All permitted work SHALL be inspected. Permit holders are requested to please call 435-1765 with inspection requests.

Note to homeowners: If you need assistance or have questions regarding Code compliance please do not hesitate to call. Improper installations will have to be removed or replaced.

Robert C. Lupton, Chief Plumbing Inspector

Gas Installation Requirements

These are the minimum conditions for gas work or service changes on existing residences to meet the standard housing code, city ordinances, and the standard gas code.

1. Owners may obtain a permit for work in a personal residence ONLY. All RENTAL and COMMERCIAL property work MUST be permitted by a licensed contractors.
2. Installed gas piping shall ONLY be galvanized pipe, black iron, or seamless copper tubing. All buried joints must be protected from environment.
3. In order to have E.S.P. set a gas meter, a gas pressure test is required. Permit holders calling for a gas pressure test on an existing system, SHALL have the entire gas system comply with minimum Code. This includes all gas appliances, gas piping, and all venting.
4. Low pressure (not in excess of 0.5 psi) gas piping shall withstand a pressure of at least 3 psi for a period of not less than 10 minutes without showing any drop in pressure.
5. All vents for combustion and/or dilution air MUST be properly screened.
6. Single wall vent piping MUST be attached to appliances and at all joints by at least two (2) screws.
7. Double wall vent piping MUST be used at any point where the vent piping penetrates a wall, floor, ceiling or roof. All vents MUST be in proper working order to meet code.
8. Gas water heaters may NOT be installed in bedrooms or baths.
9. Gas water heaters installed in garages or other areas where flammables are stored, shall be mounted 18 inches ABOVE the finished floor.
10. Unvented gas appliances MUST be equipped with an Oxygen Depletion Sensor (O.D.S.). Appliances without the O.D.S. system are NOT to be installed.
11. Unvented gas appliances are limited to 40,000 BTUs per hour.

Landscape and Irrigation Requirements

1. Owners may obtain a permit for work on a personal residence ONLY. All RENTAL and COMMERCIAL property work MUST be permitted by licensed contractors.
2. All shut-off valves, zone valves, and double-check assembly valves are to be installed in preformed boxes so as to be readily accessible for inspection, testing, servicing and/or replacement.
3. All Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB) valves shall be installed a minimum of 12 inches above the highest head.
4. A shut-off valve shall be installed in an irrigation system between the service tie-in and the PVB valve.
5. An approved backflow preventer is required on all systems using either a public or private water supply.
6. All backflow preventers SHALL be ASSE, AWWA, or USC approved.
7. THE ENTIRE IRRIGATION SYSTEM SHALL REMAIN UNCOVERED UNTIL AFTER IT IS INSPECTED AND APPROVED.
8. Trenches required to be left open overnight WILL BE properly barricaded and the piping anchored down with dirt in the areas between the joints.
9. All systems MUST be installed a minimum of 12 inches below finished grade, and shall be supported throughout its entire length on the trench bottom.
10. All PVC pipe shall be a minimum of Schedule 40 - 160 PSI/ASTM approved service pipe.
11. A maximum of 24 inches of Polyethylene pipe may be used to connect heads to the irrigation system.
12. Index - Directional Valves (IDVs) MAY BE USED with systems on private wells. The IDV shall be installed a minimum of 6 inches above the highest head. Where an IDV is used, a backflow preventer is not required.

Minimum Plumbing Requirements

These are the minimum conditions for gas work or service changes on existing residences to meet the standard housing code, city ordinances, and the standard gas code.

1. Owners may obtain a permit for work in a personal residence ONLY. All RENTAL and COMMERCIAL property work MUST be permitted by licensed contractors.
2. Replacement sewer lines shall be at least Schedule 20 - ASTM 3034 piping laid with a 1/8 inch drop per foot for its entire length.
3. Replacement sewer lines shall have a two-way cleanout installed within 3 feet of the structure being served, with additional cleanouts every 80 feet as necessary.
4. Cleanouts shall not be used for the installation of new fixtures or floor drains.
5. Replacement water heaters, whether gas or electric, shall be placed in a pan (metal for gas, plastic for electric) when the water heater is located in an area where property damage may occur from leakage.
6. Replacement water heater temperature-pressure valves shall be piped full size to the exterior of the building not less than 6 inches above grade.
7. Gas water heaters shall NOT be installed in bedrooms or baths.
8. A 3 inch main vent is required on all D.W.V. Systems.
9. The temperature of mixed water to individual shower or tub/shower combinations SHALL be controlled by a scald prevention valve.
10. The vertical drop from fixture drain to trap wier shall NOT exceed 24 inches.
11. Washing machine boxes shall be installed on a 2 inch waste line with a separate 2 inch trap.
12. Washing machine boxes shall be installed with the box inlet not closer than 24 inches to the trap, nor more than 48 inches from the trap.
13. Washing machine box inlets shall not be installed lower than 34 inches from the finished floor.
14. No more than 20 fixture units may be placed on a 3 inch drain line. No more than 2 toilets may be placed on a 3 inch drain line.
15. P.V.C. plastic pipe shall NOT be used as water distribution piping.
16. Saddle-type taps are prohibited for plumbing any fixture.
17. A water test maintaining at least a 5 foot head above the highest horizontal branch is required on all newly installed Drain-Waste-Vent plumbing systems.
18. 100 lb. pressure test required on water distribution system