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Building Inspection
Required Permits
Any project that requires excavating, improving, altering, converting, repairing, extending, or demolishing of a lot, building, or structure must first obtain a building permit.
According to Section 11.05(2) of the City of Middleton Municipal Ordinance, “Minor Repairs; Permit Not Necessary - Notwithstanding Subsection (1) no permit shall be required for any repairs that are non-structural including, but not limited to replacement of same or smaller size windows and doors, siding, gutters, and roofing where the total cost of repairs or maintenance is less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00); however, no heating, plumbing or electrical repairs shall be subject to this exception.”
In addition to a building permit, no structure shall be erected or altered without obtaining a zoning permit under Section 10.10.41 of the City of Middleton Municipal Ordinance.
Most permits can be issued within 2 to 3 business days. However, permits for new construction, commercial plan reviews, and some additions and alterations may require up to two to four weeks for processing, depending on the scope of work submitted. Permits MUST be obtained before construction can begin.
Applicable Codes & Ordinances
Owner-occupants of a single-family home can submit for a building permit and perform their own work. Applicants must acknowledge the cautionary statement to owners obtaining building permits (101.65(1r) of the WI State of Statutes).
Also, in accordance with state codes and local ordinances, ALL electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work must be completed by a State of Wisconsin licensed contractor. All work will need to be individually permitted by the hired contractor and inspected by the city.
It's crucial that all work, whether done by you or a licensed professional, comply with applicable codes. It is strongly recommended that unless you have a complete understanding of all applicable code requirements and how to properly complete the work, you hire a licensed professional.
City of Middleton Ordinances, for administrative guidelines and references:
- Building Code - Chapter 11
- Electrical Code - Chapter 12
- Heating Code - Chapter 13
- Plumbing Code - Chapter 14
The City of Middleton enforces the following State of WI Codes:
All State of Wisconsin codes are available on the Wisconsin website.
The City of Middleton also enforces the following International Codes, which are available at any local library:
- International Building Code (IBC)
- International Electrical Code (IEC)
- International Mechanical Code (IMC)
Plan Review Services
The State of Wisconsin has delegated the City of Middleton Building Inspection Department to perform Plan Reviews for all Commercial Building, HVAC, and Plumbing Plans. This is good news for local developers and builders since the City Building Inspection staff can often turn around most commercial plan reviews in as little as one month. As required by SPS 361.30, the construction of, the alteration of, or the addition to a public building or a place of employment may not commence unless plans for the project have been submitted to and approved by the department or its authorized representative following SPS 361.31.
While there are exceptions in SPS 361.31 for plan review requirements, the City of Middleton General Ordinance 11.05(3) has always required plans and specifications of sufficient clarity to indicate the nature and character of the work proposed and to show how building improvements will comply with the law. Computations, strain sheets, stress diagrams, and other data necessary to show the correctness of the plans shall accompany the plans and specifications when required by the Building Inspector. All plans shall bear the name of the architect, engineer, or persons responsible for their preparation, and in no case shall permits be issued when such persons have failed to comply with the requirements of Wis. Stat. s. 101.31, as the same may be amended.
Plans for fire alarms, fire suppression, elevators, and other specific components may be required to go to the State of Wisconsin for review. When in doubt, please check with the City of Middleton Building Inspection Department for direction at (608) 821-8370.
Required Inspections
Subcontractors shall request inspections for their own work by contacting the Building Inspection Department at least 24-hours in advanced at (608) 821-8370 or online via the Permit and Inspection Portal. The Building Permit Applicant is responsible for verifying that all required inspections have been made. Premature inspection requests or failure to give proper inspection notice may result in fines.
Inspection Documents
Issues & Complaints
Community Services handles issues/complaints involving the following:
- Building maintenance issues
- Property maintenance issues
- Mowing and weeds
- Snow and ice removal from public sidewalks
- Residential construction erosion control inspections.
Enforceable Ordinances
Community Services enforces portions of the following ordinances for inspections: