This Chapter shall be know as the "Plumbing Code of the City
of South Milwaukee." It will be referred to hereinafter as "this code."
This Code shall not be construed to relieve in whole or part
the responsibility or liability of any party owning, operating, controlling
or installing any plumbing for damages to anyone injured or any property
destroyed by any defect therein, nor shall the City be held to assume
any such liability by reason of any inspection authorized herein,
or any certificates of inspection or permit issued as herein provided.
All terms defined in the Wisconsin State Plumbing Code and any
amendments thereto shall, when used in this Code, be construed to
have the same meaning as in the Wisconsin State Plumbing Code.
[Amended 3-1-2022 by Ord. No. 2226]
The provisions and regulations of Wis. Adm. Code § SPS
381 through 387 and § SPS 305, Sec. 145, Wis. Stats.,
and NR812 and all future amendments, revisions or modifications thereto,
are hereby made a part of this chapter by reference, and shall govern
the installation of all plumbing installed, altered or repaired in
the City.
[Amended 3-1-2022 by Ord. No. 2226]
A. When permits are required.
(1) No plumbing work shall be performed in the City of South Milwaukee
unless a permit for such work shall have been first issued to a licensed
master plumber, or to a property owner for work to be done by him/her
in a single-family building owned and occupied by him/her as his/her
or their home for a minimum of one year, by the City Plumbing Inspector
as herein provided, except that no permit shall be required.
(a)
For minor repair work required for proper maintenance of an
existing installation.
(b)
For removing stoppages, provided such removal does not entail
dismantling the existing installation.
(c)
For emergency work, but such work shall be reported to the City
Plumbing Inspector immediately after it is started and shall, if practicable,
otherwise conform with the standards and provisions of this Code.
(2) Notwithstanding the above exceptions, a permit shall be obtained
in all cases before starting any plumbing work that replaces work
condemned by the City Plumbing Inspector.
B. Applications. Applications for permits shall be made to the City
Plumbing Inspector on forms supplied by the City. Each application
shall indicate the nature and extent of the plumbing work and the
time same will be completed. A plan may be required to accompany the
application in the discretion of the City Plumbing Inspector.
[Amended 7-6-1976 by Ord.
No. 1039; 4-21-1998 by Ord. No. 1705]
Before receiving any permit required in this chapter, the owner
or his agent shall pay the fee determined by resolution of the Common
Council and/or Water Utility as may be appropriate. In the event work
is commenced before a permit is obtained, the fees shall be double
the fee otherwise designated.
[Amended 7-6-1976 by Ord.
No. 1039; 4-21-1998 by Ord. No. 1705]
A. The fee due for plumbing work performed or to be performed by the
Utility shall be as determined by the Water Utility Commissioners.
B. Taps into the water main are to be made only by or under the supervision
of the Water Utility.
C. Charges for materials furnished or to be furnished by the City or
the Water Utility in connection with any work shall be as determined
by the Water Utility or City Department furnishing the materials.
D. Connections to a main of a size which, in the opinion of the City
Engineer, require a fitting connection may be made only upon special
permission of the City Engineer and under the direct supervision or
by the Water Utility. All materials used in such connection shall
meet the specifications of the Water Utility.
E. Payment for all charges shall be made before a permit is issued.
When the City Plumbing Inspector refuses to issue a permit or
certificate of inspection for all or part of a plumbing installation,
he shall give written notice of such refusal to the plumber in charge,
if any, and to the property owner or his authorized agent or attorney.
Such plumber or owner may, within five days after receiving such notice,
file with the City Engineer a petition in writing for a review of
such refusal, and the City Engineer shall thereupon determine forthwith
whether the installation complies with the requirements of this Code
and shall cause his written findings and decision to be filed with
the City Clerk, and a copy thereof to be delivered to such plumber
and owner; and the City Plumbing Inspector shall be bound by such
findings and decision.
[Amended 3-1-2022 by Ord. No. 2226]
A. Only a master plumber licensed by the State of Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services may apply for and be issued a plumbing permit except as otherwise stated in Subsection
B or elsewhere in this Code. A plumbing contracting firm applying for a permit shall have a properly licensed State of Wisconsin master plumber employed by the firm. The master plumber shall be responsible for code compliance regarding all plumbing work and shall submit a plumbing permit that includes the signature of the master plumber responsible for code compliance.
B. A property owner of a single-family dwelling, owned and occupied
by him or her as his or her home, may apply for and be issued a plumbing
permit for replacement of fixtures at the same dwelling only. The
owner may replace the following fixtures: toilets, sinks, faucets,
sump pumps, hose bibs, shower stalls, bath tubs, laundry sinks, dishwashers,
garbage disposals, gas water heaters and refrigerators with water
lines. An owner may not relocate fixtures in a manner that requires
relocation, alteration, removal or addition to existing hard-piped
drains, vents or water lines. An owner may not repair or install underfloor
sewer, drain stacks or install their own plumbing in a new construction
home. The owner shall be responsible to ensure that all work is installed
in compliance with this Code.
Any person who shall intentionally, willfully, or maliciously
injure or obstruct any sewer, drain, cesspool, catch basin or any
plumbing fixture or apparatus, pipes or other part of any plumbing
in actual use, or under construction, or any sewer, drain, or water
pipes or any parts or apparatus connected therewith, laid or constructed
in the streets, alleys, or other public places or under any sidewalks
of the City of South Milwaukee shall be subject to the penalty hereinafter
provided for violating this Code.
It shall be the duty of the Police Officers, City Engineer and
Health Officer, or either or any of them, to inquire into violations
of this Code and report same to the Common Council for investigation
and prosecution.
If any provision of this Code or the application of such provision
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this
Code shall not be affected thereby.