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CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF NEW WESTMINSTER
PLUMBING BYLAW NO. 4901, 1976
EFFECTIVE DATE: APRIL 26, 1976
CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY
(November 20, 2014)
This is a consolidation of the bylaws listed below. The amendment bylaws have been
combined with the original bylaw for convenience only. This consolidation is not a legal
document. Certified copies of the original bylaws should be consulted for all
interpretations and applications of the bylaws on this subject.
AMENDMENT BYLAW
EFFECTIVE DATE
5265, 1981 (Sch "A")
February 2, 1981
5356, 1982 (Sch "A")
May 3, 1982
5448, 1984 (Sch "A")
April 30, 1984
5734, 1988 (Sec 4)
February 15, 1988
6384, 1997 (Sch "A")
April 28, 1997
6438, 1997 (Sch "A" Sec2 December 18, 1997
6691, 2001 (Sch "A" Fees) November 19, 2001
7063, 2005 (Sch "A" Fees) November 28, 2005
7130, 2006 (Sch "A" Fees) November 20, 2006
7189, 2007 (Sch "A" Fees) November 5, 2007
7279, 2008 (Sch "A" Fees) November 24, 2008
7355, 2009 (Sch "A" Fees) December 14, 2009
7431, 2010 (Sch "A" Fees) November 29, 2010
7497, 2011 (Sch "A" Fees) January 1, 2012
7556, 2012 (Sch "A" Fees) November 13, 2012
7640, 2013 (Sch "A" Fees) January 1, 2014
7683, 2014 (delete Sch "A",
replace Sec. 16(d)(i) January 1, 2015
The bylaw numbers highlighted in this consolidation refer to the bylaws that amended
the principal Bylaw No. 4901, 1976. The number of any amending bylaw that has been
repealed is not referred to in this consolidation.
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Obtainable from the City Clerk's Office
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CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF NEW WESTMINSTER
BYLAW NO. 4901, 1976
A Bylaw for the administration and enforcement of the British Columbia Plumbing Code
WHEREAS Section 719A of the "Municipal Act", being Chapter 255, R.S.B.C.
1960, as amended, and the regulations made thereunder have established a Building
Code for the Province of British Columbia governing standards for the construction and
demolition of buildings and, as part of the said regulations, has established the "British
Columbia Plumbing Code", which Code applies to all Municipalities and has the same
force and effect as a validly enacted bylaw of the municipality;
AND WHEREAS it is deemed necessary to provide for the administration and
enforcement of the said British Columbia Plumbing Code;
THEREFORE, the Council of the Corporation of the City of New Westminster, in
open meeting assembled, ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
1.
This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as "New Westminster Plumbing Bylaw
No. 4901, 1976.
2.
ADMINISTRATION:
(a)
The Council may from time to time by resolution appoint a person to be
Plumbing Inspector, and it shall be the duty of the Plumbing Inspector to
carry out and enforce the provisions of the British Columbia Plumbing
Code and of this bylaw.
(b)
The Council may from time to time appoint by resolution any person or
persons to be Assistant Plumbing Inspector or Inspectors, with like duties
and powers as enjoyed and delegated to the Plumbing Inspector by the
provisions of this bylaw.
(c)
Plumbing Inspector shall receive applications, examine and pass upon
plans and specifications and issue permits for any work of plumbing as
defined in this bylaw and the British Columbia Plumbing Code.
(d)
The Plumbing Inspector shall attend tests of all works and inspect or
cause to be inspected, all plumbing work in course of installation,
alteration or repair, subject to the provisions of this bylaw and the British
Columbia Plumbing Code.
3.
APPLICATION:
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(a)
All plumbing installations, including alterations and additions, shall be
subject to the requirements of the British Columbia Plumbing Code and of
this bylaw.
(b)
Buildings moved into the City regulated by this bylaw, or buildings raised,
must comply with all requirements herein.
BYLAW NO. 5734, 1988
4.
RIGHT OF ENTRY:
(1)
The City Engineer may at all reasonable times enter any property for the
purpose of ascertaining whether the provisions of this bylaw have been or
are being complied with. A person employed by the City form time to time
as a Plumbing Inspector is hereby designated to act in the place of the
City Engineer for the purposes of this Section.
(2)
No person shall interfere with or obstruct the entry of the City Engineer, or
other person designated to act in his place, to any property while the City
Engineer or person designated to act in his place is acting in the course of
his duties.
5.
PROHIBITED ACTS:
(a)
No person shall construct, install, remove, alter, repair, use or maintain
any plumbing, fire sprinkler systems, or standpipe in violation of the British
Columbia Plumbing Code and of this bylaw.
