Janesville, WI Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- Erect, alter, enlarge, move, demolish, or new parking lots
- Plans required
- 2 full sets: foundation, elevations, floor plans
- Permit expires
- Void after 4 months unstarted or 60 days idle
- Completion deadline
- 24 months from permit issuance
- No-permit penalty
- $100 or double fee, capped at $2,000
- Issuing office
- Building Division / Building Inspector
Summary
In the City of Janesville, Sec. 10-10 requires a Building Division permit before anyone erects, alters, enlarges, moves or demolishes a building or structure, or builds a new parking lot. The Building Inspector must find full compliance with the Municipal Building Code before issuing it, and unpermitted work triggers added fees and a possible stop-work order.
(a)Permit required. No person, firm or corporation shall directly or indirectly erect or construct any building or structure nor add to, enlarge, improve, structurally alter, convert, extend, move, wreck, or demolish, any building or structure or cause the same to be done, without first having obtained a permit therefor from the Building Division as hereinafter provided. A permit from the Building Division shall also be required for the construction, reconstruction or expansion of an off-street parking lot, open storage lot or loading area as hereinafter provided. ... (5)The building permit shall become void unless operations are commenced within four months from the date thereof, or if the building or work authorized by such permit is suspended at any time after work is commenced, for a period of 60 days. (6)Before any work is commenced or recommenced after the permit has lapsed, a new permit shall be issued at the regular fee rate. In any event, the work required to construct any building shall be completed within 24 months from the date of issuance of the permit.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 10-10(a) bars any person, firm or corporation from directly or indirectly erecting, constructing, adding to, enlarging, improving, structurally altering, converting, extending, moving, wrecking or demolishing any building or structure in the City of Janesville without first obtaining a permit from the Building Division, and the same permit requirement reaches new, reconstructed or expanded off-street parking lots, open storage lots and loading areas. Applicants submit a written application with two complete sets of plans, specifications and a plot or survey, drawn to a scale of at least one-fourth inch per foot and showing water supply, sewer connections and drainage; residential plans must include a foundation plan, all elevations, all floor plans and complete construction details.
Buildings other than one- and two-family homes that exceed 50,000 cubic feet need plans sealed by a registered architect or engineer under Sec. 10-10(g). Under Sec. 10-10(k), the Building Inspector issues the permit once satisfied the proposed work complies with the Code, other City ordinances and Wisconsin law; the permit becomes void if work has not started within four months, or is suspended for 60 days, and construction must finish within 24 months of issuance or a new permit at the regular fee is required.
The Inspector may revoke a permit under Sec. 10-10(l) for code violations, dangerous construction, false statements in the application, or inadequate site supervision, posting a revocation placard on the property.
Violations & Fines
Working without a required permit under Sec. 10-13(a)(3) draws a penalty of $100 or double the applicable permit fee, whichever is more, up to a $2,000 cap, on top of the normal permit fee itself. Sec. 10-31 separately doubles fees for any work commenced before a permit issues. The Building Inspector can revoke an active permit and issue a stop-work order under Sec. 10-17 whenever approved plans are not followed, and continuing work after a stop-work order is posted is itself unlawful under Sec. 10-10(l).
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
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