§ 2-6-73. Requirements to become a contractor.

(a)

Before any person, firm, or corporation shall engage in the act of constructing or engage in or advertise such services within Manatee County, they shall be qualified as set forth herein, having either a certificate of competency from Manatee County or a certified license from the State of Florida. Whosoever desires to enter into the construction business or offers construction services without being certified by the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board shall, before advertising, appear before the construction trades board for the purpose of receiving such a certificate of competency.

(b)

Prior to the issuance of a certificate of competency in accordance with this ordinance [article], an applicant shall provide the following by competent evidence to the Manatee County Building and Development Services Department and the Construction Trades Board:

(1)

Evidence that the applicant is at least eighteen (18) years of age.

(2)

Evidence that the applicant is of good moral character. A personal criminal background check from a recognized reporting bureau shall be provided. No criminal background check is required for a journeyman.

(3)

A completed and notarized application for a certificate of competency. Forms shall be furnished by the Manatee County Building and Development Services Department.

(4)

A personal credit report from a nationally recognized retail credit bureau demonstrating proof of financial responsibility. The amount and type of information necessary to establish financial responsibility shall be those established by the construction trades board. No credit report is required for journeyman.

a.

For purposes of this ordinance [section], the phrase "financial responsibility" is defined as the ability to safeguard that the public will not sustain economic loss resulting from the contractor's inability to pay any lawful obligations under the contract.

b.

The financial responsibility grounds on which the board may refuse to qualify an applicant shall include:

1.

Failure to submit any of the items required by this ordinance [article].

2.

The existence, within the past five (5) years preceding the application, of an unsatisfied court judgment rendered against the applicant based upon the failure of the applicant to pay its just obligations to parties with whom the applicant conducted business as a contractor.

3.

An unfavorable credit report or history as indicated by any of the documents submitted.

4.

A determination by the board that the applicant lacks the financial stability necessary to assure compliance with the standard set forth in this section. As guidelines for the determination of financial stability, the board shall consider the applicant's responses to the questions set forth in the application and financial statement submitted by the applicant.

(5)

Written verification of experience in the construction trade as follows:

a.

Masonry/concrete: Two (2) years.

b.

Masonry: Two (2) years.

c.

Concrete: Two (2) years.

d.

Journeyman mechanical: Three (3) years.

e.

Journeyman plumber: Three (3) years.

f.

Journeyman electrician: Four (4) years.

g.

Garage door: Two (2) years.

Except as otherwise provided herein, experience may only be verified by an affidavit from a licensed contractor in which the applicant was a subordinate employee or other qualified persons, as determined by the construction trades board. Self-employed contractors from another state may provide copies of Internal Revenue Service tax forms as verification of work experience or affidavits from other qualified persons, as determined by the construction trades board.

(6)

A financial affidavit, which contains information indicating the current assets, total liabilities and total net worth. The applicant must submit evidence acceptable to the applicable building trades board demonstrating a minimum net worth as follows:

a.

All other contractors ..... $2,500.00

b.

Journeyman ..... N/A

c.

Garage door ..... $2,500.00

(7)

a.

Evidence that:

1.

The applicant has obtained a minimum score of seventy-five (75) per cent on a Block and Associates examination prior to June 15, 1968, proctored by a building department; or obtained a minimum score of seventy-five (75) per cent on a prometric or equivalent as determined by the building official examination taken on or after June 15, 1968, prepared, proctored and graded by Block and Associates; and

2.

The applicant has obtained a score of seventy-five (75) per cent or higher on a two-hour Business and Law examination that was prepared, proctored and graded by Block and Associates, for applicants who took the Block and Associates examination after January 31, 1993.

(The construction trades board may accept the results of an equivalent or more thorough examination performed with equivalent or better safeguards as those examinations referenced above. Where the county has not signed a reciprocity agreement with another jurisdiction, the applicant shall provide any additional evidence necessary to establish compliance with the examination requirements herein. No examination required under this ordinance [article] shall be given by Manatee County until the applicant has complied with all other qualifications set forth herein.) State required reciprocity [Florida Statutes, Sections] 489.1455, 489.5335.

(8)

Evidence that the applicant has obtained public liability and property damage insurance, in the minimum aggregate amounts as defined below:

Applicant	Required amounts of insurance for Public Liability Property Damage
Local license contractors except	$100,000/$25,000
Journeyman	N/A

 

The minimum amount shall be maintained for all active licenses; and the licensee shall be responsible for notifying the building official of any changes in the policy. Insurance certificates shall include, at a minimum, the following:

a.

Date that the certificate was issued;

b.

Name of insurance agent;

c.

Name of insured must reflect the exact name of the entity qualified by the applicant;

d.

Name of insurance company;

e.

Policy numbers;

f.

Effective date of policy;

g.

Expiration date of policy;

h.

At least the minimum amount of liability and property damage insurance required;

i.

List Manatee County Building and Development Services Department, Attention: Licensing, P.O. Box 1000, Bradenton, Fl. 34206-1000, as the certificate holder;

j.

The policy shall stipulate that should the required insurance or worker's compensation coverage be cancelled before the expiration date, the issuing company will mail a thirty-day written notice by certified mail to the certificate holder prior to the cancellation becoming effective;

k.

Agent's signature;

l.

Licensee's correct license number;

m.

The insurance shall, at all times, be carried in the name of the licensee or the business name appearing on the license;

n.

Failure to comply with Manatee County's request to submit proof of insurance as requested shall be a violation of this ordinance [article].

(9)

Applicants shall have two (2) years from the date of application, or the date of any CTB action on the application, whichever occurred later, in which to complete all requirements for obtaining a certificate of competency, including passing any required examinations and paying any applicable fees. Failure to complete all requirements for a certificate of competency within the aforesaid two-year period shall result in the application and any approvals relating to that application becoming void.

(Ord. No. 14-08, § 3, 10-2-14)