Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning & Development Services

TO:	Dave Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Planning and Development Services Staff
Date:	March 31, 2008
RE:	Licensing roofing contractors within the City of Lawrence

This report analyzes the feasibility of licensing roofing contractors working within the City of Lawrence. Currently, the City does not license roofing contractors nor does it require permits or inspections for re-roofs (replacement of roof coverings). Adding roofing contractors to the city code would be uncomplicated if consistent with similar licensing categories. However given the Division’s budgeted staffing level, administering additional licenses, permits, and inspections are reasons for prudence.

Six jurisdictions were consulted about their requirements for licensing, permits, and inspections. The jurisdictions are Johnson County and the cities of Lenexa, Ottawa, Overland Park, Salina, and Topeka. Five of the six jurisdictions issue roofing contractor licenses. Six of the jurisdictions issue building permits for new construction. Four of the jurisdictions require permits for re-roof projects and four inspect re-roof installations. A table of jurisdictional requirements is included with this report.

A license would not be required for owner-occupants performing roofing work on their single family home. Roofing work on a rental unit would require a licensed roofing contractor.

The roofing contractor category would be added to City Code Section 5-1211, Class D, Building Specialty Contractor. A specialty contractor is a contractor whose operations are such that performance of construction work requires special skills and whose principal contracting business involves the use of specialized building trades or crafts. In other words, the scope of work is limited.

A license would be issued to the company’s qualifying party; there are no master or journey roofer licensing categories. The qualifying party would make application, show a minimum of two years experience, proof of passing the required exam, pay a $200 application/licensing fee, and submit a certificate of general liability insurance in the amount of $500,000 per occurrence single limit for bodily injury and property damage.

The qualifying party must renew the license annually; 8 hours of continuing education would be required for renewal. The renewal fee would be $200.

The Class D, Roofing contractor license would allow the contractor to perform the application of roof assemblies, systems, and coverings (except structural members) for new construction for all building types; replacement of roof decking for re-roof projects would also be allowed. The roofing contractor would comply with the installation requirements established by the code and product manufacturer; in addition, a re-roof project must meet roof loads and fire-resistive requirements.

Historically the city gives consideration to contractors who work in the city prior to licensing. A license would be issued to a contractor that meets the requirements except the examination is waived. This would be offered for a limited time (perhaps 60 days); thereafter an applicant would be required to pass roofing trade examination or posses a reciprocal license or A, B, C, city contractor license, or four year degree in architectural, engineering, or construction science license.

Forty-three roofing contractors are known to work in Lawrence and an additional twenty is anticipated. The mechanics of initial licensing include verifying experience and computer entries for applicant information, fee, and insurance, filing; the license is not issued until all items are received. Administrative time triples for license renewals because not all information is received at the same time. Annually, seven notifications are mailed to license holders concerning renewal and continuing education opportunities. The city has issued 1,232 licenses to contractors and trades workers during the December, January and February renewal period. Administrative support assistance is necessary during the renewal period; a building inspector provided the support during the 2008 renewal period at a time when the department was short a key administrative position. While that position is in the process of being filled, the addition of roofing contractors to the licensing program may still impact the quality of service for this program since staffing levels are deemed only adequate to serve the existing licensing program.

New building and addition roofs are covered on the general permit; but should the city require a re-roof permit? The city’s philosophy has been to require a permit for work requiring a license. A re-roof permit request could be called in and a flat permit fee assessed. This is the method for furnace and water heater replacements. The contractor calls, a permit fee is charged to the contractor, the permit is written, and a copy of the permit is mailed to the contractor. The Finance Department processes the charged fee. We anticipate an additional 1,000 permits annually. Presently, the Building Safety Manager is processing called-in permits due to the administrative support staffing level. Careful consideration to expanding the permitting program should be given even after the administrative position is filled since the department views staffing levels just adequate to serve the existing program in typical building years. The City is presently experiencing low permit levels, but anticipates increases in the future.

Inspections are conducted for newly constructed roofs; but should the city inspect re-roofs? Similarly, the City’s philosophy has been to inspect all work requiring a permit. If the program is expanded, the Division proposes not to inspect the roof deck after tear off but inspect at completion of the project. This would add an estimated 1,000 inspections annually. These could be handled currently but might negatively impact the quality of service when the volume of inspection requests increases during peak construction periods.

It is a logical step to license, issue permits, and conduct inspections for roofing. The system for licensing is in place and the plan review and inspection staffs have the expertise. However, there is concern for expanding programs without adding resources to provide exceptional service to the customers the program serves.

Currently the Planning and Development Services Department is analyzing program demands against its available resources. Preliminary conclusions show that two clerical positions are needed in Development Services to account for the large volume of phone calls, walk-in customers, and support duties associated with other divisions in Development Services. With its current staffing of two clerical positions covering Development Services, the Division is just keeping up with program demands. Adding a Permit Technician to fully administer the expansion of the contractor licensing program and other permit-related activities would allow the division to adequately operate the program and provide even better customer service to all of the City’s permit customers. The department believes that expanding the contractor licensing program is not feasible unless a Permit Technician position is provided to the department to cover the additional licensing, permitting, and inspection-support duties that come with the program.