Michigan Alarm & Security Licensing Law

Michigan Code · 12 sections

The following is the full text of Michigan’s alarm & security licensing law statutes as published in the Michigan Code. For the official version, see the Michigan Legislature.

MCL 339.5701

SKILLED TRADES REGULATION ACT (EXCERPT)

Act 407 of 2016

339.5701 Definitions; A to F.

Sec. 701.

As used in this article:

(a) "Apprentice electrician" means an individual other than an electrical contractor, master electrician, or electrical journeyman, who is engaged in learning about and assisting in the installation or alteration of electrical wiring and equipment under the direct personal supervision of an electrical journeyman or master electrician.

(b) "Board" means the electrical administrative board described in section 705.

(c) "Electrical contractor" means a person that is engaged in the business of erecting, installing, altering, repairing, servicing, or maintaining electrical wiring.

(d) "Electrical journeyman" means an individual other than an electrical contractor who, as his or her principal occupation, is engaged in the practical installation or alteration of electrical wiring. An electrical contractor or master electrician may also be an electrical journeyman.

(e) "Electric sign" means fixed, stationary, or portable self-contained, electrically illuminated equipment that has words or symbols designed to convey information or attract attention. Electric sign includes outline lighting. Electric sign does not include those signs that are indoor or outdoor portable applications or recognized holiday residential signs listed with a recognized testing and approval agency and that use a cord cap-110 volt plug as the electrical energizing attachment method.

(f) "Electrical wiring" means all wiring, generating equipment, fixtures, appliances, devices, and appurtenances in connection with the generation, distribution, and utilization of electrical energy, in or on a building, residence, structure, or properties, regardless of whether or not the electrical wiring is energized at the time of installation. The term includes service entrance wiring as defined in the Michigan electrical code.

(g) "Fire alarm contractor" means a person that is engaged in the business of erecting, installing, altering, repairing, servicing, or maintaining wiring, devices, appliances, or equipment of a fire alarm system.

(h) "Fire alarm specialty apprentice technician" means an individual other than a fire alarm contractor or a fire alarm specialty technician who is engaged in learning about and assisting in the installation or alteration of fire alarm system wiring and equipment under the direct personal supervision of a fire alarm specialty technician.

(i) "Fire alarm specialty licensure" means licensure as a fire alarm contractor or a fire alarm specialty or apprentice technician.

(j) "Fire alarm specialty technician" means an individual other than a fire alarm contractor who, as his or her principal occupation, is engaged in the design and practical installation or alteration of fire alarm systems. An individual who is a fire alarm contractor may also be a fire alarm specialty technician.

(k) "Fire alarm system" means a system that is designed to detect and annunciate the presence of fire, or by-products of fire, installed in a building or structure. Fire alarm system does not include a single station smoke detector.

History: 2016, Act 407, Eff. Apr. 4, 2017 ;-- Am. 2018, Act 151, Eff. Aug. 14, 2018

MCL 339.5707

SKILLED TRADES REGULATION ACT (EXCERPT)

Act 407 of 2016

339.5707 Fees.

Sec. 707.

(1) The examination fee for licensure of any of the following is $100.00:

(a) Master electrician.

(b) Electrical contractor.

(d) Fire alarm contractor.

(e) Fire alarm specialty technician.

(f) Sign specialty contractor.

(g) Sign specialist.

(2) The fee for an initial license, an apprentice electrician registration, or renewal of a license relating to electricians is as follows:

(a) Master electrician $ 50.00. (b) Electrical journeyman $ 40.00. (c) Apprentice electrician $ 15.00. (3) The fee for an initial fire alarm specialty technician license, a fire alarm specialty apprentice technician registration, or renewal of that license or registration is as follows: (a) Fire alarm specialty technician $ 50.00. (b) Fire alarm specialty apprentice technician $ 15.00. (4) The fee for an initial sign specialist license or renewal of a sign specialist license is $40.00.

(5) An apprentice electrician or specialty apprentice technician registration expires on August 31 of each year and is renewable within 30 days after that date if a renewal fee is paid. The amount of the fee is $15.00. An applicant for registration under this subsection must submit proof of a sponsoring employer for initial or renewal registration.

(6) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) or (7), a license expires on December 31 of each year and is renewable not more than 60 days after that date if an application is submitted and the appropriate fee is paid. After March 1 of each year or after March 1 of the renewal year in the case of electrical contractors, fire alarm contractors, or sign specialty contractors, a license that is not renewed is void and the contractor may only be relicensed if an application for relicensure is submitted and the appropriate license fee for the appropriate class is paid.

