nothing here. It has good and bad points, but I'm glad we don't. Probably why SprinklerGuy moved here. So we can be scrubs together!!

 

Let me correct that. We do need a cross-connection license to install backflow preventers (which I have) and need to be licensed to test (which I don't have and don't do).

 

I am trying to pass my Texas exam now, there are four part Design, Install, Back Flow and Hydraulics. You first have to complete the 45 hour course in order to be qualified to take the test. There are two different tests one for the installers and one for the irrigators. there is also a course requirement and test for back flow inspection and repair.

 

Texas has a pretty tough test but if you study for six months you can pass. It was the hardest test I've ever taken.

 

The Texas Irrigator's License is required of anyone doing anything to a landscape irrigation system anywhere in the state. There are exceptions but that is for people that are working on an irrigation system at the company where they are regularly employed.

The law says "...it is illegal for any non-licensed person to install, maintain, repair, design, or sell landscape irrigation system in Texas."

That means that as an LCO, it is against the law for you to replace that sprinkler head you just cut off with your zero-turn. It means that you are not supposed to run through a sprinkler system and make adjustments. It means that unless you are a registered Landscape Architect designing irrigation systems as part of a project, it is illegal to go out and sell an irrigation system design.

Pretty tough, but also hard to enforce. There are more and more getting popped with some pretty hefty fines - usually over $1000.00 per offense.

As a Licensed Irrigator we are entitled by state law to install irrigation systems, repair them, etc. we are also able to make a tap into the potable public water supply and connect to a backflow device. We are not licensed to set water meters or make taps on the upstream side of any meter. We can repair backflow devices and even change them out. In order to do all of these things, we are also required to abide by all state and local ordinances and codes, as well as obtain the proper permits and if required to post the proper bond. So we don't need a plumber for anything related to an irrigation system.
As far as testing backflow devices, we have to be certified by the ABPA and have a current license on file with the various water purveyors.

One thing most irrigators don't do is have an electrician hook up the AC power to the controller. If you read the electrical codes carefully, you need to have an electrician make any connections to the circuit breaker (if hard wired), and in many towns, you are supposed to have an electrician pull a permit to even plug in an indoor transformer of a pigtail. Most cities don't enforce this, but they could if the electrical inspector decided to get tough.

Jerry

 

Maryland .... You need a home improvement contractors license to install irrigation , and landscaping , decks additions , replacement windows etc etc.
All contract law as far as how much deposit , how you can sell and what your responsibilities are. Plumbers make the connection.

 

Wouldn't it be nice if there was some kind of standard within the industry! I had a buddy wanting me to do some work down in California but I was totally in the dark as far as requirements, etc.

It sounds as if Texas is very similar to Oregon, but perhaps with a few slight differences. Jerry, an LCO is now allowed in this state to replace up to three heads with exact replacements. Guess the idea is so that if they chop up a head with a mower they can replace it. Testing backflow devices here also requires another license, and wiring up another 110 volt outlet has to be done by an electrician.

Cost wise, Oregon may be on the high side. My contractor's license is $75 annually, and my annual landscape business license $200. Proof of insurance & bonding required. Bond amount is now on a tiered system.

BTW, I mentioned this in another forum, but there was a bill that was introduced by the Oregon Landscape Contractor's Association that would require licensing (grounds maintenance contractor) for LCOs, or people doing grounds maintenance. Didn't make it past ways and means, but that sure would have been interesting...

 

In New Jersey you need 3 years exper. under someone else and they have to sign off on your app. or 2 yr. and some education. I'm preparing to take the test August 17th 2006 Not so sure how I'll do. I'm still studing though. New Jersey requires
$45 app fee/ re app fee
$150 exam fee/ re take fee
$300 for cert (if pass test) then $300. bi annual

 

In New Jersey you need 3 years exper. under someone else and they have to sign off on your app. or 2 yr. and some education. I'm preparing to take the test August 17th 2006 Not so sure how I'll do. I'm still studing though. New Jersey requires
$45 app fee/ re app fee
$150 exam fee/ re take fee
$300 for cert (if pass test) then $300. bi annual

Hey Sprinklerman, it's been 10 years since you posted so I assume you're doing well lol I been in irrigation for over 20 yrs. I want to go and get my license, I live in Williamstown NJ. Any tips about the exam ?

