What You Need to Know About the Laws of Glass Repair in Your State
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No one wants to have their beautiful picture frames shattered, so you need to know the laws around glass repair and broken glass in your state. What is considered “fractured” or “broken” and what governs how that’s handled will vary from state to state. So before you tackle a project like re-gluing a broken pane of glass, make sure you read over different articles.
Let’s talk about what laws are set into place by each state regarding breaking and repairing glasses. Beginning with California and Oregon I talk about their laws making it clear that no amount of cutting, breaking, or fitting will allow you to repair a broken pane of glass without the proper consent. In New York the laws are pretty straight forward and the only time you can do so is if you have a permit from the local building department that says so. In Illinois there is no law for repairing glasses other than replacing them. But not every state has the same laws. So if you live in one of those states that allow you to take care of this particular situation without a permit then all it takes are some simple steps.
These are just a few of the states and their laws regarding glass repair. Every other state has its own different laws and restrictions that have been set into place to protect consumers. To make sure you know the laws of your state simply google your state’s name followed by glass repair or cracked glass replacement and you will find the local laws. No matter where you are from, if you break a glass replacement and do not have a permit or law that states otherwise, you will need to send the broken pane to a recycling facility along with an affidavit stating that you broke the glass and need it repaired.
In Canada, the law is quite different where the law allows for anyone to carry out “repair or replacement” of any glass. The only requirement is that if a person lives in a building with at least three storeys or makes more than $10,000 in annual income they need to get consent from the owner of the building.
In Ontario, there are two laws that govern broken glass; one is the Ontario Building Code Regulations and the other is the Criminal Practice Rules. There are also some federal laws that have been passed such as: Consumer Packaging and Labeling Act; Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations; Canadian Environmental Protection Act; Safe Food for Canadians Regulations as well as many others relevant to this topic.
Conclusion
When dealing with broken glass, it is important to know exactly what each law in your state or country states because every one of these laws are different. For example, if you live in California and replace the glass on your own without having a permit from the local building department then you can be charged for breaking and entering into another person’s property.
The laws surrounding broken glass vary from state to state and country to country so make sure to check out your local laws before trying to repair or replace any broken glass pane. And remember to use your best judgment when repairing broken glass and follow all the local laws.
