In this chapter,

(1) “builder” means general contractor;

(2) “cash deposit” means a cash deposit or other negotiable security filed with the commissioner in lieu of a surety bond under AS 08.18.071(b);

(3) “commissioner,” unless the text reads otherwise, means the commissioner of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development;

(4) “contractor” means a person who, in the pursuit of an independent business, undertakes or offers to perform, or claims to have the capacity to perform, or submits a bid for a project to construct, alter, repair, move, or demolish a building, highway, road, railroad, or any type of fixed structure, including excavation and site development and erection of scaffolding; “contractor” includes a general contractor, builder, mechanical contractor, specialty contractor, and subcontractor;

(5) “department” means the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, unless the context indicates otherwise;

(6) “existing home” means a residence previously occupied as a residence;

(7) “general contractor” means a contractor whose business operations require the use of more than three trades or the use of mechanical or specialty contractors and subcontractors who are under the supervision of the contractor;

(8) “home inspection” means a visual examination, performed in accordance with standards of practice adopted by the department, of the readily accessible parts of one or more of the following systems and components of a residence or intended residence:

(A) heating and air-conditioning systems;

(B) plumbing and electrical systems;

(C) built-in appliances;

(D) roof, attic, and visible insulation;

(E) walls, ceilings, floors, windows, and doors;

(F) foundation and basement;

(G) visible interior and exterior structures;

(H) drainage to and from the residence;

(I) other systems or components as specified by the department in regulations;

(9) “home inspector” means an individual who performs or offers to perform a home inspection for a fee;

(10) “joint registration” means a certificate of registration that authorizes an individual to inspect both new homes and existing homes;

(11) “knowingly” has the meaning given in AS 11.81.900;

(12) “mechanical contractor” means a contractor whose business operations involve plumbing, pipe fitting, sheet metal, heating, air conditioning, ventilating, or sprinkler and dry chemical fire protection trades in order to install or modify mechanical piping and systems, devices, fixtures, and equipment or other mechanical materials subject to the following codes as published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials or the International Conference of Building Officials:

(A) Uniform Plumbing Code;

(B) Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa, and Hot Tub Code;

(C) Uniform Solar Energy Code; and

(D) Uniform Mechanical Code;

(13) “new home” means a residence not previously occupied as a residence;

(14) “residence” means

(A) a single-family home other than a mobile home;

(B) a duplex, triplex, or four-plex; or

(C) a residential townhouse or residential condominium unit;

(15) “residential contractor” means a general contractor whose business and operation involve undertaking the construction or alteration of a privately-owned residential structure of one to four units that is used or intended to be used as a human dwelling;

(16) “specialty contractor” means a contractor, other than a mechanical contractor, whose business operations are described in AS 08.18.024(b);

(17) “trade” means a skill used in the field of construction, as defined by regulation by the department;

(18) “visual examination” means an examination performed in person at the physical location of the residence except that, if a method other than personal physical inspection has been approved by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation under AS 18.56.300(b), use of the other approved method constitutes a visual examination under this chapter.