 

In New Jersey you need 3 years exper. under someone else and they have to sign off on your app. or 2 yr. and some education. I'm preparing to take the test August 17th 2006 Not so sure how I'll do. I'm still studing though. New Jersey requires
$45 app fee/ re app fee
$150 exam fee/ re take fee
$300 for cert (if pass test) then $300. bi annual

NJ test was somewhat easy. Study the turf manual, and code book and you should do fine.

 

Nothing here in WA.

Its a shame too.

 

They'd probably only license the guys on the eastern side anyways. West of the Cascades why would you need irrigation when all we hear about is the rain there? :laugh:

 

They'd probably only license the guys on the eastern side anyways. West of the Cascades why would you need irrigation when all we hear about is the rain there? :laugh:

We have had 4 days of rain in the last 60.

 

We have had 4 days of rain in the last 60.

Maybe the northwest is getting more and more like the southwest? Global warming???

 

It's our little secret...just keep telling everyone it rains here all the time...

I agree with Jon. I believe there should be certification and all installations require building permits.

 

Well, Illinois is a fun state also...

In Illinois, you have to be "registered" by the Illinois Department of Public Health. They require all your personnel \ business information (FEIN, your full name, business name, DOB, height, weight, home address\phone number, all that fun stuff). The names and personnel information of all employees that work on irrigation. They also require the names and license numbers of all licensed plumbers that are employed or contracted by you (The number of licensed plumbers you have depends on the total number of irrigation employees you have, and your registration fee is also figured by this number - ie. if you have less than 7 irrigation employees, you only have to have one licenses plumber and your registration fee is only 300$ per year.) The licensed plumber is required to make all connections into a potable source, and all connections after that point to the RPZ and to the irrigation system.

Illinois also requires that after a system is installed, it is signed off on by the plumber who you have contracted with. They are also requiring tagging of the systems with information starting in 2008. The sign off sheet requires all the home owners’ information, signature of the plumber, contractor, and homeowner, make, model, and quantity of sprinklers installed, static pressure, GPM of largest zone, water source information, type of pipe and fittings, and all the RPZ information. You have to submit all this information to IDPH within 30 days, plus a 15$ registration fee per system. Plumbers are also required to inspect all connections from the heads to the laterals.


Civil penalties for not following the laws start at 1000$ plus referral to the Stat's Attorney for possible prosecution, up to 5000$, having the plumbing and contractors license revoked, plus paying to have all repair by a licensed plumber.

Now to add to all that, Illinois is starting (in 2008) that all licensed contractors have a contractor certification by the Irrigation Association, which must be at least two days long and include an exam and continuing education requirements. They must also carry liability insurance and provide an indemnification bond or irrevocable letter of credit for 20,000$. But you will still have to have a licensed plumber make and inspect your connections.


Oh, how I love Illinois.


.mz

 

Texas has a pretty tough test but if you study for six months you can pass. It was the hardest test I've ever taken.

It was tough,,,,I walked out of there and it took me 10 minutes to figure out where I parked my car. But I made it, I will never let them expire and put myself through that much hell again.

 

Plumbers are also required to inspect all connections from the heads to the laterals.

That is stupid.

I haven't met a plumber that knew his head from his ass about irrigation. Why doesn't Illinois just start certifying irrigators like they do plumbers, with apprentices and journeymen etc, that ways at least irrigators could be responsible for their own screw ups.

 

I haven't met a plumber that knew his head from his ass about irrigation.

I've seen plumbers' zones with spray pop-ups, stream rotors and rotors all on the same zone. Then they can't figure out why some areas are a swamp while others are bone dry.

 

I've seen plumbers' zones with spray pop-ups, stream rotors and rotors all on the same zone. Then they can't figure out why some areas are a swamp while others are bone dry.

Unfortunately, I've seen landscapers do the same as well.

It sounds as if Illinois may be moving into a better direction of separating the plumbing industry from irrigation. There is nothing wrong about requiring competency, requiring contractors to be bonded and to carry insurance, however I’m with the other guys regarding the abilities of plumbers within the irrigation field. Cross connecting is the shady area.

All of the landscape contractor exams in this state have been compiled and put together by “landscapers” except for the backflow exam, and guess who comes up with those questions? Plumbers, my friend. And you wonder why people keep complaining about some questions that have no bearing upon what we do. Too bad they can’t figure it out that in a 50 question backflow exam, they should ask questions relevant to what 99.9% of the guys will be doing when they do a cross connection and install a device.

