Chapter 101

101.861 101.861 Municipal licensing authority.

101.861(1) (1) Any ordinance enacted by a municipality that relates to licensure or certification of electrical contractors or electricians pursuant to the municipality’s authority under s. 101.865, 2005 stats., or s. 101.87, 2005 stats., and that is in existence on March 19, 2008, shall remain in effect until April 1, 2014, but may not be amended or repealed during this time period. Beginning on April 1, 2014, such an ordinance is no longer in effect, and municipalities may no longer impose any registration, licensing, or certification requirements on electrical contractors, electricians, or electrical inspectors.

101.861(2) (2) Beginning on March 28, 2013, and ending on March 31, 2014, all of the following apply:

101.861(2)(a) (a) Any municipal ordinance that was in existence on March 19, 2008, and that imposed any licensing, registration, or certification requirements on electrical contractors, electricians, or electrical inspectors shall not apply to electrical contractors, electricians, or electrical inspectors who are licensed, registered, or certified by the department under this subchapter.

101.861(2)(b) (b) A municipality that had an ordinance in existence on March 19, 2008, for licensing, registering, or certifying electrical contractors, electricians, or electrical inspectors may issue and renew licenses, registrations, or certifications but such licenses, registrations, and certifications are not valid after March 31, 2014.

101.861 History History: 2007 a. 63; 2013 a. 4.

101.862 101.862 License or registration required.

101.862(1) (1) No person may engage in the business of installing, repairing, or maintaining electrical wiring unless the person is licensed as an electrical contractor by the department.

101.862(2) (2) No person may install, repair, or maintain electrical wiring unless the person is licensed as an electrician by the department or unless the person is enrolled as a registered electrician by the department.

101.862(3) (3) No person who is not a master electrician may install, repair, or maintain electrical wiring unless a master electrician is at all times responsible for the person’s work.

101.862(4) (4) Subsections (1) to (3) do not apply to any of the following:

101.862(4)(a) (a) A residential property owner who installs, repairs, or maintains electrical wiring on premises that the property owner owns and occupies as a residence, unless a license or registration issued by the department is required by local ordinance.

101.862(4)(am) (am) A person engaged in installing electrical wiring within an existing industrial facility or existing manufacturing facility owned or leased by the person or by an entity for which the person is an agent or employee.

101.862(4)(b) (b) A person engaged in maintaining or repairing electrical wiring within an existing facility or on premises owned or leased by the person or by an entity for which the person is an agent or employee.

101.862(4)(c) (c) A person engaged in installing, repairing, or maintaining electrical wiring, apparatus, or equipment for elevators and escalators.

101.862(4)(d) (d) A person engaged in installing, repairing, or maintaining equipment or systems that operate at 100 volts or less.

101.862(4)(e) (e) A person engaged in installing, repairing, or maintaining an electronic system designed to monitor a premises for the presence of an emergency, to issue an alarm for an emergency, or to detect and summon aid for an emergency.

101.862(4)(f) (f) A person engaged in installing, repairing, or maintaining electrical wiring of facilities that support telecommunications service, as defined in s. 182.017 (1g) (cq), that is provided by a telecommunications provider, as defined in s. 196.01 (8p).

101.862(4)(g) (g) A person engaged in installing, repairing, or maintaining manufactured equipment or utilization equipment, including ballasts, electric signs and luminaires, or any other manufactured system that is designed to provide a function that is not primarily electrical in nature if the installation, repair, or maintenance only involves the modification or installation of conductors that are considered part of the equipment or system under this paragraph. For purposes of this paragraph, any conductor going from the disconnecting point or the nearest junction, pull, or device box to the manufactured equipment or utilization equipment or the manufactured system is considered part of the equipment or system.

101.862(4)(h) (h) A person engaged in installing electrical wiring for components of a manufactured home, as defined in s. 101.91 (2), or a manufactured building, as defined in s. 101.71 (6), while the manufactured home or the manufactured building is at or in the facility at which it is being manufactured.

101.862(4)(i) (i) A person employed by an electricity provider, or a subcontractor of an electricity provider, who installs, repairs, or maintains electrical wiring for equipment that is installed in the normal course of providing utility services by the electricity provider.

