Westchester council adopts ordinance to accept ICC certifications for electrical, mechanical and plumbing work
June 19, 2025 | West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania
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The Borough of Westchester on June 18 adopted an ordinance amending borough code chapters that govern electrical, mechanical and plumbing trades so contractors may qualify to perform work by showing International Code Council (ICC) certifications rather than a borough-issued license.
Council members voted to adopt the change after a public hearing and a brief explanation from borough staff that the amendment corrects wording that conflated ICC certifications with licensing.
The change affects chapter 54 (electrical), chapter 72 (mechanical) and chapter 82 (plumbing) of the borough code. A borough staff member explained that when the borough opted into the statewide building code in 2004 it grandfathered local registration requirements. The ordinance does not remove the borough’s ability to require that trade workers be certified or previously registered; rather, it clarifies that the ICC issues certifications — not licenses — and allows individuals who hold ICC certifications to qualify to perform those trades within the borough.
“The ICC does not issue a license for people in those trades. They issue certifications,” the staff member said during the public hearing, explaining why the wording needed to be updated.
A council member made a motion “to approve the ordinance changes as presented.” The council then called the question and recorded unanimous support on the vote: Miss Dorsey — yes; Mr. Flynn — yes; Miss Vaccaro — yes; Mr. McGinnis — yes; Mr. Travis — yes; Miss Shimoni — yes. The motion passed.
Council discussion and the staff explanation emphasized that the amendment is a technical correction to align borough code language with how the ICC describes its credentials; the underlying local requirement that trade work be performed by certified or registered individuals was not eliminated in the adopted language.
The ordinance was advertised and made available for public inspection prior to the hearing, the staff member said, and the hearing record includes those notices.
The council did not take supplemental policy actions at the meeting beyond adopting the corrected language; no implementation timeline or additional enforcement provisions were specified during the hearing.
Council members voted to adopt the change after a public hearing and a brief explanation from borough staff that the amendment corrects wording that conflated ICC certifications with licensing.
The change affects chapter 54 (electrical), chapter 72 (mechanical) and chapter 82 (plumbing) of the borough code. A borough staff member explained that when the borough opted into the statewide building code in 2004 it grandfathered local registration requirements. The ordinance does not remove the borough’s ability to require that trade workers be certified or previously registered; rather, it clarifies that the ICC issues certifications — not licenses — and allows individuals who hold ICC certifications to qualify to perform those trades within the borough.
“The ICC does not issue a license for people in those trades. They issue certifications,” the staff member said during the public hearing, explaining why the wording needed to be updated.
A council member made a motion “to approve the ordinance changes as presented.” The council then called the question and recorded unanimous support on the vote: Miss Dorsey — yes; Mr. Flynn — yes; Miss Vaccaro — yes; Mr. McGinnis — yes; Mr. Travis — yes; Miss Shimoni — yes. The motion passed.
Council discussion and the staff explanation emphasized that the amendment is a technical correction to align borough code language with how the ICC describes its credentials; the underlying local requirement that trade work be performed by certified or registered individuals was not eliminated in the adopted language.
The ordinance was advertised and made available for public inspection prior to the hearing, the staff member said, and the hearing record includes those notices.
The council did not take supplemental policy actions at the meeting beyond adopting the corrected language; no implementation timeline or additional enforcement provisions were specified during the hearing.
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