Council adopts tighter contractor registration rules, adding bonding and insurance tiers

Council adopted an ordinance updating the city's contractor registration program to require proof of liability insurance and contractor bonding allocated across three tiers proportionate to project size. City counsel said the change aims to protect homeowners and commercial property owners and to prevent contractors from directing homeowners to pull permits to evade registration requirements.

The ordinance requires annual registration and documentation rather than project-by-project bonds; counsel said the tiered bond approach is proportionate to the value of the work and that homeowners legitimately doing their own work will not be subject to the new contractor registration requirements. Council voted on the ordinance after counsel's presentation and the roll call showed affirmative votes recorded for adoption.