Wauwatosa, WI Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- Wis. Admin. Code SPS 316 (Electrical)
- Enforcing official
- Electrical inspector, building & safety division
- License required
- Master electrician license
- Underground inspection
- Before backfill placed
- Minor repairs
- Exempt from permit
Summary
Wauwatosa adopts the Wisconsin State Electrical Code, SPS 316, by reference and requires a permit and a licensed electrician for most wiring work. The electrical inspector runs services and underground inspections before work is covered up.
Adopted by Reference. ... The Administrative Code of the State of Wisconsin, SPS 316, Electrical, is adopted and all amendments thereto are adopted and incorporated by reference except as herein modified. Development Director. The development director or delegated representatives are authorized and directed to administer and enforce all of the provisions of the ordinance codified in this chapter, state statute, and the State Administrative Code. ... Underground. Underground inspection shall be made after trenches or ditches are excavated and bedded, piping or conductors installed and before backfill is placed.
Full Breakdown
04 of the Wauwatosa Municipal Code, titled State Code Adopted, incorporates state building standards rather than writing a separate city electrical code from scratch. 050, Wisconsin State Electrical Code, states plainly: "Adopted by Reference. " The development director or a delegated representative administers and enforces that adopted code alongside state statute and the State Administrative Code. " Homeowners get a narrow carve-out: an owner-occupant of a one- or two-family dwelling does not need a license to repair or replace fixtures such as appliances, pipes, valves and faucets, though this exception is written for plumbing fixtures rather than wiring. 120, at the electrical inspector's discretion.
Violations & Fines
An unsafe or noncompliant electrical installation found on periodic inspection triggers a written notice to the responsible party to correct it; refusal or failure to make the required repairs subjects that person to "the penal provisions as set forth under Section 1.12.010 of the Wauwatosa Municipal Code," the city's general penalty section, as stated in Section 15.04.050.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wauwatosa have its own electrical code?
Who inspects electrical work in Wauwatosa?
Can a homeowner do their own electrical work?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wauwatosa
Compare Wauwatosa to another location·View the Wisconsin building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Electrical Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Milwaukee County handle electrical permits.