Adoption and enforcement of State Plumbing Code by local governments - - Local inspectors -- Qualifications.
(1) Any local government may, by ordinance, enact the Kentucky State Plumbing Code, regulating the construction, installation, or alteration of plumbing within such local government, providing for the issuance of plumbing installation permits and fixing permit and inspection fees. Two (2) or more local governments may, by ordinance of each local government, enact the plumbing code as described in this section which shall be jointly enforced and administered by said local governments within their boundaries. Agreements for joint enforcement shall conform to the provisions of KRS Chapter 65. The department may authorize any such local government or combination of local governments to administer, carry out, and enforce the Kentucky State Plumbing Code and the rules and regulations of the department relating thereto and to issue permits and make inspections thereunder within such local government, in which event a permit issued under the provisions of the local government plumbing code ordinance shall be deemed a permit issued by the department; provided, however, that inspectors of the department shall have concurrent jurisdiction with local government plumbing inspectors in the enforcement in such local governments of the Kentucky State Plumbing Code.
(2) Any local government enacting a plumbing code ordinance may appoint and fix the compensation of local government plumbing inspectors. No person shall be eligible for appointment as a local government plumbing inspector unless he or she has at least eight (8) years' experience as a master or journeyman plumber. At the time of his or her appointment, he or she shall be licensed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(3) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting a local government from collecting occupational license fees from persons, firms, or corporations engaged in the plumbing business.