Front Yard Water Shut-off - Cover and Sleeve

[Joseph Edelmann]

Recently, in St. Louis County, MO, a re-habbed home failed a plumbing inspection by the water company because the vertical, cast iron sleeve that provided access to the shut-off valve from the lawn was crooked and the tool for turning the valve would not work.

In order to straighten what amounted to a cast iron "saddle" bolted around the valve, the owner had to hire a plumber to dig down to the water shut-off valve, set this sleeve straight, and re-fill the area around it.

My question is: as no actual water piping was interrupted or accessed, - just the sleeve over the valve, could this work have been done by the owner rather than a licensed plumbing Company and still pass inspection ?

[Rick Cantrell]

"My question is: as no actual water piping was interrupted or accessed, - just the sleeve over the valve, could this work have been done by the owner rather than a licensed plumbing Company and still pass inspection ?"

I do not know of any reason why a non licensed person could not perform the work.

[Bruce Breedlove]

I did exactly that for my sprinkler system shutoff valves. It was a huge job but it was better than paying someone else.

[H.G. Watson, Sr.]

Not occupied by owner occupant - and known intent to sell property within x months or presently marketed - expemption to requirement for licensed plumber to do work doesn't exist.

Plumbing code. Interface to public system. Licensed, insured, bonded contractor most likely required - protects public system, muni needs a pocket to dip into should there be damage, if the supply line is damaged on supply side of the b-box the opening to the main could compromise the safety of the water supply. Likelyhood of other underground service nearby also - proximity of sewer for example, utility easements.

No water - no legal occupancy. Taps to public services often require licensed, bonded & insured trades.

[Ron Bibler]

I replaced my main system without a contractor... The city did not like that but there was nothing they could do about it as I had most of the work done before I got my permit.:eek:
Best

Ron

[H.G. Watson, Sr.]

Unincorporated St. Louis County? Best resource - St. Louis County, MO Public Works, here is a clickable link to their web portal: St. Louis County Government - Department of Public Works homepage (http://www.co.st-louis.mo.us/pubworks/)

and Code Enforcement:

St. Louis County Government - Department of Public Works - Code Enforcement (http://www.co.st-louis.mo.us/pubworks/codeinfo.html)