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Committee affirms borough requirement for International Code Council certification for tradespeople after review
Summary
A committee member reported research finding Westchester is unique locally in requiring International Code Council certification for subcontracted electricians, plumbers and mechanical trades; the building code official supports the requirement and the committee recorded a 2‑0 decision to move forward with the existing rule.
At the Administration Communication Technology Committee meeting Tuesday, a committee member presented research on the borough’s currently enforced requirement that subcontractors for electrical, mechanical and plumbing work hold International Code Council (ICC) certification.
The presenter said the borough is "unique" among nearby municipalities in requiring ICC certification and described the ICC as the standards body whose model codes underpin the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code. He explained the borough requires that at least one person in a contracting organization pass the ICC trade test — scoring at least 70 percent — though that certified person may not be the individual performing the work on site. "Where Westchester Borough is unique is that we require the contractors to also get certification through ICC," the presenter said.
The presenter said he reviewed 50 Chester County municipalities using the borough’s online code provider and found none that require ICC certification of tradespeople; a deeper review of 11 neighboring municipalities produced similar results. He summarized common alternative requirements in neighboring municipalities as annual contractor registration and fees ranging from about $50 to $125, plus evidence of workers' compensation and general liability insurance.
The presenter circulated an opinion from Paul, the borough’s building code official (BCO), and said Paul supports ICC certification as a way to improve workmanship. The transcript records committee members saying they were comfortable leaving the requirement in place. "I do not see this as a detriment to our community. I believe this is an asset," one committee member said.
The committee recorded the item as a two‑zero decision to move forward; no ordinance language change or fee schedule was proposed in the meeting record and no formal vote roll call names were recorded in the transcript.
