A proposal to require building contractors to register with the City of Omaha will go before the City Council on Tuesday.
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The City Council is also scheduled to vote Tuesday on the proposed fire union contract. We’ll have live updates on Omaha.com beginning at 2 p.m. and full coverage in Wednesday’s World-Herald.
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The registration plan has drawn opposite responses from Omaha home builders, who initially suggested that the city license building contractors, and local landlords, who oppose licensing.
The council started discussing the licensing requirement in May. In response to concerns from landlords and small contractors, the City Planning Department has pulled back on parts of the proposal.
The cost of a license, which must be renewed every three years, has been cut. Remodelers and smaller contractors would pay $100 and home builders would pay $200. Both rates were lowered from $300.
Insurance requirements also have decreased for home builders and smaller contractors.
The proposal now allows landlords and property owners to perform work on their properties without getting licensed.
In addition, the plan specifies that people performing routine maintenance or handyman services don't need to be licensed.
If approved, the licensing requirement would apply to contractors working within Omaha and its three-mile zoning area. To obtain a license, an applicant would need to pass an exam on building codes.
Since making its original proposal, city officials have added a "grandfather" provision to allow people to avoid taking the exam, but that comes with a higher cost to contractors.
Councilman Pete Festersen, however, is proposing to eliminate the grandfather provisions.
The Metro Omaha Builders Association and the Home Building Professionals of Greater Omaha both support the licensing, saying it would promote quality among contractors.
The Metro Omaha Property Owners Association opposes the plan, saying it would be unnecessary regulation of the industry.
Jay Davis, Omaha's chief building inspector, said he has tried to make the licensing process easy and fair.
Davis said the licensing would bring construction professionals to the same level in knowing Omaha's building codes. And he said it would bring building contractors to the same level as other trades, such as plumbers, in requiring a license.
Contact the writer: 402-444-1128, [email protected]
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