[Adopted as Title 10, Ch. 3, of the 1985 Code]
[Amended 4-28-1998 by Ord. No. 956; 2-13-2001 by Ord. No. 977; 6-22-2004 by Ord. No. 1003; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
A. 
General permit requirements. No building work shall be performed in the City of Neillsville unless a permit therefor is obtained as required in the provisions of this article.
(1) 
Definitions.
ALTERATION
Changing, enlarging or altering the original design, size or dimensions of a building or structure (interior or exterior), including but not limited to construction or demolition of any walls, construction of a deck, adding a new room, constructing a new storage shed, building a garage or installing a new central heating or central air conditioning system. Construction or installation actions shall be considered by the Building Inspector an alteration if they substantially increase the value of the property in excess of $1,000. Demolition of a significant portion of a building or structure shall be considered an alteration and shall require a building permit. With alteration, a building permit is required, unless exempt under Subsection B(2).
MAINTENANCE
General maintenance of a building or structure, including but not limited to painting a house, replacing shingles, replacing windows (the same size as original), repaving a driveway (that was already paved), and siding a house. "Maintenance" is an upgrade of a building, structure or the property for energy efficiency and aesthetic appearance. With maintenance, a building permit is not required.
B. 
Payment of fees. All fees shall be paid to the Building Inspector. No permit shall be issued to the owner, or his/her agent, until said fees are paid.
(1) 
The City of Neillsville reserves the right to charge any engineering fees or costs incurred by the City to the cost of a building permit (commercial or residential) if the City exercises its option of having its contracted engineering firm review any construction projects prior to issuance of a building permit.
(2) 
Any building or structure that costs or that will cost in labor and materials for alteration or demolition actions less than $1,000 shall be exempt from the building permit requirement if the owner, occupant or agent of the owner or occupant can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector that the total cost of material and labor is or will total under $1,000. For evaluation of the total expenditures, the cost of the materials will be presumed to equal the cost of labor. For example, if the applicant expends $500 on materials, then the labor cost is presumed to be $500, regardless of the person or persons that perform the work. If the Building Inspector is not satisfied that the work is or will total less than $1,000, the Building Inspector may require a building permit. No time segmentation of the total work may be properly claimed or established by the owner, occupant or agent of the owner or occupant in order to simply avoid obtaining a building permit.
(3) 
Building permit fees. Fees for building permits are as established by the Common Council from time to time by resolution.
(4) 
Payment of claims as condition of permit. No permit shall be issued or renewed to any person who is delinquent in payment of any taxes, assessments or other claims owed the City or any forfeiture resulting from a violation of any City ordinance. This section shall apply to permits issued pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 180, Building Construction; Chapter 220, Fair Housing; Chapter 225, Fences; Chapter 425, Airport Zoning; Chapter 437, Floodplain and Shoreland-Wetland Zoning; Chapter 443, Subdivision of Land; and Chapter 450, Zoning, of this Code. An application for a permit or renewal of a permit subject to this article shall be denied pursuant to the provisions herein only following notice and opportunity for hearing as provided by Subsection B(5) below.
(5) 
Appeals, notice and hearing. Prior to any denial of an application for or renewal of a permit based on Subsection B(4) herein, the applicant shall be given notice and opportunity for a hearing. The Common Council or its assignee shall notify the applicant in writing of the City's intention not to grant or renew the permit and shall provide the applicant with an opportunity for a hearing. The notice shall state the reasons for the intended action and shall establish a date, not less than three days nor more than 10 days after the date of notice on which the applicant shall appear before the Common Council. If the applicant shall fail to appear before the Council on the date indicated on the notice, the Council shall deny the application or renewal. If the applicant appears before the Council on the date indicated in the notice and denies that the reasons for denial or nonrenewal exist, the Common Council shall conduct a hearing with respect to the matter. At the hearing, both the City and the applicant may produce witnesses, cross examine witnesses and be represented by counsel. The applicant shall, upon request be provided a written transcript of the hearing at the applicant's expense. If the Common Council determines the applicant shall not be entitled to a permit or renewal pursuant to Subsection B(4), the applicant for renewal shall be denied.
C. 
Permit lapses. A building permit shall lapse and be void unless operations under the permit are commenced within 60 days from the date of issuance thereof.
D. 
Denial of building permit. If the Building Inspector shall deny the building permit or if the Building Inspector shall issue a building permit upon specific written conditions, the reasons for denial and the specific conditions for approval shall be in writing and provided to the applicant by the Building Inspector, by personal service, or first class mail.
E. 
Revocation. If the Building Inspector shall find at any time that the above-mentioned ordinances, laws, orders, plans and specifications are not being complied with, and that the holder of the permit refuses to conform after a written warning or instruction has been issued to him/her, he/she shall revoke the building 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, excepting such work as the Building Inspector may order to be done as a condition precedent to the reissuance of the permit, or as he/she may require for the preservation of human life and safety or property.
F. 
Report of violations. It shall be the duty of all police officers to report at once to the Building Inspector any building work which is being carried on without a permit as required by this article.
G. 
Records. The Building inspector shall keep a record of all permits, fees and inspections. He/she shall submit to the Common Council on the first of each month a report of permits, to whom issued, value of proposed building, fee, and inspections made during previous month.
[Amended 8-13-1991 by Ord. No. 902]
A. 
Permit required. No building or any part thereof shall hereafter be erected within the City of Neillsville or ground broken for the same, except as hereinafter provided, until a permit therefor shall first have been obtained from the Building Inspector by the owner or his/her authorized agent. The term "building" as used in this section shall include any building or structure, and any enlargement, alteration, heating or ventilating installation, moving or demolishing, or anything affecting the fire hazards or safety of any building or structure.
