Utah handyman exemption explained

The statute

a person engaged in the alteration, repair, remodeling, or addition to or improvement of a building with a contracted or agreed value of less than $7,000, including both labor and materials, and including all changes or additions to the contracted or agreed upon work

24/7 Express Handyman Service takes jobs under this $7,000 cap, which is measured against the contracted or agreed value of the whole project, including labor, materials and every change order added along the way, not just the number on the original estimate.

The $3,000 affirmation

if the total value of the project is greater than $3,000, the person shall file with the division a one-time affirmation, subject to periodic reaffirmation as established by division rule, that the person has: (I) public liability insurance in coverage amounts and form established by division rule; and (II) if applicable, workers compensation insurance which would cover an employee of the person if that employee worked on the construction project

Above $3,000, the statute requires a one-time affirmation filed with the division that the business carries public liability insurance, and workers compensation insurance if it has employees. 24/7 Express Handyman Service has not filed that affirmation, so its operating cap on a single job is $3,000, not the full $7,000 the statute otherwise allows.

What stays with licensed trades at any price

(A) work in the plumbing and electrical trades on a Subsection (1)(h)(i) project within any six month period of time: (I) shall be performed by a licensed electrical or plumbing contractor, if the project involves an electrical or plumbing system; and (II) may be performed by a licensed journeyman electrician or plumber or an individual referred to in Subsection (1)(h)(ii)(A)(I), if the project involves a component of the system such as a faucet, toilet, fixture, device, outlet, or electrical switch; (B) installation, repair, or replacement of a residential or commercial gas appliance or a combustion system on a Subsection (1)(h)(i) project shall be performed by a person who has received certification under Subsection 58-55-308(2) except as otherwise provided in Subsection 58-55-308(2)(d) or 58-55-308(3); (C) installation, repair, or replacement of water-based fire protection systems on a Subsection (1)(h)(i) project must be performed by a licensed fire suppression systems contractor or a licensed journeyman plumber; (D) work as an alarm business or company or as an alarm company agent shall be performed by a licensed alarm business or company or a licensed alarm company agent, except as otherwise provided in this chapter; (E) installation, repair, or replacement of an alarm system on a Subsection (1)(h)(i) project must be performed by a licensed alarm business or company or a licensed alarm company agent; (F) installation, repair, or replacement of a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning system (HVAC) on a Subsection (1)(h)(i) project must be performed by an HVAC contractor licensed by the division; (G) installation, repair, or replacement of a radon mitigation system or a soil depressurization system must be performed by a licensed contractor; and

Plumbing and electrical work on a job under the cap must go to a licensed plumber or electrician whenever the project touches the system itself, not just a component such as a faucet or a switch. Gas appliances and combustion systems, water-based fire protection, alarm systems, HVAC installation and radon mitigation all stay with a licensed contractor no matter the job's price.

Incidental plumbing work

a person engaged in minor plumbing work that is incidental, as defined by the division by rule, to the repair of a fixture or an appliance in a residential or small commercial building, or structure used for agricultural use, as defined in Section 15A-1-202, provided that no modification is made to: (A) existing culinary water, soil, waste, or vent piping; or (B) a gas appliance or combustion system

Minor plumbing that is incidental to fixing a fixture or an appliance can stay with the handyman, as long as nothing changes about the existing water, waste or vent piping and no gas line or combustion system is touched.

What this means when you call

Above the cap, or anywhere the work touches plumbing, electrical, HVAC or gas, a licensed plumber or electrician contracts and bills you directly; the handyman work order covers only what the exemption allows. 24/7 Express Handyman Service says which is which before the job starts, not after.

When to stop and call

If a quote from anyone for handyman work is at or over the cap, the job needs a licensed contractor; 24/7 Express Handyman Service says so on the phone and does not split a job to get under it.