§ 9-163. Class A and Class B tree trimmer license and training requirements; renewals.

(a)

Sole Proprietors:

(1)

Every sole proprietor, who contracts for or performs work as a tree trimmer and who wishes to obtain a Class A Tree Trimmer License from the County, shall provide evidence that the sole proprietor is either certified by the International Society of Arboriculture Arborists or is a Registered Consulting Arborist with the American Society of Consulting Arborists. Every sole proprietor shall also provide evidence that a sufficient number of its employees comply with the training requirements set forth within Subsection 9-163(a)(2) below or that it intends to subcontract with licensed tree trimmer subcontractors, if a sufficient number of its employees do not comply with the training requirements, to ensure that a trained person is present at all times at every job site when tree trimming is in progress.

(2)

In order to ensure that a trained person is present at all times at every job site when tree trimming is in progress, every sole proprietor who wishes to obtain a Class B Tree Trimmer License from the County shall provide evidence that both the sole proprietor and a sufficient number of the sole proprietor's employees have:

a.

Successfully completed the training course offered by the Broward County Extension Education Section, or any successor agency, and passed the examination; or

b.

Completed an equivalent substitute training course and has passed the examination offered by the Broward County Extension Education Section, or any successor agency.

(3)

A sole proprietor, who can demonstrate at least five (5) years of tree trimming experience, may be granted a Class B Tree Trimmer License without benefit of exam if the sole proprietor otherwise meets the qualifications set forth within this article of the Broward County Code of Ordinances and can demonstrate an ability to trim trees in accordance with the American National Standards Institute for Tree Care Operations, Tree, Shrub and Other Woody Plant Maintenance Standard Practices.

(b)

Business Organizations:

(1)

Every business organization that contracts to perform work as a tree trimmer service and wishes to obtain a Class A Tree Trimmer License from the County shall provide evidence that at least one (1) person affiliated with the business organization is certified by the International Society of Arboricultural Arborists or is a Registered Consulting Arborist with the American Society of Consulting Arborists. The business organization shall also provide evidence that its chief executive officer or the financially responsible officer, and a sufficient number of its employees, or its subcontractor's employees, comply with the training requirements set forth within Subsection 9-163(b)(2) below, to ensure that a trained person is present at all times at every job site when tree trimming is in progress.

(2)

To ensure that a trained person is present at all times at every job site when tree trimming is in progress, every business organization, which contracts to perform work as a tree trimmer service and wishes to obtain a Class B Tree Trimmer License, shall provide evidence that the business organization:

a.

Has a sufficient number of trained employees who have successfully completed the training course offered by the Broward County Extension Education Section, or any successor agency;

b.

Has a sufficient number of trained employees who have completed an equivalent substitute training course and have passed the examination offered by the Broward County Extension Education Section, or any successor agency; or

c.

Intends to subcontract with licensed tree trimmer subcontractors, if it does not have a sufficient number of trained employees, to ensure that a trained person is present at all times at every job site when tree trimming is in progress.

(c)

Governmental Agency:

(1)

Every governmental agency, which trims trees and wishes to obtain a Class A Tree Trimmer License, shall provide evidence that at least one (1) person employed by the governmental agency is certified by the International Society of Arboriculture Arborists or is a Registered Consulting Arborist with the American Society of Consulting Arborists. The governmental agency shall also provide evidence that a sufficient number of its employees comply with the applicable training requirements set forth within Subsection 9-163(c)(2) below or that it intends to subcontract with licensed tree trimmer subcontractors, if a sufficient number of its employees do not comply with the training requirements, to ensure that a trained person is present at all times at every job site when tree trimming is in progress.

(2)

To ensure that a trained person is present at all times at every job site when tree trimming is in progress, every governmental agency, which trims trees and wishes to obtain a Class B Tree Trimmer License, shall provide evidence that the governmental agency:

a.

Has a sufficient number of trained employees who have successfully completed the training course offered by the Broward County Extension Education Section, or any successor agency;

b.

Has a sufficient number of trained employees who have completed an equivalent substitute training course and have passed the examination offered by the Broward County Extension Education Section, or any successor agency; or

c.

Intends to subcontract with licensed tree trimmer subcontractors, if it does not have a sufficient number of trained employees, to ensure that a trained person is present at all times at every job site when tree trimming is in progress.

(d)

Successful completion of the training course or retraining course offered by the Broward County Extension Education Section, or any successor agency, includes obtaining a passing grade on the examination offered by the Broward County Extension Education Section, or any successor agency.

(e)

All tree trimmer licenses shall expire on the thirty-first (31st) day of August of every other year following the date of original issuance. Licenses shall be valid for no more than two (2) years; however, licenses shall be renewable for successive two-year periods. Licenses shall be renewable biennially by the first (1st) day of September of every other year upon the payment of the fees established by the County. If a license is not timely renewed, a late fee will be imposed. A license issued pursuant to the provisions of this article shall not be transferable.

(f)

Tree trimmer licenses shall be issued in the name of the sole proprietor, business organization, or governmental agency meeting the standards and requirements for licensure, as set forth in this article.

(g)

A sole proprietor, who is entitled to receive a license and who proposes to do business as a contractor or subcontractor in the sole proprietor's own name as an individual, shall be issued a license in the individual's own name.

(h)

When a tree trimmer's license has expired or lapsed for any reason, the County may require retraining of the licensee before such license is renewed. When a license has been suspended, the County shall require retraining of the licensee before such license is reinstated. When a license has been revoked by a hearing officer, the sole proprietor or business organization holding the license shall be prohibited from obtaining or applying for a tree trimmer license for a period of five (5) years after the effective date of the revocation.

(i)

Reasonable fees shall be collected for the training and retaining classes and the administrative processing and review of applications for Class A and Class B Tree Trimmer Licenses. The schedule of fees to be collected shall be established by resolution of the Board of County Commissioners of Broward County and incorporated into the Broward County Administrative Code.

(j)

For the purposes of this article, no person with a Class A or Class B Tree Trimmer License may be affiliated with more than one (1) business organization in Broward County holding a license.

(Ord. No. 2009-14, § 2, 3-24-09; Ord. No. 2013-37, § 1, 11-12-13)