Wis. Admin. Code Department of Safety and Professional Services SPS 320.10

Current through September 30, 2024
Section SPS 320.10 - Inspections
(1) INSPECTOR CERTIFICATION. All inspections, for the purpose of administering and enforcing this code, shall be performed by an inspector certified in accordance with ch. SPS 305 who holds the respective credential for the inspection performed.
(2) GENERAL INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS.
(a)General. Inspections shall be conducted by the municipality or authorized UDC inspection agency administering and enforcing this code to determine if the construction or installations conform to the conditionally approved plans, the Wisconsin uniform building permit application and the provisions of this code.
(b)Inspection notice.
1. The applicant or an authorized representative shall request inspections from the municipality or authorized UDC inspection agency administering and enforcing this code.
2. Except as provided under subd. 3., construction may not proceed beyond the point of inspection until the inspection has been completed.
3. Construction may proceed if the inspection has not taken place by the end of the second business day following the day of notification or as otherwise agreed between the applicant and the municipality or authorized UDC inspection agency.
(3) INSPECTION TYPES.
(a)General. The inspections described in pars. (b) to (i) shall be performed to determine if the work complies with this code.
(b)Erosion control inspection. Erosion control inspections shall be performed concurrently with all other required construction inspections. Additional inspections for erosion control may be performed by the delegated authority.
(c)Foundation excavation inspection.
1. The excavation for the foundation shall be inspected after the placement of any forms or required reinforcement and prior to the placement of the permanent foundation material.
2. If a drain tile system is required, by the local inspector or by groundwater levels in the excavation, the presence and location of bleeders used to connect the interior and exterior drain tile shall be inspected at the same time as the excavation.

Note: This excavation inspection may be used to determine the need for drain tile under s. SPS 321.17.

(d)Foundation reinforcement inspection. The placement of reinforcement shall be inspected where the reinforcement is required for code compliance.
(e)Foundation inspection. The foundation shall be inspected after completion. Where dampproofing, exterior insulation or drain tile are required for code compliance, the foundation shall be inspected prior to backfilling.
(f)Rough inspection.
1. A rough inspection shall be performed for each inspection category listed under subd.1. a. to e. after the rough work is constructed but before it is concealed.
a. The basement floor area.

Note: The inspection of the basement floor area should include the following: any underfloor plumbing, electrical, or HVAC; any interior drain tile with base course required under s. SPS 321.17; the structural base course for the floor slab if required under s. SPS 321.20; and the underfloor vapor retarder as required under s. SPS 322.38.

b. General construction, including framing.
c. Rough electrical.
d. Rough plumbing.
e. Rough heating, ventilating and air conditioning.
2. All categories of work for rough inspections may be completed before the notice for inspection is given, provided the work has not been covered.
3. The applicant may request one rough inspection or individual rough inspections.
4. A separate fee may be charged for each individual inspection.
(g)Insulation inspection. An inspection shall be made of the insulation and vapor retarders after they are installed but before they are concealed.
(h)Final inspection.
1. Except as provided under subd. 2., the dwelling may not be occupied until a final inspection has been made that finds no critical violations of this code that could reasonably be expected to affect the health or safety of a person using the dwelling.
2. Occupancy may proceed in accordance with local ordinances if the inspection has not been completed by the end of the fifth business day following the day of notification or as otherwise agreed between the applicant and the department or municipality.
(i)Installation inspection. An inspection shall be performed on the installation of a manufactured home or modular home.

Note: The design and construction of manufactured homes is regulated by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development under Title 24 CFR Part 3280.