(7) A license for an electrical contractor, fire alarm contractor, or sign specialty contractor expires December 31 of every third year. A license for an electrical contractor, fire alarm contractor, or sign specialty contractor is renewable not later than on March 1 every third year by submitting an application and paying 1 of the following amounts:

(a) A fee of $300.00 by electrical contractors and fire alarm contractors.

(b) A fee of $200.00 by sign specialty contractors.

(8) If a person that is applying for an initial contractor's license or for relicensure at a time other than between December 31 and March 1 of the year in which the department issues renewal licenses, the department shall compute and charge the 3-year license fee described in subsection (7) on a yearly pro rata basis beginning in the year of the application until the last year of the 3-year license cycle.

History: 2016, Act 407, Eff. Apr. 4, 2017

MCL 339.5709

SKILLED TRADES REGULATION ACT (EXCERPT)

Act 407 of 2016

339.5709 Applicant for licensure; conditions for sitting for examination.

Sec. 709.

An applicant for a license who meets the requirements described in article 2 may sit for an examination if he or she does all of the following, as applicable:

(a) Establishes, in a manner satisfactory to the board, that he or she meets the experience requirement or an equivalent of that experience requirement for the particular class of licensure by submitting a notarized statement from current and past employers.

(b) For an applicant for a fire alarm specialty license, establishes, in a manner satisfactory to the board, that he or she meets the certification level under the standards of the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technology, or the equivalent as determined by the board, at the level required for the particular class of fire alarm specialty licensure.

History: 2016, Act 407, Eff. Apr. 4, 2017

MCL 339.5719

SKILLED TRADES REGULATION ACT (EXCERPT)

Act 407 of 2016

339.5719 Fire alarm contractor's license; requirements.

Sec. 719.

Subject to section 731(3), the department shall issue a fire alarm contractor's license to a person that meets the requirements described in article 2 and meets either of the following:

(a) Is an individual who holds a fire alarm specialty technician's license.

(b) Has at least 1 full-time employee who is a fire alarm specialty technician, resides in this state, and is actively in charge of and responsible for Michigan electrical code compliance of all installations of fire alarm system wiring and equipment.

History: 2016, Act 407, Eff. Apr. 4, 2017

MCL 339.5721

SKILLED TRADES REGULATION ACT (EXCERPT)

Act 407 of 2016

339.5721 Fire alarm specialty technician's license; requirements; renewal; use to meet requirements for more than 1 license prohibited.

Sec. 721.

(1) Subject to section 731(3), the department shall issue a fire alarm specialty technician's license to an individual who is at least 20 years old, meets the requirements described in article 2, and is certified by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technology as an associate engineering technician, level II, or holds an equivalent certification in the field of fire alarm systems technology as determined by the board.

(2) As a condition of renewal of a fire alarm specialty technician's license, the fire alarm specialty technician must demonstrate the successful completion of a course, approved by the board, concerning any update or change in the state construction code relating to fire alarm systems within 12 months after the update or change in that code. This requirement applies only during or after those years that the state construction code is updated or changed.

(3) A holder of a fire alarm specialty technician's license cannot be used to meet the eligibility requirement described in section 719(a) or (b) for more than 1 fire alarm contractor's license.

History: 2016, Act 407, Eff. Apr. 4, 2017

MCL 339.5723

SKILLED TRADES REGULATION ACT (EXCERPT)

Act 407 of 2016

339.5723 Fire alarm specialty apprentice technician; registration; form; certificate of registration; participation in apprenticeship training program; ratio.

Sec. 723.

(1) An individual who is employed as a fire alarm specialty apprentice technician must register with the board on a form provided by the board within 30 days after the date he or she is employed.

(2) The department shall issue a certificate of registration to an individual seeking registration if it receives satisfactory proof of the individual's participation in a bona fide apprenticeship training program approved by the board.

(3) The ratio of fire alarm specialty technicians to registered fire alarm specialty apprentice technicians shall be on the basis of 1 fire alarm specialty technician to 2 registered fire alarm specialty apprentice technicians. The department or an enforcing agency shall enforce the ratio on a jobsite basis.

History: 2016, Act 407, Eff. Apr. 4, 2017

MCL 339.5731

SKILLED TRADES REGULATION ACT (EXCERPT)

Act 407 of 2016

339.5731 Installation of electrical wiring; permit; charitable organization exception; erection, installation, alteration, repair, service, or maintenance of fire alarm system or electric signs; license required; sign specialty licensure of individual licensed in another state.

Sec. 731.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in section 737, only an individual who is licensed under this article shall install electrical wiring. In a municipality where inspection service is provided, a person shall obtain a permit from the board or municipality that has jurisdiction.

