Jackson council approves changes to contractor-licensing program; ordinance read on first reading

Planning and Building Director Paul Anthony and Building Official Kelly Schluter presented proposed amendments to Title 15.36 of the municipal code to streamline contractor licensing. Staff said they would eliminate out‑of‑state reciprocity for master contractors (replacing it with a requirement to pass the International Code Council test and show supporting work experience, with Wyoming reciprocity retained per state statute) and eliminate apprentice and journeyman certificates of qualification to reduce administrative burden.

Anthony said the changes are intended to free staff to focus on inspections and public-safety priorities; staff estimated the removal of journeyman and apprentice COQs would reduce program revenue by about $10,000 annually (out of roughly $24,000 total COQ revenue). Councillor Schechter and others pressed whether the change would affect construction quality; staff and the building official said licensed master contractors would remain responsible for site supervision and code compliance. Council voted to approve the proposed amendments and directed staff to prepare an ordinance for first reading; Ordinance F (amending chapter 15.36) was then read in short title and approved on first reading by unanimous vote.

"All construction that happens in the town of Jackson will still have to comply with all the same codes," Paul Anthony said in response to concerns about safety and quality control. Councilors said the change is intended to right-size the program to current staff capacity and redirect effort toward inspections and enforcement.