(4) NOTICE OF COMPLIANCE OR NONCOMPLIANCE.
(a)General.
1. Notice of compliance or noncompliance with this code shall be written on the building permit or another readily visible means and posted at the job site. Alternatively, the notice may be delivered electronically if mutually agreed upon by the applicant and inspector.
2. Upon finding of noncompliance, the municipality or authorized UDC inspection agency enforcing this code shall also notify the applicant of record and the owner, in writing, of the violations to be corrected. Alternatively, the notification may be delivered electronically if mutually agreed upon by the applicant and inspector.
3. Except as specified under par. (b), the municipality or authorized UDC inspection agency shall order all cited violations corrected within 30 days after written notification, unless an extension of time is granted under s. SPS 320.21.
(b)Erosion and sediment control requirements.
1. The time period allowed for compliance with the erosion and sediment control provisions under s. SPS 321.125 shall be determined based on the severity of the noncompliance in relation to soil loss or potential damage to the waters of the state.
2. Pursuant to s. 101.653(7) (b), Stats., the department, a municipality or the designated UDC inspection agency may issue a special order directing an immediate cessation of construction work on other aspects of the dwelling until compliance with the erosion and sediment control provisions under s. SPS 321.125 is attained. Construction work may resume once the erosion and sediment control compliance corrections are completed.

Note: Section 101.653(7) (b) reads: "The department or a city, village, town or county may issue a special order directing the immediate cessation of work on a one- or 2-family dwelling until the necessary plan approval is obtained or until the site complies with the rules promulgated under sub. (2)."

(5) VOLUNTARY INSPECTION. The department or its authorized representative may, at the request of the owner or the lawful occupant, enter and inspect dwellings, subject to the provisions of this code, to ascertain compliance with this code.
(6) RECORD KEEPING.
(a)Municipal enforcement. Municipalities that have adopted an ordinance to enforce this code shall maintain records in accordance with all of the following:
1. A record shall be made of each visit to a site, each inspection type performed and the pass or fail results of each inspection.
2. Approved plans shall be retained for 4 years after completion of the dwelling.
3. Applications forms, correction orders, correspondence and inspection records shall be maintained for 7 years after completion of the dwelling.
(b)State enforcement. Inspectors working under state contract shall maintain records in accordance with the provisions of the contract that was in effect at the time the inspections were completed.

Wis. Admin. Code Department of Safety and Professional Services SPS 320.10

Cr. Register, November, 1979, No. 287, eff. 6-1-80; am. (1) (a), Register, February, 1985, No. 350, eff. 3-1-85; cr. (1) (b) 2. f., Register, January, 1989, No. 397, eff. 2-1-89; correction (1) (b) 2. intro. made under s. 13.93(2m) (b) 4, Stats., Register, January, 1989, No. 397; r. (1) (b) 2. e., renum. (1) (b) 2. f. and 3. and (3) to be (1) (b) 2. e. and 4. and (2), cr. (1) (b) 3., Register, March, 1992, No. 435, eff. 4-1-92; am. (1) (c), Register, September, 1992, No. 441, eff. 12-1-92; cr. (1) (b) 5., Register, November, 1995, No. 479, eff. 12-1-95; am. (intro.), Register, October, 1996, No. 490, eff. 11-1-96; r. and recr. (1) (c), Register, February, 1997, No. 494, eff. 3-1-97; am. (intro.), Register, March, 1998, No. 507, eff. 4-1-98 ; r. and recr. (1) (b) 4., Register, March, 2001, No. 543, eff. 4-1-01; CR 00-159: am. (1) (intro.), (c) 1. and 2. a., r. and recr. (1) (a), Register September 2001 No. 549 eff. 12-1-01; CR 05-113: r. and recr. (1) (c) 2. Register December 2006 No. 612, eff. 4-1-07; CR 06-071: am. (1) (b) (intro.) cr. (1) (b) 6. and (3) Register December 2006 No. 612, eff. 4-1-07; CR 08-043: r. and recr. Register March 2009 No. 639, eff. 4-1-09; correction in (3) (i) made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 7, Stats., Register March 2009 No. 639; correction in (1), (4) (a) 3., (b) 1., 2. made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 7, Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672.
Amended by, CR 15-088: am. (4) (a) 1., 2. Register May 2016 No. 725, eff.6/1/2016

Records generated by the plan review and inspection functions are public records and are subject to the open-records law.