Building Information

City of Shawano Municipal Code

§ 12.05. Building permits & inspection

(1) Permit required.No building of any kind shall be moved within or into the city and no new building or structure, or any part thereof, shall hereafter be erected, or ground broken for the same, or enlarged, altered, moved, demolished or used within the city, except as herein provided, until a permit therefor shall first have been obtained by the owner, or his or her authorized agent, from the Building Inspector.

(2) Application. Application for a building permit shall be made in writing upon a form furnished by the Building Inspector and shall state the name and address of the owner of the land and also the owner of the building if different, the legal description of the land upon which the building is to be located, the name and address of the designer, the use to which said building is to be put and such other information as the Building Inspector may require.

A fillable Building Permit Application (PDF) is available from the city. Do not use this form if this is a new home - you must contact the Building Inspector at 715-526-6138.

Please remind your electrical, plumbing, HVAC, etc. contractors to obtain their permits, if needed.

(3) Dedicated street required. No building permit shall be issued unless the property on which the building is proposed to be built abuts a street that has been dedicated for street purposes.

(4) Utilities required. No building permit shall be issued for the construction of any residential building until sewer, water, grading and graveling are installed in the streets necessary to service the property for which the permit is required. No building permit shall be issued for the construction of any building other than residential until contracts have been let for the installation of sewer, water, grading and graveling in the streets necessary to service the property for which the permit is requested. No person shall occupy any building until sewer, water, grading and graveling are installed in the streets necessary to service the property.

(5) Plans. With such application there shall be submitted a complete set of plans and specifications, including a plot plan showing the location of the proposed building with respect to adjoining roads, highways, streets, alleys, lot lines and buildings. Plans for buildings involving the State Building Code shall bear the stamp of approval of the State Department of Commerce. One plan shall be submitted which shall remain on file in the office of the Building Inspector. All plans and specifications shall be signed by the designer. Plans for all new 1- and 2-family dwellings shall comply with the provisions of Wis. Adm. Code Comm 20.09(4).

(6) Waiver of plans. If the Building Inspector finds that the character of the work is sufficiently described in the application, he or she may waive the filing of plans for alterations, repairs or moving.

(7) Approval of plans. If the Building Inspector determines that the building will comply in every respect with all ordinances and orders of the city and all applicable laws and orders of the State of Wisconsin, he or she shall issue a building permit which shall state the use to which said building is to be put, which shall be kept and displayed at the site of the proposed building. After being approved, the plans and specifications shall not be altered in any respect which involves any of the above-mentioned ordinances, laws or orders, or which involves the safety of the building or the occupants, except with the written consent of the Building Inspector. In case adequate plans are presented for part of the building only, the Building Inspector, at his or her discretion, may issue a permit for that part of the building before receiving the plans and specifications for the entire building. No work is to be started unless a proper grade has been reviewed by the City Engineer, including the grade for sidewalks, curb and gutter, driveways and general construction.

(8) Fees. The building permit fees shall be as set by Council resolution. Said fees including, but are limited to fees for where no inspection is required; repairs with structural changes and repairs without structural changes; remodeling and a Residential Permit Administration fee. In the event the applicant requests an early start permit, there shall be a fee for said permit which fee shall be set by Council Resolution. The Council shall further set a fee by Resolution for apartment buildings, warehouses, storage building, commercial and industrial buildings, and a Commercial Construction Permit Administration fee. (Click on Building Permit Fee Schedule.)

(a) "Estimated cost," as used in this code, shall mean the reasonable market value of all services, labor and materials.

(b) In the event that work is commenced before a building permit is issued or permission to start is granted by the Building Inspector, the normal fee shall be tripled.

(9) Minor repairs. The Building Inspector may authorize minor repairs or alterations valued at less than $1,000 (market value of materials and labor) which do not change the occupancy area, structural strength, fire protection, exits, light or ventilation of the building without requiring a building permit to be issued.

(10) Inspection of work. The builder shall notify the Building Inspector when ready and the Building Inspector shall inspect all buildings upon the completion of the foundation forms, or before the foundation is laid, and again when ready for lath and plaster, or before paneling is applied. After completion, he or she shall make a final inspection of all new buildings, alterations and existing buildings put to new uses.

Projects under UDC permits must follow UDC inspection requirements.

(11) Issuance and revocation of permit. No new building shall be occupied or otherwise used unless the Building Inspector has made a final inspection.

(12) Permit lapses. A building permit shall lapse and be void unless building operations are commenced within 6 months, or are not completed within 12 months, from the date of issuance. UDC permits are valid for 2 years.

(13) Revocation. If the Building, Electrical or Plumbing Inspector shall find at any time that applicable ordinances, laws, orders, plans and specifications are not being complied with, and that the holder of the permit refused to conform after written warning or instruction has been issued to him or her, he or she shall revoke the building, electrical or plumbing permit by written notice posted at the site of the work. When any such permit is revoked, it shall be unlawful to do any further work thereunder until the permit is reissued, except such work as the Building, Electrical or Plumbing Inspector may order to be done as a condition precedent to the reissuance of the permit or as he or she may require for the preservation of human life and safety.

(14) Report of violations. The police or other city officers shall report at once to the Building Inspector any building which is being carried on without a permit as required by this chapter.

(15) Park fund fee. The Building Inspector shall charge a fee at the time of issuing a permit for new construction and building additions, which shall be placed in the park fund and which fee shall be in addition to the fees charged for the building permit as provided in the Building Code. The Council shall establish by resolution said fees to be placed in the park fund.

§ 12.06. Construction of Buildings

(1) State codes adopted. Wis. Adm. Code Comm. Chs. 50 to 64 are hereby adopted by reference and made a part of this chapter with respect to those classes of buildings to which said Chs. 50 to 64 specifically apply. Any future amendments, revisions and modifications of said Chs. 50 to 64 incorporated herein are intended to be made a part of this code. A copy of said Chs. 50 to 64 and amendments thereto shall be kept on file in the office of the Building Inspector.

(a) Terms. The building terms used in this chapter shall have the meanings given them by the State Building Code.

(b) Dwellings. The term "dwelling" includes every building occupied exclusively as a residence by not more than 2 families.

(c) Workmanship. Workmanship in the fabrication, preparation and the installation of materials shall conform to generally accepted good practice.

(2) Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code adopted.

(a) Wis. Adm. Code Comm. Chs. 20 to 25 are hereby adopted by reference and made a part of this chapter and shall apply to all new 1- and 2-family dwellings and all additions to existing and new 1- and 2-family dwellings.

(b) Wis. Adm. Code Comm Chs. 20 to 25 are hereby adopted by reference and made a part of this chapter and shall pertain to all remodeling or alterations in existing 1- and 2-family dwellings.

§ 12.07. Garages

Private garages shall be built in accordance with the general construction standards established in the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code. Private garages shall be located not less than 3 feet from the adjoining lot line and not less than 5 feet from any other building on the same premises when not a part of the building. If a greater distance is required by some other section of this code or by some other ordinance or regulation, the most rigid requirement shall be applicable. Whenever a garage is constructed as part of any building, the ceiling and the walls or wall separating the garage from other portions of the building shall be of not less than 45-minute fire-resistive construction as specified in Wis. Adm. Code Comm. Ch. 51.

Information regarding the State Codes can be found at http://dsps.wi.gov/Programs/Industry-Services/Industry-Services-Programs.