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What You Need to Know About Electrical Inspections!
On January 1, 2005 Wisconsin's Home Safety Act officially went into effect across the State. Principally, it requires inspection of all new one- and two-family home construction to standards of the Uniform Dwelling Code. Municipalities under 2,500 in population were previously exempt from enforcing the UDC.
Individual towns and villages were given several choices to comply with the new legislation. Some municipalities opted to leave enforcement to the Wisconsin Department of Commerce while others hired professional inspection firms. Regardless, responsibility for complying with the State law lies with the homebuilder and their contractor. The State has notified all known contractors about inspection requirements. Electric utilities also have specific requirements to comply with the law—we are not allowed to connect electric service for dwellings covered by the UDC until they have passed inspection.
Every municipality has the right to go beyond the requirements of the UDC and require inspections for any changes to an electrical system, and several in our service territory already do. It is the homeowner's responsibility to contact their local municipality and ask for the person responsible for electrical inspections; often this responsibility is within a Planning and Zoning Department. They are the best resource for determining what permitting and inspection requirements meet your needs. Use of a qualified and reputable electrical contractor is highly recommended as they can help you get your work done professionally and pass any inspection required.
By planning ahead, people remodeling or building a home can avoid costly and bothersome construction delays.
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