B. 
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, and shall contain such other information as the Building Inspector may require for effective enforcement of this section.
C. 
Plans. With each application there shall be submitted two complete sets of plans and specifications, including a plot plan showing the location of the proposed building with respect to adjoining streets, alleys, lot lines and buildings. The original plan must bear the approval of the Building Inspector. Where water or sewer service will be required, it must bear approval of the Sewer and Water Utility. Plans for buildings required to comply with the State Building Code shall bear a stamp of approval from the State Department of Safety and Professional Services. Such plans and specifications shall be submitted in duplicate; one set shall be returned after approval as hereinafter provided; the other shall remain on file in the office of the Clerk-Treasurer. All plans and specifications shall be signed by the designer and bear certification by the applicant that all electrical and plumbing work will be installed in compliance with the Wisconsin Administrative Code.
D. 
Fees. The fees for building permits under this article shall be as established by resolution of the Common Council and are incorporated herein by reference.
[Amended 9-13-2000 by Ord. No. 973; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
A. 
Portions of State Code adopted. Chapters SPS 361 through 365, State Building Code, Wis. Adm. Code, are hereby adopted and made a part of this section with respect to those classes of buildings to which this code specifically applies. Chapters SPS 320 through 325, Uniform Dwelling Code, Wis. Adm. Code, are hereby adopted and made a part of this section with respect to those classes of buildings to which this code specifically applies.
B. 
Conflicts. If, in the opinion of the Building Inspector and the Common Council, the provisions of the State Building Code adopted by Subsection A of this section shall conflict with the provisions of the Federal Housing Administration standards in their application to any proposed building or structure, the Inspector and/or the City shall apply the most stringent provisions in determining whether or not the proposed building meets the requirements of this section.
C. 
Construction standards.
(1) 
All single-family dwellings shall have a minimum dwelling area of 1,000 square feet. All two-family dwellings shall have a minimum dwelling area of 1,500 square feet. All single- and two-family dwellings shall have a width of at least 24 feet for the main body of the house. The requirements for the dwelling area square footage and width shall be in addition to basements, porches (enclosed or unenclosed), garages, decks and other similar structural additions.
(2) 
All principal residential buildings shall have a roof with a minimum pitch of four inches of vertical rise per foot of horizontal run (4:12).
(3) 
All principal residential buildings shall have a permanent foundation meeting the requirements of the state uniform dwelling code and approved by the Building Inspector, which surrounds the entire perimeter of the structure and completely encloses the space between siding and finished grade. This means the building must be completely placed on concrete, blocks, etc. No metal skirting will be allowed.
(4) 
All principal residential buildings shall have any wheels, axles and pulling apparatus removed and shall be placed on, and be attached to, a permanently enclosed foundation in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Safety and Professional Services in Ch. SPS 321, Wis. Adm. Code. The City Building Inspector may require a plan certified by a registered architect or engineer to ensure proper support for the home.
(5) 
All principal residential buildings shall have a minimum roof overhang of 12 inches measured from the vertical sides of the structure.
(6) 
The exterior walls of all principal residential buildings shall be covered by either wood, wood clapboards, wood shakes, vinyl steel or aluminum beveled siding, brick, stone or other masonry-type veneer material or other similar materials.
A. 
All materials, methods of construction and devices designed for use in buildings or structures covered by this section and not specifically mentioned in or permitted by this section shall not be so used until approved in writing by the State Department of Safety and Professional Services for use in buildings or structures covered by the Wisconsin State Building Code, except sanitary appliances, which shall be approved in accordance with the State Plumbing Code.
B. 
Such materials, methods of construction and devices, when approved, must be installed or used in strict compliance with the manufacturer's specifications and any rules or conditions of use established by the State Department of Safety and Professional Services. The data, tests and other evidence necessary to prove the merits of such material, method of construction or device shall be determined by the State Department of Safety and Professional Services.
Whenever the Building Inspector and Common Council find any building or part thereof within the City to be in their judgment so old, dilapidated or out of repair as to be dangerous, unsafe, unsanitary or otherwise unfit for human occupancy or use, and so that it would be unreasonable to repair the same, they shall order the owner to raze and remove such building or part thereof, or if it can be made safe by repairs to repair and make safe and sanitary, or to raze and remove at the owner's option. Such order and proceedings shall be as provided in § 66.0413, Wis. Stats.
The purpose of the inspections under this article is to improve the quality of housing in the City. The inspections and the reports and findings issued after the inspections are not intended as, nor are they to be construed, as a guarantee. In order to so advise owners and other interested persons, a disclaimer shall be included in each inspection report as follows: "The findings of inspection contained herein are intended to report conditions of noncompliance with code standards that are readily apparent at the time of inspection. The inspection does not involve a detailed examination of the mechanical systems or the closed structural and nonstructural elements of the building and premises. No warranty of the operation, use or durability of equipment and materials not specifically cited herein is expressed or implied.
Any building or structure hereafter erected, enlarged, altered or repaired, or any use hereafter established, in violation of the provisions of this article shall be deemed an unlawful building, structure or use. The Building Inspector shall promptly report all such violations to the City Attorney, who shall bring an action to enjoin the erection, enlargement, alteration, repair or moving of such building or structure of the establishment of such use, or to cause such building, structure or use to be removed and may also be subject to a penalty as provided in § 1-5 of this Code. In any such action, the fact that a permit was issued shall not constitute a defense, nor shall any error, oversight or dereliction of duty on the part of the Building Inspector constitute a defense. Compliance with the provisions of this article may also be enforced by injunctional order at the suit of the owner or owners of any real estate within the jurisdiction of this article.