Chapter 101

101.12(3g) (3g) 

101.12(3g)(a) (a) This subsection establishes the manner under which a city, village, town, or county may examine plans and make inspections for buildings and alterations not specified under sub. (3) (b) as an appointed agent of the department.

101.12(3g)(b) (b) Before assuming any of the department’s plan examination or inspection responsibilities for buildings and alterations not specified in sub. (3) (b), a city, village, town, or county shall comply with all of the following:

101.12(3g)(b)1. 1. Submit a written request to the department at least 30 days prior to the date upon which the city, village, town, or county desires to assume agent responsibilities for plan examination or building inspection.

101.12(3g)(b)2. 2. Include a description of the desired responsibilities in the request under subd. 1.

101.12(3g)(b)3. 3. Include in the request under subd. 1. a description of the qualifications and ability the city, village, town, or county has for assuming the desired responsibilities.

101.12(3g)(b)4. 4. Adopt the commercial building code in its entirety by ordinance.

101.12(3g)(b)5. 5. Forward to the department a copy of the ordinance specified in subd. 4. and any subsequent revisions to that ordinance.

101.12(3g)(b)6. 6. Receive from the department a written statement prescribing the responsibilities that are to be assumed.

101.12(3g)(c) (c) The department shall review and make a determination on a request submitted under par. (b) 1. within 20 business days of receipt.

101.12(3g)(d) (d) While appointed as an agent, a city, village, town, or county is subject to s. SPS 361.60 (5) (d) to (h) and (6), Wis. Adm. Code, and shall comply with all of the following:

101.12(3g)(d)1. 1. Submit to the department the fees specified in s. SPS 302.31 (1) (h), Wis. Adm. Code.

101.12(3g)(d)2. 2. Provide a monthly report to the department of all projects completed under this subsection, in an electronic-based format prescribed by the department.

101.12(3g)(d)3. 3. Forward to the department any revisions to the ordinance specified in par. (b) 4.

101.12(3g)(d)4. 4. Notify the department, in writing, at least 30 days prior to the date upon which the city, village, town, or county intends to relinquish the responsibilities assumed under this subsection.

101.12(3g)(e) (e) The department may revoke the appointment of an agent if the plan examiners or inspectors of the agent do not meet the standards specified by the department or if other requirements of this subchapter are not met.

101.12(3m) (3m) 

101.12(3m)(a) (a) The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of a program to certify 2nd class cities to perform the examination of essential drawings, calculations and specifications in accordance with sub. (1).

101.12(3m)(b) (b) A 2nd class city may apply for certification by the department under this subsection if that city employs at least one architect or one professional engineer who has been granted a certificate of registration under s. 443.10. The department shall certify a 2nd class city when the department determines and certifies the competency of all examiners employed by the city. The department shall review the competency of the examiners of a city that is certified under this subsection on a regular basis and may revoke the certification of a city if the examiners do not meet standards specified by the department.

101.12(3m)(c) (c) Owners within the 2nd class city may obtain examinations from the city or the department.

101.12(3m)(d) (d) The department shall certify 2nd class cities to perform reviews and determinations of variances under sub. (3) (bq) if the 2nd class city has been certified for purposes of sub. (3) (b).

101.12(3m)(e) (e) The department shall by rule set fees, to be collected by the 2nd class city and remitted to the department, to meet the department’s costs in enforcing and administering its duties under sub. (3) (am) and this subsection.

101.12(3o) (3o) 

101.12(3o)(a) (a) In this subsection:

101.12(3o)(a)1. 1. “Agent appointment” means appointment as an agent of the department under sub. (3g) or s. SPS 361.61, Wis. Adm. Code, in effect on April 4, 2018.

101.12(3o)(a)2. 2. “Certification” means certification under sub. (3) (b) or (3m).

101.12(3o)(b) (b) The department shall establish requirements for cities, villages, towns, and counties to electronically renew their agent appointments and certifications every 5 years. The process shall allow cities, villages, towns, and counties with agent appointments and certifications made 5 years or more before April 5, 2018, to renew those agent appointments and certifications within deadlines specified by the department.

101.12(3r) (3r) An owner of a building may request, and the department may grant, a variance from standards contained in a rule relating to constructing, altering, and adding to public buildings and buildings that are places of employment if the department finds that the requested variance will impose an equivalent standard that meets the intent of the rule.

101.12(4) (4) 

101.12(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), any inspection performed to determine compliance with the rules promulgated by the department that relate to constructing, altering, or adding to public buildings and buildings that are places of employment may be performed only by a person who is certified under rules promulgated by the department to make such inspections.

101.12(4)(b) (b) The certification requirement under par. (a) does not apply to any of the following:

101.12(4)(b)1. 1. An inspection performed under s. 101.14 (2) (b) or (c) by an inspector who is designated under s. 101.14 (2) (d) to make such inspections.

101.12(4)(b)2. 2. An inspection performed by an inspector who has received certification under s. 101.14 (4r).

