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West Chester council debates requirement that tradespeople hold ICC certification
Summary
Councilmembers and residents discussed whether West Chester should keep the borough's requirement that electricians, plumbers and HVAC contractors hold International Code Council (ICC) certification. The borough's codes office recommended retaining the rule; the item was set for further discussion at the next regular meeting.
West Chester Borough Councilors and residents debated whether the borough should continue requiring International Code Council certification for electricians, plumbers and HVAC contractors, a standard the borough's codes department recommends keeping.
The discussion centered on safety, costs to homeowners and how the ICC requirement interacts with Pennsylvania licensing. Supporters, including borough staff, said the ICC standard raises workmanship and safety levels above what a license alone guarantees, especially in West Chester's older housing stock. Opponents and some council members questioned whether the ICC requirement imposes unnecessary cost on contractors and homeowners.
The issue matters because West Chester is one of a small number of Pennsylvania municipalities that require ICC certification; Pennsylvania generally leaves trade licensing to municipalities. The borough codes office submitted a letter backing the requirement, saying the standard improves outcomes on inspection. Opponents at the meeting said the rule could increase project costs and possibly price local builders out of work.
Councilmember McGinnis said he did not see the value of adding ICC certification on top of master or journeyman licenses, which come from state apprenticeship and licensing pathways. Councilmember McCoy countered that the borough's inspectors and the codes office see higher workmanship where ICC standards apply and urged caution about lowering standards for safety reasons. A resident at the meeting, Lisa Kearns, who identified herself as having a background in aviation safety, said relying solely on inspectors to catch problems is not best practice: "If you put all that responsibility on your inspectors, that's the end of the road," she said, arguing the process that produces qualified contractors should be strengthened earlier in the chain.
Council discussion also included anecdotal claims from a resident that ICC certification could add substantial cost to a home addition; a council member asked staff to confirm whether the claimed $50,000 estimate was accurate. Councilors agreed to review the codes department's letter and related materials and to place the item on the agenda for further discussion at the borough's next meeting rather than change the requirement that night.
The codes department originally recommended keeping the ICC requirement; a subcommittee vote that preceded the council meeting recorded a 2-0 recommendation to leave the standard in place. At the council work session the council did not remove the requirement; instead members asked for additional information and scheduled follow-up discussion.
The council did not take final action to change the certification requirement at the work session. Staff said they would circulate the codes office letter to council and bring the item back for formal action at the next meeting.
