The fee for the periodic inspection of bungee jumping sites would be charged according to s.
Comm 2.20 (1) (f), Inspection of Class 2 amusement rides, thereby decreasing the fee from $800 to $250.
The fee for the annual registration of all amusement rides would increase from $50 to $55, a 10 percent increase.
Passenger Ropeways
Fees for the inspection of passenger ropeways, indicated in Table 2.21-2, would decrease by 29 percent.
Plan examination fees for passenger ropeways, indicated in Table 2.21-1, would remain unchanged.
The fee for a permit to operate a passenger ropeway would remain unchanged at $35.
Boilers, Gas Systems, and Mechanical Refrigeration
Pressure vessel inspection fee increases would range from 33 to 58 percent.
Inspection fees for boilers would generally increase 50 percent.
The fee for plan review of gas systems would increase from $200 to $300, a 50 percent increase; the inspection fee for gas systems would increase from $250 to $400, a 60 percent increase.
The plan review, initial inspection and period inspection fees for anhydrous ammonia systems and storage facilities would generally increase 50 percent.
Mechanical refrigeration inspection fees would generally increase 50 percent.
Anhydrous ammonia system nurse tank periodic inspection fee increases would range from 31 to 100 percent.
The fee for a permit to operate a boiler, pressure vessel, anhydrous ammonia system and mechanical refrigeration would remain unchanged at $35.
Commercial Buildings
The fees for building plan review under ch.
Comm 61 would increase 6 percent overall. The proposed fees would range from $300 to $20,000 (where the Department conducts the inspection) or $250 to $18,000 (where a municipality conducts the inspection).
Plan review fees for building HVAC systems would increase 9 percent overall. The proposed fees would range from $180 to $13,500 (Department inspection) or $150 to $12,100 (municipal inspection).
Plan review fees for fire systems would increase 6 percent overall. The proposed fees would range from $50 to $7,100 (Department inspection) or $30 to $6,400 (municipal inspection).
Elevators and Lifting Devices
The current basis for determining the fee for an elevator plan review, initial inspection and period inspection includes the number of landings of the elevator unit. This basis would be removed and the basis would become the type of elevator unit, as follows:
• Traction elevator, other elevator driving machines;
• Hydraulic elevator;
• Dumbwaiter, platform lift, stair chair lift, special application elevator;
• Escalator, moving.
Current fee amounts for plan review and initial inspection in Table 2.15-1 and for periodic inspection in Table 2.15-2 would be combined into Table 2.15.
Current fee amounts charged for elevator plan review and initial elevator inspection fees would generally increase 57 percent.
Current fee amounts charged for elevator periodic inspection would generally increase 30 percent.
Current fee amount for a permit to operate an elevator would remain at $35.
Plumbing Systems Plan Review
Current fee amounts for plan review of plumbing systems would generally increase by 27 percent.
Current fee amounts for plumbing product approval would increase by 25 percent.
Public Swimming Pools, Water Attractions and Associated Slides
Current fee amounts for plan review and inspection of public swimming pools, water attractions and slides would increase 100 percent.
POWTS (Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems) Plan and Product Review
Current fee amounts for plan review of POWTS would generally increase by 50 percent.
The current fee for a sanitary permit issued under Comm 2.67 (1) (a) would increase from $116 to $141, a 22 percent increase.
Current fee amounts for POWTS product approval would increase by 25%.
Rental Weatherization
The current fee for a rental weatherization certification stamp would be increased from $30 to $40, a 33 percent increase.
Soil Erosion/Stormwater Management
The fee for filing a notice of intent (to disturb soil) would increase from $25 to $200, a 800 percent increase. The proposed fee would be the same as the NOI fee charged by the DNR.
1&2 Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes/Housing
The Uniform Building Permit seal fee would increase from $25 to $40, a 60 percent increase.
The Wisconsin Insignia fee (utilized for manufactured dwellings) would remain at $25.
Fees for the plan review and inspection of manufactured home communities would remain unchanged.
Manufactured home titling fees and manufactured home community permit fees would remain unchanged.
License, Certification and Registration
Where the current application fee is $10, the fee would generally increase to $15, a 50 percent increase.
Where the current examination fee is $20, the fee would generally increase to $25, a 25 percent increase.
The license fee for Commercial Building and UDC inspectors would increase from $30 to $40, a 33 percent increase.
The business certification fee for dwelling contractors would increase by $15, a 75 percent increase.
The individual certification fee for dwelling contractor qualifiers would increase by $30, a 100 percent increase.
The certification fee for a manufactured home installer would increase from $100 to $160, a 60 percent increase.
The license, application and certification fees for a soil tester would increase from $25 to $35, $50 to $75 and $240 to $300 respectively.
The registration fee for a POWTS maintainer would increase from $60 to $90, a 50 percent increase.
The certification fee for an HVAC contractor would increase from $100 to $160, a 60 percent increase.
Miscellaneous
The miscellaneous fees indicated in s.
Comm 2.02 (e.g., photocopying fees, plan reproduction fees) would increase 20%.
The hourly fee charged for miscellaneous inspections during regular work hours would increase from $60 to $80, a 25 percent increase.
