Fitchburg, WI Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Under Fitchburg City Code Sec. 35-218(a), buildings must be inspected as often as necessary to secure compliance, and no electrical, plumbing, heating installation or structural portion may be enclosed or concealed before the building inspector completes the required inspection and approves it. The permit applicant must notify the building inspector after each construction phase and request the inspection orally or in writing (Sec. 35-219); the inspector must make every reasonable attempt to respond promptly, but work may proceed if an inspection is not completed within two business days of proper notice, unless the applicant and inspector agree otherwise.

Sec. 35-220 lists six standard inspection types: building sewer (after installation, water or air test on, before covering), footing (forms and reinforcing in place, before pouring concrete), foundation (forms removed, before backfilling, with drain tile and waterproofing in place), rough (electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilating, air conditioning and framing, before it is covered), insulation/energy (before covering), and final (before use or occupancy). The building inspector notifies the applicant and property owner of results by posted notice, mailed report, or verbal communication (Sec. 35-221). If work is being done contrary to code or in an unsafe manner, the building inspector may issue a written stop-work order to the owner, agent or person doing the work, stating the conditions for resuming (Sec. 35-222).