(2) If electrical wiring is installed without compensation by a person that is licensed under this article for or on behalf of a charitable organization, the owner of the property on which the work is performed may obtain the permit required under subsection (1). However, the charitable organization exception under this subsection applies only to the reconstruction, renovation, or remodeling of 1- to 4-family dwellings.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in section 737, a person shall not erect, install, alter, repair, service, or maintain fire alarm system wiring, devices, appliances, or equipment in a building or structure without a license.

(4) Except as otherwise provided in section 737, a person shall not install, connect, repair, or maintain electric signs and related wiring without a license.

(5) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article and after a proper application is submitted and the appropriate fees paid, the board and department shall issue a license without examination to an individual seeking sign specialty licensure if he or she is licensed, registered, or otherwise regulated in another state and the board determines that the standards in the other state meet or exceed the standards imposed in this article.

History: 2016, Act 407, Eff. Apr. 4, 2017 ;-- Am. 2018, Act 151, Eff. Aug. 14, 2018

MCL 339.5733

SKILLED TRADES REGULATION ACT (EXCERPT)

Act 407 of 2016

339.5733 Applicability of article to municipality; definitions.

Sec. 733.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, this article does not apply in the jurisdiction of a municipality that adopts or has adopted an ordinance that does all of the following:

(a) Provides standards for the examination and licensing of master electricians, electrical or specialty contractors, electrical journeymen, sign specialists, and fire alarm specialty technicians and the registration of apprentice electricians and fire alarm specialty apprentice technicians that are at least as stringent as those established in this article.

(b) Provides for enforcement that is substantially similar to this article.

(c) Provides for civil and criminal penalties and a citation system for minor violations substantially similar to article 5.

(d) Provides for the inspection of electrical wiring and equipment.

(2) This article shall not be construed as limiting the power of a municipality to enact an ordinance described in subsection (1), to provide for the licensing of persons as electrical or specialty contractors that have a place of business located in the municipality, or to provide for the licensing of journeymen electricians, sign specialists, or fire alarm specialty technicians who reside in the municipality, except that the ordinance shall not require any of the following:

(a) The procurement of a license or permit to execute any class of work specified in section 737(3)(c), (d), (e), or (f).

(b) The procurement of a permit by a provider to install, maintain, replace, or service any electrical wiring, equipment, or devices associated with a business monitoring system, a home monitoring system, or a low-voltage electric fence.

(c) The procurement of a license or permit by a provider to install, maintain, replace, or service a security alarm system.

(d) The procurement of public liability insurance in excess of the coverage required under this article.

(e) That an individual be licensed with, register with, or obtain the approval of the municipality or of the municipality's licensing board to participate in an apprenticeship or training program.

(3) A license or registration issued by the board under this article and licenses issued by a municipality that has standards for licensing at least as stringent as those established by the board shall be recognized by all municipalities.

(4) A municipality that provides for electrical inspection by local ordinance may require all electrical or specialty contractors, sign specialists, fire alarm specialty technicians, and classes of electricians doing work in the municipality to register in accordance with its local ordinance.

(5) Municipal registration requirements shall be reciprocal between the municipalities and between municipalities and the board as to registration requirements and fees, except that licensed electrical journeymen, sign specialists, and fire alarm specialty technicians are not required to register to work in municipalities under the jurisdiction of the board. A municipality shall officially recognize a license or registration issued under this article for purposes of its ordinance.

(6) As used in this section:

(a) "Business monitoring system" means a device or an assembly of equipment and devices, less than 50 volts, that allows a business to remotely monitor its business premises through audio, video, or sensor detection systems. A business monitoring system does not include a fire alarm system or a life safety system designed to protect and evacuate building occupants in the event of emergencies such as fire, smoke, or power outages.

(b) "Home monitoring system" means a device or an assembly of equipment and devices that allows individuals to remotely monitor their home through audio, video, or sensor detection systems and that may allow them to remotely control the home's environment, including, but not limited to, controlling temperature, humidity, lighting, doors, or locks.

(c) "Low-voltage electric fence" means an alarm system that consists of a fence structure and an energizer that produces an electric charge on contact with the fence structure and meets all of the following:

(i) The low-voltage electric fence is installed in a location that is zoned for nonresidential use.

(ii) The energizer is powered by a commercial storage battery that does not exceed 12 volts.

(iii) The electric charge produced by the low-voltage electric fence upon contact does not exceed energizer characteristics set forth in paragraph 22.108 and depicted in figure 102 of international electrotechnical commission standard, IEC 60335-2-76, current edition.