 

Wouldn't it be nice if there was some kind of standard within the industry! I had a buddy wanting me to do some work down in California but I was totally in the dark as far as requirements, etc.

As with Nevada, at least as of 5 years ago, your Oregon Lic would be recognized for 90 days, but after that, you would have to take the CA exam unless you had a sponsor.

Which brings me to my c-27 license. Since my uncle was already a license contractor and I had been working in the trade since age 8, all I had to do was pay $500 plus a 200 processing fee with a renewal fee of $500 every 5th year. My Uncle was the sponsoring partner and if no problems occurred, I would be able to get an individual license. That was back in 2000. The number that we were given was one of those dime a dozen numbers 770044, so the partnership exists even though we are our own entities as far as the Feds and Franchise Tax boards are concerned. If the partnership was to be dissolved, that number would be retired, but always associated with us.

There is talk, don't know for sure though that CA will go to a separate classification for irrigation. Now, with my current license, I can install complete systems as long as everything is permitted through local building inspectors. As far as repairs, as long as the job is under $500, no need to be a licensed contractor.

As PurpleHaze can attest, the contractor law in CA is rarely enforced except in problem areas or if enough complaints are registered by people. Government work, the license is mandatory.

 

There is talk, don't know for sure though that CA will go to a separate classification for irrigation.

I believe there is a task force at work right now trying to develop standards and certification for the irrigation industry here in CA. I also believe that the IA is involved in this. Of course there's the normal flack coming from the Landscape Architects and plumbers areas.

As PurpleHaze can attest, the contractor law in CA is rarely enforced except in problem areas or if enough complaints are registered by people.

It seems that when there are a number of complaints in an area they start running sting operations and nailing those guys without proper licensing. This past spring at our local "home show" they busted 4-5 exhibitors who didn't have licenses (various contract disciplines) but were entering into contracts with attendees. :laugh:

 

I believe there is a task force at work right now trying to develop standards and certification for the irrigation industry here in CA. I also believe that the IA is involved in this. Of course there's the normal flack coming from the Landscape Architects and plumbers areas.

It seems that when there are a number of complaints in an area they start running sting operations and nailing those guys without proper licensing. This past spring at our local "home show" they busted 4-5 exhibitors who didn't have licenses (various contract disciplines) but were entering into contracts with attendees. :laugh:

Right on.

I understand the plumbers giving them grief but why the LA's? Wouldn't they prefer to have licensed contractors on their jobs who have the required bonds and insurance?

 

Right on.

I understand the plumbers giving them grief but why the LA's? Wouldn't they prefer to have licensed contractors on their jobs who have the required bonds and insurance?

No, because many times they feel that because they took the one semester course concerning irrigation that they are the ones that should be doing the irrigation designs. After all that contractor out there may know how to install a system, but when it comes to designing one they feel a contractor doesn't have sense enough to pour piss out of a boot let alone design an irrigation system.

And since they hace CADD that can design systems that's all there needs to be.

In Texas the irrigation license allows an LA to design irrigation systems that are part of the landscape project that they are working with. They cannot do irrigation designs for projects that they have no other contact with. In other words they cannot design irrigation only for money. That's why many of the LA's in Texas are also licensed irrigators which does allow them to be in the irrigation design busioness.

 

It seems that when there are a number of complaints in an area they start running sting operations and nailing those guys without proper licensing. This past spring at our local "home show" they busted 4-5 exhibitors who didn't have licenses (various contract disciplines) but were entering into contracts with attendees. :laugh:

What I wish they would do is nail the news papers that allow scrubs to advertise with invalid contractor numbers(liscense not to the field ie-c-27 is landscaping,,, a lot of numbers are for roofing, concrete or other disciplines, but nothing to do with landscaping) or completly phoney numbers.

In CA, all contractor numbers will either be a 6 or 8 numerical number,no alpha digits and will not start out with the number 0. To see what I mean, browse through this weeks listing of the Manteca Bulliten Newspaper. http://www.mantecabulletin.com/classifieds/?loc=detail&main=Service Directory.

Since my add for the yellow pages won't come out until next years book, kind of stuck using local papers for advertising.

 

And since they have CADD that can design systems that's all there needs to be.

Too bad they don't require them to have verified "trench time" signed off by a qualified installer. :laugh: