All McDuffie County plumbers, electricians and installers of heating and air will be required to have state licenses by July 1, according to the McDuffie County Planning Commission.
Code Enforcement Officer Gail Newsome said that it's a step in the right direction when it comes to protecting customers.
"It actually will help protect the individual who are hiring people to do work for them, to know that they are qualified and properly trained, and that they do know their codes in order to do their work," she said. "We have had some where contractors have come in and were not qualified, then the individual was ripped off because they had to, in turn, hire another electrician or whatever to come in and correct the work that the other guy did."
She said that local contractors have known about the deadline to get licensed for some time, and that they should be ready to show their license to the county.
"Everybody needs to be prepared," she said. "This is to make sure that the work they're doing meets the code requirements, and that they're qualified by the state in order to do that work."
After the contractors present their license to the planning commission office, then they will be granted the various permits needed to perform contract work in McDuffie County.
Ms. Newsome said that any fees associated with the licenses would be handled at the state level. For all other information, contact the McDuffie County Planning Commission at 595-5355.