Comparison with federal regulations
An Internet-based search in the Code of Federal Regulations and the Federal Register did not identify any existing or proposed federal regulations that address these topics.
Comparison with rules in adjacent states
The following is a comparison of some of the fees proposed with fees charged in other states. The methodology of charging fees varies, making a meaningful comparison more difficult to conduct. The hourly rate of $80 per hour proposed by Commerce is compared with the hourly rate charged in other states. Comparisons are also made between the permit-to-operate fees.
Illinois. Illinois does not provide for the state-wide regulation of commercial or residential building construction.
Illinois provides for the statewide regulation of elevators. Illinois requires payment of a $75 annual certificate of operation for an elevator. Wisconsin's elevator permit to operate is also required annually and the fee is $35. Illinois does not provide plan review or inspection services; the latter of these services is provided by licensed, private parties.
Illinois also provides for statewide regulation of boilers. For example, a certificate to operate is required annually in Illinois and the cost is $75. Again, Wisconsin also requires such a permit annually and the cost is $35. Regular inspections are provided by state inspectors (and also insurance inspectors). The maximum fee proposed by Wisconsin for the inspection of a pressure vessel is $140; the maximum in Illinois for such an inspection is $160.
Iowa. Iowa fees for building plan review and inspection are based on the estimated construction costs. An hourly rate for building inspection is indicated at $206 for one hour on-site, and $374 for an inspection lasting between 5 and 6 hours.
Iowa's fee for an annual elevator permit is $50; Wisconsin's fee for an annual elevator permit is $35. Iowa charges an hourly rate of $100 for consultative elevator inspections.
Minnesota. Minnesota has an hourly rate of $45 per hour for building inspections and some elevator inspections. This rate is 15 years old and the costs of building inspection are significantly supplemented by a surcharge placed on municipal building permit revenue. The hourly rate does not include costs related to code development and does not include costs for management other than direct supervision. All code development and management costs are included in Wisconsin's proposed hourly rate.
Minnesota's hourly rate for boiler inspection is $80. The annual registration fee for a boiler in Minnesota is $10; the Wisconsin fee for a boiler permit to operate is $35. The Minnesota fee for the inspection of a boiler inaccessible or accessible for internal inspection is $55; a fee of $60 would be charged by Wisconsin for an external inspection of a heating boiler.
Michigan. Michigan charges an hourly rate of $100 per hour for various services (e.g., elevator hourly inspection rate and hourly building plan review rate). Michigan's annual certificate of operation fee for an elevator is $35, the same as Wisconsin's annual elevator permit-to-operate fee.
Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies
The majority of the fees charged by the Safety and Buildings Division have not been increased since 2000 and some fees have not been increased since 1992. The proposed changes are necessary in order to bring revenues in line with the cost of providing the services in each program area. It is estimated that the changes will increase total program revenues by 18 percent and provide a sufficient revenue flow for a 4-year period. The department is statutorily directed to establish and collect fees which should, as closely as possible, equal the cost of providing those services.
The department utilizes advisory councils in analyzing and developing proposed revisions to the Fee Code. The councils involved in the review of the proposed rules were the Amusement Ride Council, Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Council, Commercial Building Code Council, Conveyance Safety Council, Manufactured Home Council, Multifamily Dwelling Code Council, Plumbing Code Council, Pool Council, POWTS Code Council and Uniform Dwelling Code Council. These councils involve a variety of organizations whose memberships include small businesses and municipal staff. The department utilizes these councils to gather information on potential impacts in complying with the administrative requirements of this proposal. A responsibility of council members is to bring forth concerns their respective organizations may have with the requirements, including concerns regarding economic impacts. (Copies of the council meetings summaries are on file in the Safety and Building Division.)
Analysis and supporting documents used to determine effect on small business
The Department believes that the proposed rules would have a minimal direct impact on small business in light of the following:
In most cases, the annual fees associated with building equipment that require businesses to obtain permits to operate or registrations are not proposed to be increased. The majority of the fee increases relate to division services, such as plan review and inspection, which most businesses would utilize on an infrequent basis. These types of fees would not be significant to the overall operation of the business in comparison to overall expenses.
An economic impact report has not been required pursuant to s.
227.137, Stats.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Types of small businesses that will be affected by the rules
The rules will affect any business that pays fees to the Safety and Buildings Division for the Division's services such as plan review, inspection, permits to operate, registrations, licenses and certifications. The services where fee adjustments are proposed involve amusement rides, boilers, gas systems, mechanical refrigeration, commercial buildings, elevators, plumbing, swimming pools, private onsite wastewater treatment systems, rental weatherization, soil erosion and stormwater management, 1&2 family dwellings and manufactured homes.
Some examples of businesses that pay fees for division services include, architects, engineers, and contractors.
Reporting, bookkeeping and other procedures required for compliance with the rules.
The proposed changes to chapters Comm 2 and 5 do not imposed any additional reporting, bookkeeping or other procedures for compliance.
Types of professional skills necessary for compliance with the rules.
The proposed changes to chapters Comm 2 and 5 do not any type of professional skills for compliance.
Rules have a significant economic impact on small businesses?
No.
Environmental Analysis
