New Berlin, WI Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

Section 106-17 A requires anyone wiring a building, structure or premises for electric lights, meters, heating units, signs or refrigeration, installing electrical equipment, or altering an existing wiring system, to notify the Electrical Inspector and secure a permit before starting work. Section 106-17 B carves out a narrow exemption: equipment rated no higher than 120 volts or 20 amps with a cord-and-cap plug into a permanently installed receptacle needs no permit, but that exemption never covers a new or replacement fire alarm system, which always needs a permit and, under this chapter, a licensed installer.

To obtain a permit, a contractor licensed for the work, or someone otherwise authorized under Chapter 101, Wis. , files an application with the Electrical Inspector naming the property owner, the work address and a description of the work, along with the required fee. A permit lapses if work does not start within 120 days of issuance, or if suspended work stays stopped for 120 days; a written request before expiration can extend it another 120 days. Working before a permit issues doubles the fee.

Homeowners may wire their own single-family residence themselves after securing a permit, paying fees and passing inspection, but that privilege never covers new electrical services or service upgrades, in-ground pools, spas or hot tubs, new construction before an occupancy permit, or remodeling over 1,500 square feet.