De Pere, WI Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit trigger
- Any new, enlarged, altered or repaired 1-2 family dwelling
- Issuing office
- City building inspector
- Application form
- State uniform dwelling permit application
- New dwelling permit validity
- 2 years from issuance (Sec. 54-10(c))
- Other permit validity
- 1 year from issuance
- Permit voided if unstarted
- 12 months after issuance
- Final inspection window
- Requested within 30 days of completion
Summary
De Pere requires a building permit before any one- or two-family dwelling is built, enlarged, altered or repaired, plus for accessory structures like garages, sheds, gazebos and fences. City Code Sec. 54-3(e) puts issuance with the building inspector on the state uniform dwelling permit application form, and permits lapse if work is not started or is abandoned for 12 months.
Building permits required. No one-family or two-family dwelling shall be built, enlarged, altered or repaired unless a building permit for that work shall first be obtained by the owner or his or her agent from the building inspector. Application for a building permit shall be in writing upon the form designated by the state uniform dwelling permit application.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 9).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 54-3(e) of the Code of Ordinances bars construction, enlargement, alteration or repair of a one- or two-family dwelling without a permit obtained by the owner or an agent from the building inspector, filed on the state uniform dwelling permit application form. Sec. 54-3(f)(2) extends the same permit requirement to accessory buildings and structures, including detached garages, sheds, roof-covered patios, gazebos, pergolas and fences. Applicants for new construction or remodeling must submit two sets of plans, one paper and one digital, along with a site plan and soil erosion control plan; alteration and remodeling projects need complete building, electrical, plumbing and HVAC plans under Sec.
54-3(f)(4). Once issued, a permit is posted at the site and kept on file with the building inspection division; under Sec. 54-3(f)(5) it becomes null and void if work is not commenced within 12 months, or if construction is suspended or abandoned for 12 months at any point after starting. Sec. 54-10(c) sets overall permit duration: two years from issuance for permits covering initial construction of one- and two-family dwellings, and one year for all other permits, with renewal of an expired permit carrying its own fee.
Before concealment, Sec. 54-3(f)(7) requires inspections at defined stages, erosion control, sanitary/storm/water service, footing and foundation, underground drains, rough construction, and insulation, each triggered by the applicant's notice to the building inspector. A final inspection is required before occupancy: the applicant must request it within 30 days of completing the work, and the inspector must perform it within five business days.
Violations & Fines
No permit-specific fine attaches to Sec. 54-3 itself, so the general Code penalty in Sec. 1-11(a) applies: a forfeiture of not less than $1.00 nor more than $2,000.00 for each offense, rising to $10.00-$2,000.00 for a second offense under Sec. 1-11(b). Sec. 54-3(f)(7)g also treats a missed final inspection, uncorrected violations, or unpaid prior permit fees as a violation subject to citation and a reinspection fee, and the inspector may refuse further permits to a noncompliant applicant. An uncorrected violation can draw a stop-work order under Sec. 54-3(f)(7)h.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a shed or fence in De Pere?
How long does a De Pere building permit stay valid?
What happens if I skip the final inspection?
What plans must I file with a De Pere building permit application?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in De Pere
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