Burlington, WI Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

Under City Code § 142-5, the Electrical Inspector issues permits for electrical installations for light, heat, or power once an applicant files a proper application on the Inspector's forms describing the work. ' The only exemption covers repairs necessary for the proper maintenance of an existing installation; any alteration or extension of an existing circuit still needs a permit, though in maintenance cases the work can be completed before inspection follows. Permit fees are set in the Common Council's Fee Schedule. Once wiring is complete, or before it is concealed from view, § 142-7 requires the installer to notify the Electrical Inspector in writing, who then has 48 hours to inspect; if the work is fully compliant and not a hazard, the Inspector approves it and authorizes concealment, but if it is incomplete or noncompliant, the Inspector orders the hazards removed and changes made within 10 days.

No electric current may be turned on for a new installation until the Electrical Inspector issues a certificate of inspection. Construction itself must conform to Ch. Comm 16, Electrical, of the Wisconsin Administrative Code under § 142-6. Only a licensed electrical contractor, master electrician, or supervised apprentice or helper may perform the work, and the Electrical Inspector can order service disconnected for wiring found dangerous or unsafe under § 142-1.