Section 715.27. Regulating fences, signs, other structures, electrical equipment, specialty contractors

(A) Any municipal corporation may:

(1) Regulate the erection of fences, billboards, signs, and other structures, within the municipal corporation, and provide for the removal and repair of insecure billboards, signs, and other structures;

(2) Regulate the construction and repair of wires, poles, plants, and all equipment to be used for the generation and application of electricity;

(3) Provide for the licensing of house movers; plumbers; sewer tappers; vault cleaners; and specialty contractors who are not required to hold a valid license issued pursuant to Chapter 4740. of the Revised Code;

(4) Require all specialty contractors other than those who hold a valid license issued pursuant to Chapter 4740. of the Revised Code, to successfully complete an examination, test, or demonstration of technical skills, and may impose a fee and additional requirements for a license or registration to engage in their respective occupations within the jurisdiction of the municipal corporation.

(B) No municipal corporation shall require any specialty contractor who holds a valid license issued pursuant to Chapter 4740. of the Revised Code to complete an examination, test, or demonstration of technical skills to engage in the type of contracting for which the license is held, within the municipal corporation.

(C) A municipal corporation may require a specialty contractor who holds a valid license issued pursuant to Chapter 4740. of the Revised Code to register with the municipal corporation and pay any fee the municipal corporation imposes before that specialty contractor may engage within the municipal corporation in the type of contracting for which the license is held. Any fee shall be the same for all specialty contractors who engage in the same type of contracting. A municipal corporation may require a bond and proof of all of the following:

(1) Insurance pursuant to division (B)(4) of section 4740.06 of the Revised Code;

(2) Compliance with Chapters 4121. and 4123. of the Revised Code;

(3) Registration with the tax department of the municipal corporation.

If a municipal corporation requires registration, imposes such a fee, or requires a bond or proof of the items listed in divisions (C)(1), (2), and (3) of this section, the municipal corporation immediately shall permit a contractor who presents proof of holding a valid license issued pursuant to Chapter 4740. of the Revised Code, who registers, pays the fee, obtains a bond, and submits the proof described under divisions (C)(1), (2), and (3) of this section, as required, to engage in the type of contracting for which the license is held, within the municipal corporation.

(D) A municipal corporation may revoke the registration of a contractor registered with that municipal corporation for good cause shown. Good cause shown includes the failure of a contractor to maintain a bond or the items listed in divisions (C)(1), (2), and (3) of this section, if the municipal corporation requires those.

(E) A municipal corporation that licenses specialty contractors pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section may accept, for purposes of satisfying its licensing requirements, a valid license issued pursuant to Chapter 4740. of the Revised Code that a specialty contractor holds, for the construction, replacement, maintenance, or repair of one-family, two-family, or three-family dwelling houses or accessory structures incidental to those dwelling houses.

(F) A municipal corporation shall not register a specialty contractor who is required to hold a license under Chapter 4740. of the Revised Code but does not hold a valid license issued under that chapter.

(G) As used in this section, "specialty contractor" means a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning contractor, refrigeration contractor, electrical contractor, plumbing contractor, or hydronics contractor, as those contractors are described in Chapter 4740. of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 09-18-2001; 09-16-2004