101.12(5) (5) 

101.12(5)(a) (a) In this subsection:

101.12(5)(a)1. 1. “Plans” means construction plans, designs, specifications and related materials filed with the department, city, village, town or county concerning a structure.

101.12(5)(a)2. 2. “Secure structure” means a building or other structure of a type which the department, city, village, town or county determines to have extraordinary security requirements, including but not limited to structures used:

101.12(5)(a)2.a. a. For the safekeeping of large sums of money, negotiable instruments, securities or other valuables;

101.12(5)(a)2.b. b. As a jail, correctional facility or other secure facility for persons in detention;

101.12(5)(a)2.c. c. For the safekeeping or evaluation of evidence in criminal proceedings or investigations;

101.12(5)(a)2.d. d. For the safekeeping of weapons, ordnance or explosives; or

101.12(5)(a)2.e. e. In the generation, transmission or distribution of electric power, fuels or communications.

101.12(5)(b) (b) A person requesting to inspect or copy plans shall submit a written application identifying the structure or proposed structure whose plans are sought to be inspected or copied, providing the full name and address of the requester and stating that any information obtained from the inspection or copying will not be used for any unlawful or unfair competitive purpose and that the information set forth in the application is true and correct.

101.12(5)(c) (c) If an application submitted under par. (b) requests inspection or copying of plans for a secure structure or proposed secure structure that is or is anticipated to be owned by or leased to the state, the plans are not subject to the right of inspection or copying except as the department of administration otherwise provides by rule. If an application submitted under par. (b) requests inspection or copying of plans for any other secure structure or proposed secure structure, the department, city, village, town or county shall consider the information supplied in the application and weigh the possible harm to the public interest which may result from permitting inspection and copying of the plans against the benefits of allowing such inspection or copying. If the department, city, village, town or county determines that the possible harm to the public interest outweighs the benefit to the requester and to the public interest of allowing such inspection or copying, it may deny the application or grant it upon such conditions as it determines are necessary to protect the public interest. This paragraph does not apply to an application submitted by a law enforcement agency or person authorized to have access to the plans by lawful subpoena.

101.12(5)(d) (d) The department, city, village, town or county may charge a reasonable amount to defray its costs in providing copies of the plans.

101.12(6) (6) The department shall promulgate rules relating to the enforcement of this subchapter and subch. IV and ch. 145 for public schools constructed before 1930 and establishing life-safety plans for all public schools.

101.12 History History: 1971 c. 185; 1971 c. 228 s. 42; Stats. 1971 s. 101.12; 1973 c. 326; 1979 c. 64, 243; 1983 a. 27; 1989 a. 31, 347; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 27 ss. 3660, 3660m, 9126 (19); 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2011 a. 199; 2013 a. 270; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 198, 329, 330, 331; 2021 a. 238 ss. 44, 45; 2021 a. 240 s. 30.

101.12 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. SPS 318, 334, and 361, Wis. adm. code.

101.12 Annotation The state statutes and building code have not preempted the field as to school buildings; local building codes apply to the extent that they are not inconsistent. Hartford Union High School v. City of Hartford, 51 Wis. 2d 591, 187 N.W.2d 849 (1971).

101.12 Annotation Plans and specifications filed under this section are public records and are available for public inspection. 67 Atty. Gen. 214.

101.1206 101.1206 Erosion control; construction of public buildings and buildings that are places of employment.

101.1206(1) (1) The department shall establish statewide standards for erosion control at building sites that have a land disturbance that is less than one acre in area and that are for the construction of public buildings and buildings that are places of employment.

101.1206(2) (2) The department shall require the submission of plans for erosion control at construction sites described in sub. (1) to the department or to a county, city, village, or town to which the department has delegated authority under sub. (4) and shall require approval of those plans by the department or the county, city, village, or town.

101.1206(3) (3) The department shall require inspection of erosion control activities and structures at construction sites described in sub. (1) by the department or a county, city, village, or town to which the department has delegated authority under sub. (4).

101.1206(4) (4) The department may delegate authority under this section to a county, city, village or town.

101.1206(5) (5) Except as provided in sub. (5m), the authority of a county, city, village, or town with respect to erosion control at sites described in sub. (1) is limited to that authority delegated under sub. (4) and any other authority provided in rules promulgated under this section.

101.1206(5m) (5m) Notwithstanding subs. (1) and (5), a county, city, village, or town that has in effect on January 1, 1994, an ordinance that establishes standards for erosion control at building sites for the construction of public buildings and buildings that are places of employment may continue to administer and enforce that ordinance if the standards in the ordinance are more stringent than the standards established under sub. (1).

101.1206(6) (6) The department, or a county, city, village, or town to which the department delegates the authority to act under this subsection, may issue a special order directing the immediate cessation of work on a construction site described in sub. (1) until any required plan approval is obtained or until the site complies with standards established by rules promulgated under this section.

101.1206(7) (7) The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of this section.

101.1206 History History: 2011 a. 32 ss. 2331, 2898c to 2905; Stats. 2011 s. 101.1206; 2013 a. 20.

101.121 101.121 State historic building code.