(d) "Provider" means a system provider that is registered under the security alarm systems act, 2012 PA 580, MCL 338.2181 to 338.2187, or a security alarm system contractor that is licensed under the private security business and security alarm act, 1968 PA 330, MCL 338.1051 to 338.1092.

(e) "Security alarm system" means that term as defined in section 2 of the security alarm systems act, 2012 PA 580, MCL 338.2182, or section 2 of the private security business and security alarm act, 1968 PA 330, MCL 338.1052.

History: 2016, Act 407, Eff. Apr. 4, 2017 ;-- Am. 2017, Act 125, Eff. Jan. 15, 2018 ;-- Am. 2018, Act 331, Imd. Eff. July 2, 2018 ;-- Am. 2018, Act 441, Eff. Mar. 21, 2019

MCL 339.5735

SKILLED TRADES REGULATION ACT (EXCERPT)

Act 407 of 2016

339.5735 Ordinance requiring application to and licensing by board.

Sec. 735.

A municipality that provides standards for electrical wiring and for inspection and licensing under section 733 may require by ordinance that all electrical or specialty contractors, master electricians, fire alarm specialty technicians, sign specialists, and electrical journeymen that are within its licensing jurisdiction must apply to and be licensed by the board under this article.

History: 2016, Act 407, Eff. Apr. 4, 2017

MCL 339.5737

SKILLED TRADES REGULATION ACT (EXCERPT)

Act 407 of 2016

339.5737 Electrical contracting; license required; classes of work.

Sec. 737.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this article or in subsection (3), a person shall not engage in the business of electrical contracting unless the person has received from the board or from the appropriate municipality an electrical contractor's license.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this article or in subsection (3), an individual, other than an individual who is licensed under this article and employed by and working under the direction of a holder of an electrical contractor's license, shall not in any manner undertake to execute any electrical wiring.

(3) A licensee is not required to perform any of the following classes of work:

(a) Minor repair work.

(b) The installation, alteration, repairing, rebuilding, or remodeling of elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators, or man lifts performed under a permit issued by an elevator inspection agency of this state or a municipality of this state.

(c) The installation, alteration, or repair of electrical equipment and its associated wiring installed on the premises of consumers or subscribers by or for an electrical energy supply or communication agency for use by that agency in the generation, transmission, distribution, or metering of electrical energy or for the operation of signals or transmission of intelligence.

(d) The installation, alteration, or repair of electrical wiring for the generation and primary distribution of electric current, or the secondary distribution system up to and including the meters, if that work is an integral part of the system owned and operated by an electric light and power utility in rendering its duly authorized service.

(e) Any work involved in the manufacture of electric equipment, including the testing and repairing of that manufactured equipment.

(f) The installation, alteration, or repair of equipment and its associated wiring for the generation or distribution of electric energy for the operation of signals or transmission of intelligence if that work is performed in connection with a communication system owned or operated by a telephone or telegraph company in rendering its authorized service as a telephone or telegraph company.

(g) Any installation, alteration, or repair of electrical equipment by a homeowner in a single family home and accompanying outbuildings owned and occupied or to be occupied by the individual who is performing the installation, alteration, or repair of electrical equipment.

(h) Any work involved in the use, maintenance, operation, dismantling, or reassembling of motion picture and theatrical equipment used in any building with approved facilities for entertainment or educational use and that has the necessary permanent wiring and floor and wall receptacle outlets designed for the proper and safe use of that theatrical equipment, but not including any permanent wiring.

(i) Work performed by a person that is licensed as a mechanical contractor in a classification described in section 807(2)(a), (b), (d), (e), and (f), a person that is licensed as a plumbing contractor under article 11, and employees of those persons, while performing maintenance, service, repair, replacement, alteration, modification, reconstruction, or upgrading of control wiring circuits and electrical component parts in existing mechanical systems defined in the Michigan mechanical code and the Michigan plumbing code, including, but not limited to, energy management systems, relays and controls on boilers, water heaters, furnaces, air conditioning compressors and condensers, fan controls, thermostats and sensors, and all interconnecting wiring associated with the mechanical systems in buildings that are on the load side of the unit disconnect, that is located on or immediately adjacent to the equipment, except for life safety systems wiring.

(j) Electrical wiring associated with the installation, removal, alteration, or repair of a water well pump on a single family dwelling to the first point of attachment in the house from the well, by a pump installer registered under part 127 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.12701 to 333.12771.

(k) The installation, maintenance, or servicing of security alarm systems in a building or structure. As used in this subdivision, "security alarm system" means that term as defined in section 733(2)(c).

