16.010 Building Regulations.

(1) Wisconsin Uniform Building Code. The Wisconsin Uniform Building Code, prepared by the Building Inspectors’ Association of Southeastern Wisconsin, as amended from time to time, including future amendments, is hereby adopted by reference. A copy of the latest revision of the Wisconsin Uniform Building Code shall be permanently on file and open to public inspection in the office of the Director of Building Inspection.

(2) Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code. Wis. Admin. Code SPS 320 through 325 of the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, as prepared by the State of Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services Division of Industry Services, and future amendments thereto, are hereby adopted by reference. A copy of the latest revision of the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code shall be permanently on file and open to public inspection in the office of the Director of Building Inspection. In the event there is any conflict between the applicability of the Wisconsin Uniform Building Code and the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, the provisions of the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code shall apply.

(3) Camping Units. Wis. Admin. Code SPS 327 governing camping units, as prepared by the State of Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, Division of Industry Services, and future amendments thereto, are hereby adopted by reference.

(4) Building Permit Required. No person shall erect or construct any building or structure, or shall add to, enlarge, move, improve, alter, convert, extend, or demolish any building or structure or cause the same to be done, or shall commence any work covered by this chapter without first obtaining a building permit therefor from the Building Inspector or designee.

(a) Information to Accompany Building Permit Application. A building permit application shall be deemed incomplete and no permit shall be issued unless all of the following are submitted:

1. Application. Application for a building permit shall be made in writing upon a form to be furnished by the Building Inspector and shall state the name and address of the owner of the building and the owner of the land on which the building is to be erected, if different. The application form shall also state the name and address of the designer and the legal description of the land on which the building is to be located, the location of the building, the house number thereof and such other information as the Building Inspector may require.

2. Plans. Plans for buildings involving the Commercial State Building Code shall bear the stamp of the plan reviewer as required by Wis. Admin. Code SPS 361. One plan shall be submitted which shall remain on file in the office of the Building Inspector. When required by Wis. Admin. Code SPS 361, plans and calculations shall be signed and sealed by the licensed designer. Plans for all new one- and two-family dwellings shall comply with the provisions of Wis. Admin. Code SPS 320.09.

A. Delegated Appointed Agent Municipality. The municipality has adopted the Appointed Agent Municipality Status as described in Wis. Admin. Code SPS 361.60 and 382.

B. Responsibilities. The City shall assume the following responsibilities for the Department of Safety and Professional Services (Department):

i. Provide inspection of commercial buildings with certified Commercial Building, HVAC, Plumbing, Fire Alarm and Fire Sprinkler Inspectors.

ii. Provide plan examination of commercial buildings with certified Commercial Building, HVAC, Plumbing, Fire Alarm and Fire Sprinkler Inspectors.

C. Plan Examination. Drawings, specifications and calculations for all types of buildings and structures, except State-owned buildings and structures and other structures exempted in Wis. Admin. Code SPS 361.03(3) and 382, to be constructed within the limits of the municipality shall be submitted, if the plans are for any of the following:

i. A new building or structure.

ii. An addition to a building, structure, or building system such as fire alarm, sprinkler, plumbing, or HVAC system.

iii. An alteration of the building space, element, or structure, including alteration of an existing fire alarm system, fire sprinkler system, plumbing system, HVAC system or replacement of equipment or fixtures within those systems.

iv. A certified or delegated municipality may waive its jurisdiction for the plan review of a specific project or types of projects, or components thereof, in which case plans and specifications shall be submitted to the Department for review and approval.

v. The Department may waive its jurisdiction for the plan review of a specific project, when agreed to by a delegated municipality, in which case plans and specifications shall be submitted to the delegated municipality for review and approval.

D. Plan Submission Procedures. All commercial buildings, structures and alterations, including new buildings and additions, require plan submission as follows:

i. Building permit application.

ii. Application for review – State of Wisconsin forms as applicable based on trade submitted or municipal equivalent.

a. Fees per municipal fee schedule. All fees will be adopted by resolution. Fees apply to all commercial projects.

