Sheboygan, WI Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)

Section 26-961 is the permit rule for Sheboygan's plumbing code. No plumbing shall be performed in the city unless a permit has first been issued by the plumbing inspector and the proper fee paid. The only work excused from the permit is repair of leaks and stoppages. Permits are issued only to persons licensed to do plumbing under the state laws, with one exception: a person owning and occupying a single-family dwelling can do plumbing there without a plumber's license.

The code that governs the work itself comes from the state. Section 26-906 adopts Wis. Stats. ch. 145 and Chapters SPS 381 through 387 of the Wis. Admin. Code on licensure, construction, installation and inspection of plumbing, excluding their penalty provisions, together with future amendments. Section 26-962 requires the application, on forms provided by the building inspection department, to be filed with the plumbing inspector before beginning active work. Section 26-965 keeps a permit in force for continuous performance of the work and expires it automatically when work ceases for a period of 60 days.

Fees come from Sec. 26-966. An initial connection to a public sanitary or storm main is accompanied by $500 for a residential connection, $1,000 for commercial, $1,500 for industrial and $500 for a mini-storm connection. Other plumbing permits are computed per item, with a floor of not less than $50.00 in any event, including $10.00 for each fixture installed, roughed in, or opening provided for future installation, $10.00 for each water heater, and $50.00 for a building drain or relayed building drain. Section 26-964 lets the city withhold further permits and inspections from a licensee with unpaid arrears or fees or unmet lawful orders of the plumbing inspector, and treats bad faith or unreasonable delay as sufficient reason to withhold permits. Disputes between the plumbing inspector and the plumber in charge go to the board of plumbing appeals under Sec. 26-937, and Sec. 26-938 gives an aggrieved person five days after written notice of an order to appeal in writing.