New Exemptions (Apartment’s Can Use In House Techs for Small Jobs)

New Exemptions

As of July 1, 2016, section 489.103, F.S. is amended to add a new exemption for apartment community employees or apartment management company employees. The employees are exempted from contractor licensing requirements when they are performing minor repairs to existing electric water heaters, electric heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems when the repair costs do not exceed $1,000.00 and are not the functional equivalent of replacing the system. Employees are required to have one year of apartment maintenance experience and hold an apartment maintenance technician’s certificate from the National Apartment Association (NAA) to qualify for the exemption. The NAA certification course must be accredited by the American National Standards Institute and consists of a 90 hour training course covering identified topics and completion of examination requirements. The exemption only applies to employees of apartment communities of 100 apartments or greater and does not prohibit local jurisdictions from creating local license requirements for the performance of such work.

Likewise, the new law amends section 489.105(3)(m), F.S., to include the provisions that the definition of plumbing contractor “. . . does not require certification or registration under this part as a category I liquefied petroleum gas dealer, LP gas installer, or specialty installer who is licensed under chapter 527. . .”