101.121(1) (1) Purpose. It is the purpose of this section to provide alternative standards, when necessary, for the preservation or restoration of buildings or structures designated as historic buildings. The development and application of these alternative standards is a matter of statewide concern. These alternative standards are intended to facilitate the restoration of historic buildings so as to preserve their original or restored architectural elements and features, to encourage energy conservation, to permit a cost-effective approach to preservation and restoration and to provide for the health, safety and welfare of occupants and visitors in historic buildings.

101.121(2) (2) Definitions. In this section:

101.121(2)(a) (a) “Certified local register of historic property” means a register of historic property which is part of a historic preservation ordinance promulgated by a city, village, town or county if the ordinance is certified by the state historical society under s. 44.44.

101.121(2)(am) (am) “Historic building” means any building or structure that is significant in the history, architecture or culture of this state, its rural or urban communities or the nation.

101.121(2)(b) (b) “National register of historic places in Wisconsin” means the places in Wisconsin that are listed on the national register of historic places maintained by the U.S. department of the interior.

101.121(2)(c) (c) “Qualified historic building” means a historic building which:

101.121(2)(c)1. 1. Is listed on, or has been nominated by the state historical society for listing on, the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the state register of historic places;

101.121(2)(c)2. 2. Is included in a district which is listed on, or has been nominated by the state historical society for listing on, the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the state register of historic places, and has been determined by the state historical society to contribute to the historic significance of the district;

101.121(2)(c)2m. 2m. Is determined by the state historical society to be eligible for listing on the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the state register of historic places;

101.121(2)(c)3. 3. Is listed on a certified local register of historic property; or

101.121(2)(c)4. 4. Is included in a district which is listed on a certified local register of historic property, and has been determined by the city, village, town or county to contribute to the historic significance of the district.

101.121(2)(d) (d) “State register of historic places” means the places in Wisconsin listed by the state historical society under s. 44.36, except for a place listed as an interim listing by the state historical society under s. 44.36 (5) (a) 3.

101.121(3) (3) Rules.

101.121(3)(a) (a) For any rule under this chapter or ch. 145 which applies to buildings, the department may provide an alternative rule which accomplishes the same general purpose and applies only to qualified historic buildings. These alternative rules shall permit, to the maximum extent possible, the use of original or duplicates of original materials, the maintenance of the original appearance of all components of a historic building and the use of original construction techniques. The department shall consult with the historic building code council regarding the development of alternative rules. All alternative rules taken together constitute the historic building code.

101.121(3)(b) (b) In order to permit the proper preservation or restoration of a qualified historic building, the department may grant a variance to any rule or alternative rule under this chapter or ch. 145 if the owner demonstrates that an alternative proposed by the owner accomplishes the same purpose as the rule or alternative rule. With respect to any variances requested under this chapter or ch. 145, the department shall give priority to processing variance requests by owners of qualified historic buildings. The department shall maintain a list of variances granted under this paragraph to owners of qualified historic buildings.

101.121(4) (4) Election.

101.121(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the owner of any qualified historic building may elect to be subject to the historic building code promulgated under sub. (3). Except as provided in s. 101.127, no owner who elects to be subject to the historic building code may be required to comply with any provision of any other building code, including but not limited to any county or municipal building code, or of any other local ordinance or regulation, if that provision concerns a matter dealt with in the historic building code.

101.121(4)(b) (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to any owner of a nursing home as defined in s. 50.01 (3), a hospital as defined in s. 50.33 (2) (a) and (c) or an approved public or private treatment facility for alcoholics and persons who are drug dependent as defined in s. 51.45 (2) (b) and (c).

101.121 History History: 1981 c. 341; 1981 c. 391 s. 210; 1983 a. 189 s. 329 (5); 1985 a. 332; 1987 a. 395; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 471; 2017 a. 34.

101.121 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. SPS 366, 375, 376, 377, 378, and 379, Wis. adm. code.

101.1215 101.1215 Abrasive cleaning of historic buildings.

101.1215(1) (1) In this section:

101.1215(1)(a) (a) “Abrasive cleaning method” means any cleaning procedure that uses any of the following materials or tools:

101.1215(1)(a)1. 1. Abrasive materials, including sand, glass beads, ground slag, volcanic ash, crushed nutshells, rice husks, ground corncobs or crushed eggshells, carried in high-pressure or low-pressure air or water.

101.1215(1)(a)2. 2. High-pressure water.

101.1215(1)(b) (b) “Qualified historic building” has the meaning given in s. 101.121 (2) (c).

101.1215(2) (2) No person may use an abrasive cleaning method on the exterior of qualified historic buildings, except as authorized by department rule.

101.1215(3) (3) The department, in consultation with the state historical society and the department of administration, shall promulgate rules on the use of abrasive cleaning methods on the exterior of qualified historic buildings. The department may permit the use of any specific abrasive cleaning method on any specific building material only if it determines that the abrasive cleaning method will not cause irreparable damage to the building material to which it is applied.