De Pere, WI Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- NFPA 70 and Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 316
- Permit issuer
- City electrical inspector (senior building inspector)
- Homeowner exemption
- Owner-occupied single-family wiring only
- Rough inspection window
- Within 2 business days of notice
- Fee basis
- Building square footage, rounded to the dollar
Summary
De Pere adopts the National Electrical Code and the state electrical code, Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 316, under City Code § 62-1, and requires a permit from the electrical inspector before any wiring work under § 62-12. Only licensed electricians or contractors can pull permits, with a homeowner exemption for owner-occupied single-family work.
NFPA 70: National Electrical Code and the state electrical code, Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 316 (hereinafter, adopted codes), as from time to time hereafter amended, are adopted by reference and made a part of this chapter. A violation of any provision therefrom shall be a violation of this chapter. ... (a)Permits required. The inspector shall issue permits for all electrical installations upon filing of a proper application, which shall be made on forms furnished by the inspector, and upon payment of the proper fee.
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
Chapter 62 of the De Pere Code of Ordinances adopts NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code, and the state electrical code found at Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 316 by reference under section 62-1, making any violation of those adopted codes a violation of the city's own chapter. The senior building inspector serves as the electrical inspector under section 62-7 and issues permits under section 62-12 once an applicant files a proper application and pays the fee set by common council resolution, with fees calculated on building square footage including basements and attached garages.
Section 62-9 requires anyone installing, repairing or maintaining electrical wiring to hold a state electrical contractor or electrician license, and section 62-10 lets a homeowner do wiring in their own single-family home without a license if they occupy the dwelling and sign a homeowner's acknowledgement form. Rough wiring must be inspected within two business days of notifying the inspector before it can be concealed, a service inspection is required before a system is energized, and a final inspection covers all equipment before occupancy under section 62-4. The electrical inspector can also cut power to any installation found unsafe under section 62-6, and no one may reconnect it without written permission.
Violations & Fines
Working without a permit, or violating any provision of the adopted National Electrical Code or Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 316, is a violation of chapter 62 under section 62-1. The electrical inspector can refuse future permits to anyone who has neglected to pay for a prior permit or correct a cited violation after due notice, and can order power disconnected from an unsafe installation until the owner obtains written permission to reconnect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to rewire my house in De Pere?
Can I do my own electrical work as a homeowner in De Pere?
What electrical code does De Pere actually enforce?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in De Pere
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Electrical Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Brown County handle electrical permits.