(b)
No person shall cause, suffer or permit the disposal of sewage, human
excrement, or liquid wastes, in any place or manner except through and
by means of an approved plumbing system, conforming to the British
Columbia Plumbing Code and this bylaw.
(c)
No person shall use or maintain any private sewage disposal system on
any lot or parcel of land which abuts on any public way or sewer
easement in which a public sewer exists and is ready for use.
(d)
No person shall use any plumbing fixtures, appliance, apparatus,
equipment device or material, unless same has been approved by the
Administrative Authority, as to its fitness and safety for it intended use or
purpose.
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5.
AUTHORITY OF THE PLUMBING INSPECTOR:
(a)
The Plumbing Inspector shall have the authority and power to direct the
immediate suspension or correction of all or any portion of the plumbing,
by attaching a notice to that effect, on such premises whenever it is found
by his that such work is not being performed in accordance with the
provisions of the British Columbia Plumbing Code and this bylaw.
(b)
The Plumbing Inspector may condemn all or any portion of a plumbing or
sewerage system by posting a notice to that effect on or in the premises,
and the owner or authorized agent shall be notified in writing that said
Notice has been posted.
7.
RESPONSIBILITY:
(a)
Neither the granting of a permit, nor the approval of plans and
specifications, nor inspections made by the Plumbing Inspector shall in
any way relieve the Permit Holder from full responsibility for carrying out
the work in strict accordance with the British Columbia Plumbing Code
and this bylaw.
(b)
Any owner of a property for which a permit is issued shall be responsible
for the cost of the repair of any damage of Municipal works that occurs as
a result of the work covered by the permit.
8.
DUTIES OF THE OWNER
The Owner shall:
(a)
obtain where applicable from the Plumbing Inspector, permits prior to the
commencement of such work;
(b)
give at least 48 hours notice to the Plumbing Inspector of the intention to
start work on the building site.
(c)
give at least 48 hours notice to the Plumbing Inspector and obtain his
inspection and approval of the work; before a building drain, sanitary or
storm sewer is covered, and if any part of a plumbing system is covered
before it is inspected and approved it shall be uncovered if the City
Engineer so directs, and when considered necessary, underground
building drains, branches, storm drains, and sewers shall be retested after
the completion of hall backfilling and grading by heavy equipment.
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9.
PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS:
(a)
Every application for a permit shall be accompanied by a specification or
plan of the proposed work, showing the location and size of the building
drain and any traps or inspection pieces thereon, and a sectional drawing
showing the size of the vertical soil pipe or pipes with the size and location
of branches and all necessary vent pipes and traps, and water distribution
system.
(b)
After the plumbing permit has been issued, no departure shall be made
from the plan or description submitted with the application for such permit
without the written permission of the Plumbing Inspector.
10.
WORKMANSHIP:
(a)
All design, construction and workmanship shall be in conformity with
accepted engineering practices and in conformity with the requirements of
the British Columbia Plumbing Code and this bylaw.
(b)
It is unlawful to conceal cracks, holes, or imperfections by welding,
brazing or soldering or by using thereon any paint, wax, tar, cement or
other repair agents.
(c)
All piping shall be straight and direct as possible, placed and arranged so
that it may readily be inspected during installation.
11.
MINIMUM STANDARDS:
Unless otherwise provided for in the British Columbia Plumbing Code or this
bylaw, all materials, fixtures or devices used, or entering into the construction of
plumbing and drainage systems or parts thereof, shall conform, each to the
minimum applicable standard therefor.
12.
CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL:
On the satisfactory completion and final test of the plumbing system, a certificate
of approval may be issued to the owner or to the plumbing contractor upon
request.
13.
WATER SYSTEM:
When a potable water supply system or any part thereof is installed or altered, all
newly installed parts shall, before the system is put into use, be thoroughly
cleaned to ensure freedom from contamination.
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14.
INSPECTIONS:
(a)
No plumbing system or part thereof shall be covered until it has been
inspected and approved. If any plumbing system or part thereof is
covered before being inspected or approved, it shall be uncovered upon
the direction of the Plumbing Inspector.
(b)
The permit holder shall notify the Plumbing Inspector in writing giving
permit number when any plumbing work is completed and ready for
inspection or test, such notice shall be given at least 48 hours prior to the
required inspection.
(c)
Each permit holder shall be entitled to four inspections when the job is of
a type requiring an inspection before covering or concealing work. On
work which may be completely inspected at one inspection, two
inspections will be allowed.
(d)
The number of inspections will not be limited on progress jobs; provided,
however, that only one inspection will be permitted for checking a
correction. For the purpose of this Section, progress jobs are those where
circumstances beyond the control of the permit holder make it impossible
for the plumbing work to be completed at any specific time.
