(a)  It is unlawful for any underground utility contractor to engage in the installation, repair, alteration, or replacement of an underground utility as defined in this chapter without a valid license issued by the board.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 5-65.3-3

  • Board: means the contractors' registration and licensing board as defined in § 5-65-1. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-65.3-2
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Underground utility: means the installation, repair, alteration, or replacement of underground utilities, sewer lines, storm drainage lines or water lines, water service and laterals, laying drains and related services outside of buildings, making connections with public and/or private underground utilities, provided that such work is to be done between the main, lateral, related services and/or appurtenances to within five feet (5?) of the outer wall of a building or structure and specifically excluding gas and telecommunications work and any work defined in § 28-27-28. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-65.3-2
  • Underground utility contractor: means any corporation, association, sole proprietorship, firm, partnership, limited-liability corporation, limited-liability partnership, or other business organization that is engaged in the installation, repair, alteration, or replacement of underground utilities, outside of buildings, making connections with public and/or private underground utilities, provided that such work is to be done between the main, laterals, services and/or appurtenances to within five feet (5?) of the outer walls of a building or structure. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-65.3-2

(b)  Any person licensed as a master plumber under the provisions of chapter 20 of this title or as a master pipefitter under the provisions of chapter 27 of Title 28 shall be exempt from the requirement to obtain both an underground utility contractor‘s license, as required by this chapter, and an installer’s license, as required by chapter 56 of this title, provided that the master plumber or master pipefitter shall be required to comply with the provisions of § 5-65.2-3 and § 5-56-7.

(c)  Any public utility, or agent thereof, regulated by the public utilities commission or the division of public utilities and carriers shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter.

History of Section.
P.L. 2014, ch. 194, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 212, § 1.