§2150.1. Definitions

As used in this Chapter, the following words and phrases shall be defined as follows:

(1) "Board" means the State Licensing Board for Contractors.

(2) "Commercial purposes" means any construction project other than residential homes, a single residential duplex, a single residential triplex, or a single residential fourplex. A construction project consisting of residential homes where the contractor has a single contract for the construction of more than two homes within the same subdivision shall be deemed a commercial undertaking.

(3) "Contract" means the entire cost of the construction undertaking, including labor, materials, rentals, and all direct and indirect project expenses.

(4)(a) "Contractor" means any person who undertakes to, attempts to, or submits a price or bid or offers to construct, supervise, superintend, oversee, direct, or in any manner assume charge of the construction, alteration, repair, improvement, movement, demolition, putting up, tearing down, or furnishing labor, or furnishing labor together with material or equipment, or installing the same for any building, highway, road, railroad, sewer, grading, excavation, pipeline, public utility structure, project development, housing, or housing development, improvement, or any other construction undertaking for which the entire cost of same is fifty thousand dollars or more when such property is to be used for commercial purposes other than a single residential duplex, a single residential triplex, or a single residential fourplex. A construction project which consists of construction of more than two single residential homes, or more than one single residential duplex, triplex, or fourplex, shall be deemed to be a commercial undertaking.

(b) The term "contractor" includes general contractors, subcontractors, architects, and engineers who receive an additional fee for the employment or direction of labor, or any other work beyond the normal architectural or engineering services.

(c) A contractor holding a license in the major classification of hazardous materials, or any subclassifications thereunder, shall be defined in terms of work performed for which the cost is one dollar or more.

(d) "Contractor" shall not mean any person, supplier, manufacturer, or employee of such person who assembles, repairs, maintains, moves, puts up, tears down, or disassembles any patented, proprietary, or patented and proprietary environmental equipment supplied by such person to a contractor to be used solely by the contractor for a construction undertaking.

(4.1) "Electrical contractor" means any person who undertakes to, attempts to, or submits a price or bid or offers to construct, supervise, superintend, oversee, direct, or in any manner assume charge of the construction, alteration, repair, improvement, movement, demolition, putting up, tearing down, or furnishing labor together with material and equipment, or installing the same for the wiring, fixtures, or appliances for the supply of electricity to any residential, commercial, or other project, when the cost of the undertaking exceeds the sum of ten thousand dollars. This Paragraph shall not be deemed or construed to limit the authority of a contractor, general contractor, or residential building contractor, as those terms are defined in this Section, nor to require such individuals to become an electrical contractor.

(5) "Executive director" means the person appointed by the board to serve as the chief operating officer in connection with the day-to-day operation of the board's business.

(6)(a) "General contractor" means a person who contracts directly with the owner. The term "general contractor" shall include the term "primary contractor" and wherever used in this Chapter or in regulations promulgated thereunder "primary contractor" shall mean "general contractor".

(b) "General contractor" shall not mean any person, supplier, manufacturer, or employee of such person who assembles, repairs, maintains, moves, puts up, tears down, or disassembles any patented, proprietary, or patented and proprietary environmental equipment supplied by such person to a contractor to be used solely by the contractor for a construction undertaking.

(7) "Home improvement contracting" means the reconstruction, alteration, renovation, repair, modernization, conversion, improvement, removal, or demolition, or the construction of an addition to any pre-existing owner occupied building which building is used or designed to be used as a residence or dwelling unit, or to structures which are adjacent to such residence or building. "Home improvement contracting" shall not include services rendered gratuitously.

(8) "Home improvement contractor" means any person, including a contractor or subcontractor, who undertakes or attempts to, or submits a price or bid on any home improvement contracting project.

(8.1) "Mechanical contractor" means any person who undertakes to, attempts to, or submits a price or bid or offers to construct, supervise, superintend, oversee, direct, or in any manner assume charge of the construction, alteration, repair, improvement, movement, demolition, putting up, tearing down, or furnishing labor, or furnishing labor together with material and equipment, or installing the same for the construction, installation, maintenance, testing, and repair of air conditioning, refrigeration, heating systems, and plumbing for all residential, commercial, and industrial applications as well as ventilation systems, mechanical work controls, boilers and other pressure vessels, steam and hot water systems and piping, gas piping and fuel storage, and chilled water and condensing water systems and piping, including but not limited to any type of industrial process piping and related valves, fittings, and components, when the cost of the undertaking exceeds the sum of ten thousand dollars. This Paragraph shall not be deemed or construed to limit the authority of a contractor, general contractor, or residential building contractor, as those terms are defined in this Section, nor to require such individuals to become a mechanical contractor.

(9) "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, association, cooperative, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or any other entity recognized by Louisiana law; and whether or not acting as a principal, trustee, fiduciary, receiver, or as any other kind of legal or personal representative, or as a successor in interest, assignee, agent, factor, servant, employee, director, officer, or any other representative of such person; or any state or local governing authority or political subdivision performing a new construction project which exceeds the contract limits provided in R.S. 38:2212 and which does not constitute regular maintenance of the public facility or facilities which it has been authorized to maintain.

(10) "Qualifying party" means a natural person designated by the contractor to represent the contractor for the purpose of complying with the provisions of this Chapter including without limitation meeting the requirements for the initial license and/or any continuation thereof.

(11) "Residential building contractor" means any corporation, partnership, or individual who constructs a fixed building or structure for sale for use by another as a residence or who, for a price, commission, fee, wage, or other compensation, undertakes or offers to undertake the construction or superintending of the construction of any building or structure which is not more than three floors in height, to be used by another as a residence, when the cost of the undertaking exceeds seventy-five thousand dollars. The term "residential building contractor" includes all contractors, subcontractors, architects, and engineers who receive an additional fee for the employment or direction of labor, or any other work beyond the normal architectural or engineering services. "Residential building contractor" also means any person performing home improvement contracting as provided for in Paragraph (7) of this Section when the cost of the undertaking exceeds seventy-five thousand dollars. It shall not include the manufactured housing industry or those persons engaged in building residential structures that are mounted on metal chassis and wheels.

(12) "Subcontract" means the entire cost of that part of the contract which is performed by the subcontractor.

(13)(a) "Subcontractor" means a person who contracts directly with the primary contractor for the performance of a part of the principal contract or with another contractor for the performance of a part of the principal contract.

(b) "Subcontractor" shall not mean any person, supplier, manufacturer, or employee of such person who assembles, repairs, maintains, moves, puts up, tears down, or disassembles any patented, proprietary, or patented and proprietary environmental equipment supplied by such person to a contractor to be used solely by the contractor for a construction undertaking.

Acts 1992, No. 681, §1, eff. July 6, 1992; Acts 1995, No. 638, §1, eff. Feb. 1, 1996; Acts 1997, No. 146, §1; Acts 1997, No. 770, §1; Acts 2003, No. 643, §1; Acts 2003, No. 1146, §2; Acts 2007, No. 398, §1; Acts 2008, No. 725, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009.