(e)
If more inspections than are specified in (c) above of this Section are
required due to fault or error on the part of the permit holder or his
employee, an additional fee shall be paid by the permit holder for each
additional inspection, as prescribed in Schedule "A" of this bylaw.
(f)
If the plumbing work is not approved by the Plumbing Inspector, the
permit holder shall make such alterations, connections or replacements as
may be necessary and the work shall be subject to further inspections or
test.
15.
LOCATION OF SEWERS:
Except where specifically required by the City Engineer and where proper legal
easement has been obtained, and plans are approved by said Engineer, no
plumbing system, drainage system, house sewer, private sewage disposal
system or parts thereof, shall be located in any lot other than the lot which is the
site of the building, structure, or premises served by such facilities.
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16.
PERMITS:
(a)
Except as provided in (b) of this Part, no connection shall be made with
any sewer and no construction, reconstruction, replacement, alteration or
extension of any plumbing system or part thereof shall be started until a
permit to do so has been obtained.
(b)
No permit shall be required for the repair of leaks in water pipes or the
replacing of fixtures, provided such fixtures and the installation thereof
otherwise confirm to the requirements of the British Columbia Plumbing
Code and this bylaw, nor for the removal of stoppage in soil or waste
pipes, provided clean-outs are used for this purpose, and no soil or waste
pipe is broken.
(c)
No person shall do any plumbing, or install any plumbing fixtures as
defined in this bylaw, except the plumbing provided for in a permit issued
to such person and as specified in the application for such permit.
(d)
Application for Permit:
BYLAW 7683, 2014
(i)
Every person making an application for a plumbing permit or
obtaining a service from the City shall pay the applicable fees and
charges imposed in the Development Services Fees Bylaw No.
7683, 2014.
(ii)
Application for a permit shall be made to the Plumbing Inspector.
(e)
Qualification for Application:
A permit shall be issued only to a person meeting the qualifications
acceptable under the British Columbia Plumbing Code.
(i)
No person, other than the owner of the premises, shall engage in
the trade of plumber not being an apprentice thereof unless he is
the holder of a current Certificate of Proficiency in respect of that
trade, issued under the provisions of the Apprenticeship and
Tradesmens Qualifications Act.
(ii)
Where the applicant for a permit is the owner of the premises he
shall sign a declaration if required by the Plumbing Inspector to the
effect that he is the owner and will be doing personally all work
described in the permit.
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(f)
Denial of Permits:
(i)
Any person to whom a permit has been issued for the installation
and inspection of plumbing, drainage, or other work which must be
inspected, who has been notified in writing of a violation or
violations, and who has not complied with the notice of violation nor
notified the Plumbing Inspector of compliance within ten days from
the date of issuance of said notice, shall have no further plumbing
or drainage permits issued until he has shown to the satisfaction of
the Plumbing Inspector that failure to comply is due to
circumstances beyond his control.
(ii)
The Plumbing Inspector shall not issue a permit for the alteration of
or addition to a plumbing installation, or few a new plumbing
installation, within an existing structure unless and until he has first
obtained authorization from the Chief Building Inspector.
(g)
Revocation of Permits:
The City Engineer shall revoke any permit as follows:
(i)
If any reason is found to exist which would have been cause for
denial of such permit.
(ii)
Whenever there has been found a false statement as to a material
fact in the application upon which the said permit was issued.
(iii)
For any violation of any provision of the British Columbia Plumbing
Code or of this bylaw on the part of the permit holder or his agents
or employees in doing any act or work authorized to be done by
such permit.
(iv)
If any person other than the permit holder has been allowed to use
a permit for the purpose of avoiding compliance with any provision
of this bylaw.
(v)
If any person other than the permit holder, or his employee in the
case of a licensed plumber, has been allowed to use the said
permit for any purpose.
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(h)
If, after the issuance of any permit, the operations authorized thereunder
be not commenced within six months from the date thereof, or if after
commencement of operations thereon, the work be discontinued for a
period of sixty days through any cause other than weather conditions,
strikes or lockouts, or if the work be not carried on continuously and in a
bonafide manner, such permit shall be void, and the work shall not be
again commenced until a new permit shall have been issued.
17.
FOUNDATION DRAINS:
(a)
Where a drainage system consisting of concrete or clay tile, or perforated
bituminous fibre pipe, of approved manufacture is laid around the
perimeter of the foundation of all types of buildings it shall be laid so that
the top of the tile or pipe at the high point is at least three inches below
the top of the floor slab or crawl space cover of the building.
(b)
Drainage from the drainage system shall enter a municipal storm or
combined sewer, but where such sewer is not available, then drainage
may enter a ditch or dry well.
