applicants are required to pass a business law and trade examination with a minimum score of 75% and a documentation of 8,000 hours of experience in a supervisory capacity. The application fee is $165. The average processing time on a new application of 60 days. Journeyman electricians are required to pass an examination with a score of 75% and provided documentation of 8,000 hours of experience. The application fee is $115. The annual Electrical Contractor license fee is $150 and there are 14 CEU'S required every other year. The annual Journeyman license fee is $35 and there are no CEU's required. Journeyman electricians are not required to be licensed.

Fire Alarm Contractors: Applicants are required to have a NICET level III or higher certification. Applicants must complete an application for the fire alarm contractor permit online at www.firemarshal.alabama.gov. A copy NICET level III certification can be uploaded and payment of required fees, made by debit/credit car or eCheck. Applicants must not be a responsible employee, owner, or manage of the fire alarm company and cannot work for any other company in the fire alarm industry. The NICET certificate holder is responsible for the layout, installation, maintenance, repair, or alterations performed by the fire alarm contractor. A licensed engineer must do design drawings for fire alarm systems. This permit is renewable on an annual basis. The permit run from October 1st through September 30th. Processing time for application is 10 days.

Sprinkler contractors: Applicants are required to have a NICET level III or higher certification. Applicants must complete the application online at www.firemarshal.alabama.gov. A copy of NICET level III certification can be uploaded and payment of required fees, made by debit/credit car or eCheck. Applicants must be a responsible employee, owner, or manager of the fire sprinkler company and cannot work for any other company in the fire sprinkler industry. The NICET certificate holder is responsible for the layout, Installation, maintenance, repair, or alterations performed by the sprinkler company. A licensed engineer must do design drawings for the sprinkler systems. This permit is renewable on an annual basis. The permit runs from October 1st through September 30th. Processing time for application is 10 days.

Fire Pumps: Applicants are required to pass a weekly fire pump test, inspection and maintenance class. A licensed sprinkler company must observe the applicant performing the fire pump test once per year. Applicants must complete an applications for Skilled Worker Exemption Certificate for Weekly Fire Pump Testing online at www.firemarshal.alabama.gov, along with submitting their certificate of completion of class. A debit /credit card or eCheck fee of $120 is required per pump per person. The permit is renewable on an annual basis. Processing time for applications is 10 days.

Blasting Contractors: Companies are required to submit an application for Blasting Contracting along with a check for $2,400. The applicant's name should be a responsible person with the company. A criminal background check is performed for each applicant. The applicant cannot have been charged with a felony. Approval will be given if convicted of a felony as long as the applicant has received a Restoration of Rights letter. The permit is renewable on an annual basis. Processing time for applications is 30 days.

Blasting certification: Applicants are required to work for a licensed Blasting contractor with the state of Alabama. Applicants are required to complete a Blaster Certification application online at www.firemarshal.alabama.gov, and submit a debit/credit card or eCheck fee of $120. If the applicant is new, then the applicant must submit a resume or work resume form detailing the type of blasting experience. Applicants must possess 2 years of blasting experience to qualify for a blasting certification. If the applicant does not have a blasting card from a reciprocal state then the applicant must pass an examination issued by the State Fire Marshall's office. This test must be passed with 70% or better. The test is comprised of questions from the following sources: Rock Blasting and Overbreak Control, ANSI A 10.7-1989 edition and the ATF Explosives Law and Regulations manual. Each applicant will have a criminal background check performed. The applicant cannot have been charged with a felony. Approval will be given if convicted of a felony as long as the applicant has received a Restoration of Rights letter. This permit is renewable on an annual basis. Processing time for application is 30 days.

Permit / Fee
Sprinkler Contractor / $120
Fire Pumps / $120 per person per pump
Blasting Contractor / $2,400
Blasting Certification / $120

Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors: Applicants are required to pass a written open book trade examination with a minimum score of 70%. Applicants must meet minimum work experience or education requirements in order to qualify to sit for the exam, The requirements include 1 of the following: maintaining an apprentice registration issued by the Board for 2 or more calendar years; completion of 3,000 hours of work experience as defined by the board; or is a graduate of an approved heating and air conditioning curriculum.

Exam Fee / Annual Active Fee / Annual Inactive Fee
$150 / $190 / $95

A performance bond in the amount of $15,000 is required of each heating and air conditioning business. Every contractor, inactive or active, must complete 4 hours of continuing education each year. Certification expires December 31st of each year, Each heating and air conditioning business must have at least 1 regularly employed person who possesses an active heating and air conditioning contractor's license.

Service, repair, or installation beyond the $50,000 threshold requires a general contractor's license in addition to the heating and air conditioning license.

Refrigeration Contractors: Applicants are required to pass a written open book trade examination with a minimum score of 70%. The exam fee $150. Applicants must meet either the minimum work experience or education requirements in order to qualify to sit for the exam. The requirements include 1 of the following: maintaining an apprentice registration issued by the Board for 2 or more calendar years; completion of 3,000 hours of work experience as defined by the Board; or is a graduate of an approved refrigeration curriculum.

Service, repair, or installation beyond the $50,000 threshold requires a general contractor's license in addition to the heating and air conditioning license.

A performance bond in the amount of $15,000 is required of each commercial refrigeration business. Every contractor, inactive or active, must complete 4 hours of continuing education each year. Certification expires December 31st of each year.

Exam Fee / Annual Active Fee / Annual Inactive Fee
$150 / $190 / $95

Each firm or corporation engaging in commercial refrigeration installation, repair or service must have at least 1 regularly employed person who possesses a refrigeration license to act as a person in responsible charge for the firm.

Plumbers and Gas Fitters: Applicants for the journeyman Plumber/Gas Fitter certificate must have 2 years board-approved apprentice work, pass a written or oral exam and pay all the required fees. Applicants for a Master Plumber/Gas Fitter certificate must pass a written exam, show proof of 1 year of work experience as journeyman, bear a journeyman or apprentice plumber/gas fitters registration/certification and wishes to perform medical gas fitting work, must apply for a medical gas piping endorsement. The applicant must complete a current medical gas piping certification program approved by the board. All annual certificates will expire on December 31st of the year they are issued.

Fees / Apprentice / Journeyman* / Master**
Examination Fee / N/A / $110 / $160
Registration Fee / $25 / N/A / N/A
License Fee / N/A / $50 / $150
Annual Renewal Fee / $25 / $50 / $150
Medical Gas Piping Endorsement / $25 / $25 / $25
* Journeyman plumbers or gas fitters holding a medical gas piping endorsement pay $75 at the time of renewal
** Master plumbers or gas fitters holding a medical gas piping endorsement pay $175 at the time of renewal

Manufactured Housing: All installation personnel applicants must satisfactorily complete an installer's course conducted by the Commission and pass a written or oral test prior to being issued a certification to installer who possesses a current Certificate of Training from the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission. Each certified installer must complete a refresher course every 2 years.

Salesperson will be trained and licensed by the Commission prior to selling manufactured homes of manufactured buildings in Alabama. Licenses are applied for annually. Any manufacturer or retailer (dealer) must apply for licensure annually. Manufactures, retailers and installers must be adequately bonded and insured as follows:

Type / Bond Amount / Insurance Amount
Manufacturer / $25,000 per Licens. Facility or a minimum of $100,000 / $1,00,000
Retailer / $25,000 for 1-3 Facilities or $50,000 for more than 3 / $500,000
Installer / $20,000 / $100,00