101.862(4)(j) (j) A person engaged in installing, repairing, or maintaining electrical wiring that provides lighting or signals for public thoroughfares and for public airports.

101.862(4)(k) (k) A person engaged in installing, repairing, or maintaining electric lines on the utility side of substations and other distribution facilities owned or operated by customers or members of electricity providers.

101.862(4)(L) (L) A person employed by an electricity provider, or a subcontractor of an electricity provider, who installs, repairs, or maintains primary voltage electric facilities that are owned by the electricity provider’s customers or members and that operate at greater than 600 volts.

101.862(4)(m) (m) A person employed by an electricity provider, or a subcontractor of an electricity provider, who restores service during an emergency.

101.862(4)(n) (n) A person who installs a replacement for an existing switch or outlet if the replacement switch or outlet has a rating of not more than 20 amperes.

101.862(4)(p) (p) A person engaged in installing, repairing, or maintaining a private on-site wastewater treatment system, as defined in s. 145.01 (12), if the activity only involves installing or modifying a conductor going from the system’s junction, pull, or device box to the nearest disconnecting point and the conductor is buried with the system.

101.862(4)(q) (q) A person engaged in installing, repairing, or maintaining a pump for a well if the activity only involves installing or modifying a conductor going from the pump’s junction, pull, or device box to the nearest disconnecting point and the conductor is buried with the pump.

101.862(5) (5) 

101.862(5)(a) (a) Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply to a person who was born on or before January 1, 1956, and who has at least 15 years of experience in installing, repairing, or maintaining electrical wiring, subject to par. (b).

101.862(5)(b) (b) The department shall promulgate rules establishing criteria and procedures for issuing licenses to electricians who were born on or before January 1, 1956, and who have at least 15 years of experience in installing, repairing, or maintaining electrical wiring. Upon promulgation of these rules, an electrician who meets these age and experience requirements may not install, repair, or maintain electrical wiring unless he or she is licensed in compliance with these rules or is otherwise licensed or registered as an electrician under this subchapter.

101.862(6) (6) 

101.862(6)(a) (a) Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply to a person who installs electrical wiring, without receiving payment or other consideration, in a new one-family or 2-family dwelling that is being constructed by a qualified nonprofit corporation.

101.862(6)(b) (b) For purposes of par. (a), a qualified nonprofit corporation is one that meets all of the following conditions:

101.862(6)(b)1. 1. The corporation is described in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

101.862(6)(b)2. 2. The corporation has as its purpose the construction and rehabilitation of residential dwellings in a specific community or area.

101.862 History History: 2007 a. 63; 2013 a. 4 s. 2; 2013 a. 125, 143; 2015 a. 55.

101.868 101.868 Requirements for master electricians.

101.868(1) (1) An applicant for licensure as a master electrician shall have at least one of the following qualifications:

101.868(1)(a) (a) A bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in electrical engineering, followed by passage of an examination required by the department.

101.868(1)(b) (b) Twelve months of experience in installing, repairing, and maintaining electrical wiring while being licensed as a journeyman electrician, followed by passage of an examination required by the department.

101.868(1)(c) (c) Experience in installing, repairing, and maintaining electrical wiring during a period of not less than 60 months, with at least 10,000 hours of experience over that period, followed by passage of an examination required by the department.

101.868(2) (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any residential master electrician or to any other type of master electrician that may be recognized under s. 101.84 (5). The qualifying criteria required for licensing residential master electricians and any other such type of master electrician shall be established by the department by rule.

101.868 History History: 2013 a. 143.

101.87 101.87 Requirements for journeyman electricians.

101.87(1) (1) An applicant for licensure as a journeyman electrician shall have at least one of the following qualifications:

101.87(1)(a) (a) Completion of a construction electrician apprenticeship program in installing, repairing, and maintaining electrical wiring that has a duration of at least 3 years and that is approved by the U.S. department of labor or by the department of workforce development, followed by passage of an examination required by the department.

101.87(1)(b) (b) Experience in installing, repairing, and maintaining electrical wiring during a period of not less than 48 months, with at least 8,000 hours of experience over that period, followed by passage of an examination required by the department.