(c)
(i)
Drain tile or pipe installed to provide gravity drainage at a minimum
slope of one inch to eight feet shall be laid on undisturbed or well
compacted soil, with the butt ends of tile one-quarter inch to three-
eight inch open and covered over the top half perimeter with a
minimum three inch wide fifteen pound asphalt or tar saturated felt.
(ii)
Top and sides of drain pipe or tile shall be covered with six inches
or more of minimum three-quarter inch diameter drainage gravel.
(iii)
Manufactured tile corner fittings and tile leader connections are to
be installed at all corners and where rain water leaders drain into
drain tile.
(d)
Drain tile lines to rock-pits or ditches shall have a minimum of twelve
inches of cover over tile or shall be a pipe having sealed joints.
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(e)
Sizing of perimeter drainage tile, based on a minimum slope of one-eighth
inch ton one foot, shall be as follows:
For ground seepage and roof drainage:
4" up to 2,500 sq. ft. maximum area
6" up to 7,000 sq. ft. maximum area
8" up to 22,000 sq. ft. maximum area
10" up to 28,000 sq. ft. maximum area
For ground seepage only:
4" up to 3,750 sq. ft. maximum area
6" up to 10,500 sq. ft. maximum area
8" up to 22,500 sq. ft. maximum area
10" up to 42,000 sq. ft. maximum area
(f)
Where drainage from driveways enters into perimeter drain tile, a sand
trap interceptor of minimum inside dimensions of 18" x 18" x 18" shall be
provided.
(g)
Backfilling of drain tile shall take place within ten (10) days from the time it
is inspected and acceptance posted, otherwise acceptance of the system
shall be withdrawn and reinspection required.
18.
SWIMMING POOLS
This section shall apply to swimming pool supply lines and drainage not required
by the British Columbia Plumbing Code. The method of installing these lines
shall be to the requirements of the said Code.
(a)
Every application for a swimming pool permit shall be accompanied with a
plan showing the location of the proposed pool and all water supply
piping, waste piping and appurtenances. The waste water shall be
disposed of as hereinafter set forth in this Section and the type of disposal
proposed shall be approved by the City Engineer prior to the
commencement of any work.
(b)
Construction
(i)
No pool, designed to be supplied with water direct from the
domestic water supply, shall have any water inlet thereto below the
extreme overflow level of the pool as required by the British
Columbia Plumbing Code.
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(ii)
There shall be no direct connection between any domestic water
supply line and any circulating pump, filer, water softener, or other
apparatus, or device that comes in contact with the water in or from
the pool. Recirculating systems shall take the water supply to the
pool from an open surge tank or other approved system. The
supply to the surge tank shall be above the extreme overflow level
in such manner as to prevent water from the tank entering the
supply line.
(iii)
When a storm sewer of adequate capacity is available for use,
swimming pool waste water shall be discharged thereinto and
permission shall be obtained in writing from the City Engineer to do
so. A copy of such permission stating the maximum size of the
waste line between the sump and the sewer shall accompany any
application for a permit made to the Plumbing Inspector.
(iv)
Areas not serviced by storm sewers shall be referred to the City
Engineer.
( v)
All swimming pools shall have the bottom and inner sides
constructed of smooth non-absorbent materials and be so
constructed as to be property drained through one or more metal
grated openings. All such drains shall have a gate valve installed
therein, located in an accessible sump, adjacent to the outside
walls of the pool. When the sump is connected to a sewer or
otherwise subject to back flow of sewage, a back-water valve shall
be installed as required by the British Columbia Plumbing Code.
(vi)
No direct connection shall be made between any storm drain,
sewer, drainage system, or sub-soil drainage line, and any line
connected to a swimming pool.
(vii)
Scum gutter drains and/or floor drains serving the walks around the
pool may be installed as special waste pipes provided each outlet
is trapped and independent vent pipes are installed on the high
ends of mains in a manner that will assure a circulating of air.
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19.
PENALTIES
(a)
Every person and every owner who offends against or violates any of the
provisions of this bylaw or who suffer or permits any act or thing to be
done in contravention or in violation of any of the provisions of this bylaw,
or who neglects to do or refrains from doing anything required to be done
by any of the provisions of this bylaw, is guilty of an infraction of this
bylaw, and upon summary conviction therefore, shall be liable to a fine not
exceeding Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars or in the alternative, to the
imprisonment for term not exceeding three months.
20.
The "Plumbing Code Bylaw, 1971, and amending bylaws are hereby repealed.
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BYLAW NO. 7640, 2013
BYLAW No. 7683, 2014 -Schedule "A" Deleted
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