AND one of the following options:

i. Four sets of plans signed and sealed per Wis. Admin. Code SPS 361.31 or 382 as appropriate.

ii. One set of specifications.

iii. Component and system plans.

iv. Calculations showing code compliance.

OR

i. One set of plans with three project cover sheets signed and sealed per Wis. Admin. Code SPS 361.31 or 382 as appropriate.

ii. One set of specifications.

iii. Component and system plans.

iv. Calculations showing code compliance.

Note: Nothing in this code or Wis. Admin. Code Chapters SPS 361 to 366 and 380 to 387 is intended to prohibit the submission and acceptance of plans and construction documents in an electronic or digital media. However, if plans are approved electronically, a copy in a format acceptable to the City of Manitowoc bearing the approval stamp of the reviewer is required to be submitted prior to permit issuance.

3. Waiver of Plans. At the option of the Building Inspector, plans, data, specifications and survey need not be submitted with an application for permit to execute minor alterations and repairs to any building, structure or equipment, provided the proposed construction is sufficiently described in the application for permit.

4. Any other data as may be required by the Building Inspector to illustrate the appropriateness and correctness of plans.

5. The building permit fee, which shall be set by resolution of the Common Council and which shall be doubled if the building permit application was not submitted prior to commencement of a job.

(b) Who May Obtain a Building Permit. Except as provided under Wis. Stat. §§ 101.654(1)(b) and (1)(c)(2), no person may obtain a building permit for a one- or two-family dwelling unless the person complies with all of the following:

1. Holds a Dwelling Contractor certification or a Dwelling Contractor Restricted certification issued by the Department;

2. Holds or engages, as an employee, a person who holds a certification issued by the Department as a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier.

A person who is the owner of a dwelling and who resides in the dwelling or will reside in the dwelling and who applies for a building permit to work on that dwelling is exempt from the certification requirement.

For a commercial, industrial or multifamily project the owner or agent may obtain the building permit.

(c) Posting of Permit. The building permit shall be posted prior to the commencement of work in a conspicuous place at the site.

(d) Permit Application Approval or Denial. The Building Inspector shall take action to approve or deny a building permit application within 10 days of receiving all necessary forms and information required to process the application. When a permit application is denied, the Building Inspector shall provide the applicant a written statement specifying the reason(s) for denial and send a copy of same to the applicant and dwelling owner specified on the application.

(e) Expiration. Permits shall expire if the work authorized is not commenced within six calendar months from the date of such permit or 12 months from the start date of issue, unless otherwise specified. Before such work can be recommenced, an additional, subsequent permit shall be obtained and the fee therefor shall be one-half the amount of the original permit fee, but not less than the minimum permit fee. A detailed timeline shall be completed for completion of the project prior to issuing the subsequent permit. Failure to meet the timelines for completion shall make the subsequent permit void.

(5) Additional Requirements. In addition to any other requirements, no building permit shall be issued under the following circumstances:

(a) To erect any dwelling or structure within any area that is designated as, or covered by, an easement of any type or kind, unless the written consent of the easement holder is first obtained.

(6) Inspections. The Building Inspector may, as a condition of granting a building permit, enter any premises for which such permit was issued at any reasonable time during the course of the work and until final inspection and approval thereof has been given to inspect such premises for compliance with all statutory and ordinance regulations concerning the construction, repair, use and location of such building. The building permit applicant shall be responsible for promptly notifying the Building Inspector whenever a permitted activity is ready for any required inspection. Failure to notify the Building Inspector of a final inspection may result in penalties as outlined in the adopted fee schedule. When requested by the Building Inspector, the building permit applicant shall supply the Building Inspector any information necessary to ascertain whether the permitted activity complies with all statutory or ordinance regulations. If a Building Inspector is not able to otherwise ascertain compliance, the final inspection status shall be noted on file as “incomplete” or “failed” and a certificate of occupancy shall not be issued.

[Ord. 24-1553 § 1, 2024; Ord. 24-1126 § 6, 2024; Ord. 21-986 § 1, 2021; Ord. 11-430 § 38, 2011; Ord. 06-668 § 1, 2006. Prior code § 16.01]