(l) The installation, maintenance, or servicing of listed residential and commercial lawn irrigation equipment, except any permanent wired connections exceeding 30 volts.

(m) The installation, maintenance, or servicing of listed landscape lighting systems and equipment, except any permanent wired connections exceeding 30 volts.

(n) The installation, alteration, maintenance, or repair of electric signs and related wiring by an unlicensed individual under the direct supervision of a licensed sign specialist except that the ratio of unlicensed individuals engaged in this activity shall not exceed 2 unlicensed individuals to 1 licensed sign specialist. An enforcing agency shall enforce this ratio on a jobsite basis.

(o) The construction, installation, maintenance, repair, and renovation of telecommunications equipment and related systems by a person that is primarily engaged in the telecommunications and related information systems industry. This exemption does not include the construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation of a fire alarm system.

History: 2016, Act 407, Eff. Apr. 4, 2017 Compiler's Notes: In subsection (3), the reference to "A licensee" evidently should read "A license".

MCL 339.5801

SKILLED TRADES REGULATION ACT (EXCERPT)

Act 407 of 2016

339.5801 Definitions; A to H.

Sec. 801.

As used in this article:

(a) "Air conditioning" means the process of treating air to meet the requirements of a conditioned space by controlling, either simultaneously or individually, the air's temperature, humidity, cleanness, and distribution.

(b) "Board" means the board of mechanical rules described in section 805.

(d) "Ductwork" means the air distribution arrangement for supply, return, and exhaust in air conditioning systems and in nonair conditioning systems, the materials and methods of which are specified in the Michigan mechanical code, or an equivalent nationally recognized model mechanical code. Ductwork includes flues, vents, and chimneys.

(e) "Fire suppression system" means an integrated combination of a fire alarm system and fire suppression equipment that as a result of predetermined temperature, rate of temperature rise, products of combustion, flame, or human intervention will discharge a fire extinguishing substance over a fire area.

(f) "Heating", used alone, means the use of any fuel or electricity to generate heat in an air conditioning system. When used with a qualifying term such as "hydronic", the term heating assumes the limited meaning expressed by that qualification.

(g) "Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning" or "HVAC" means the application of equipment and systems to provide air conditioning for occupants of buildings and structures. HVAC does not include the installation of portable self-contained refrigeration equipment and window-type air conditioners of not more than 1-1/2 horsepower.

(h) "Hydronic heating and cooling" means the application of equipment and systems which provide air conditioning by the controlled forced circulation of fluids or vapors in pipes.

History: 2016, Act 407, Eff. Apr. 4, 2017

MCL 339.5809

SKILLED TRADES REGULATION ACT (EXCERPT)

Act 407 of 2016

339.5809 Installations, alterations, or servicing of work classifications; designation of contractor of record; performance of work without compensation or on behalf of charitable organization; person registered as system provider or licensed as security alarm system contractor; contractor employing qualified maintenance crew.

Sec. 809.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (3) or (4) and section 819, an individual or other person shall not perform installations, alterations, or servicing of work classifications under section 807(2) that are regulated under the Stille-DeRossett-Hale single state construction code act unless the person, if the person is an individual, or an employee of the person has received a mechanical contractor's license from the department that has not been revoked or suspended, the license is classified and limited under section 807, and the holder of the license has secured the appropriate permit from the enforcing agency charged with the responsibility of issuing permits.

(2) A person that performs installations, alterations, or servicing of work classifications under section 807(2) shall designate the holder of a mechanical contractor's license described in subsection (1) as the contractor of record notify the department in writing of the designation.

(3) If work that is within 1 of the classifications described in section 807(2) is performed without compensation by a person that is licensed under this article for or on behalf of a charitable organization, the owner of the property on which the work is performed may obtain the permit required under subsection (1). However, this subsection applies only to the reconstruction, renovation, or remodeling of 1- to 4-family dwellings.

(4) A person that is registered as a system provider under the security alarm systems act, 2012 PA 580, MCL 338.2181 to 338.2187, or licensed as a security alarm system contractor under the private security business and security alarm act, 1968 PA 330, MCL 338.1051 to 338.1092, is not required to obtain a license from the department under this article or obtain a license or permit from a governmental subdivision or enforcing agency to perform work described in subsection (1) in connection with the installation, maintenance, replacement, or servicing of a thermostat for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system or a hydronic heating and cooling system.

(5) If a contractor of record regularly employs a qualified maintenance crew to perform mechanical contracting work regulated under this article in a facility, this article does not require that the contractor of record perform work in that facility.

History: 2016, Act 407, Eff. Apr. 4, 2017

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