101.87(2m) (2m) For purposes of meeting the requirement relating to experience under sub. (1) (b), a degree or diploma from a 2-year program in a school of electrical engineering or from a 2-year program in an accredited technical or vocational school in an electrical-related program shall be accepted by the department as being equivalent to 12 months and 2,000 hours of experience.

101.87(3m) (3m) Subsection (1) does not apply to any residential or industrial journeyman electricians or to any other type of journeyman electrician that may be recognized under s. 101.84 (5). The qualifying criteria required for licensing residential and industrial journeyman electricians and any other such type of journeyman electrician shall be established by the department by rule.

101.87 History History: 1983 a. 164; 1989 a. 348; 1993 a. 112; 2007 a. 63; 2013 a. 143.

101.87 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. SPS 305.40, 305.41, 305.43, 305.44, and 305.45, Wis. adm. code.

101.874 101.874 Reciprocity.

101.874(1) (1) In this section, “credential” means a registration, license, certification, or other approval to perform or inspect electrical work.

101.874(2) (2) The department may enter into a reciprocal agreement with another state under which credentials issued to electricians, electrical apprentices, electrical contractors, and electrical inspectors by either state are recognized as comparable credentials by the other state. Under the agreement, the department may recognize credentials from the other state only if the education, experience, and examination requirements in the other state are at least equivalent to the education, experience, and examination requirements for being issued credentials under this subchapter.

101.874(3) (3) Upon entering into an agreement under this section, the department may issue a credential only if all of the following apply:

101.874(3)(a) (a) The individual seeking the credential submits an application and pays the applicable fee established under s. 101.82 (4).

101.874(3)(b) (b) The individual holds a valid comparable credential issued by the other state.

101.874 History History: 2013 a. 143.

101.875 101.875 Inspections.

101.875(1) (1) All inspections of electrical wiring shall be performed by inspectors certified by the department.

101.875(2) (2) Any rule promulgated under s. 101.82 (2m) may not require the inspection of any of the installation, repair, or maintenance of electrical wiring within an existing industrial facility or an existing manufacturing facility unless the plan for the installation, repair, or maintenance is required to be examined under s. 101.12 (2) by the department or by a municipality that has its examinations accepted by the department under s. 101.12 (3) (a), (am), or (b).

101.875 History History: 2013 a. 143 ss. 25 to 27.

101.875 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. SPS 305.62, Wis. adm. code.

101.88 101.88 Compliance and penalties.

101.88(1) (1) Every person installing, repairing, or maintaining electrical wiring shall use materials, methods, and equipment that are in conformance with the rules promulgated by the department under this subchapter.

101.88(3) (3) Any person who violates this subchapter or any rule promulgated under this subchapter shall forfeit to the state not less than $25 nor more than $500 for each violation. Each day of violation constitutes a separate offense.

101.88 History History: 1979 c. 309; 1983 a. 164; 2007 a. 63; 2013 a. 143.

subch. V of ch. 101 SUBCHAPTER V

MANUFACTURED HOMES AND MOBILE HOMES

101.91 101.91 Definitions. In this subchapter:

101.91(1g) (1g) “Delivery date” means the date on which a manufactured home is physically delivered to the site chosen by the owner of the manufactured home.

101.91(1i) (1i) “Installation standards” means specifications for the proper installation of manufactured homes at their place of occupancy to ensure proper siting, the joining of all sections of the manufactured home, connection to existing utility services and the installation of stabilization, support, or anchoring systems.

101.91(1j) (1j) “Installer” means a person who is in the business of installing new manufactured homes.

101.91(1m) (1m) “License period” means the period during which a license issued under s. 101.951 or 101.952 is effective, as established by the department under s. 101.951 (2) (b) 1. or 101.952 (2) (b) 1.

101.91(1t) (1t) “Licensed installer” means an installer licensed under s. 101.96 (2) (b).

101.91(1v) (1v) “Licensed manufacturer” means a manufactured home manufacturer licensed under s. 101.95.

101.91(2) (2) “Manufactured home” means any of the following:

101.91(2)(am) (am) A structure that is designed to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent foundation and that is certified by the federal department of housing and urban development as complying with the standards established under 42 USC 5401 to 5425.

101.91(2)(c) (c) A mobile home, unless a mobile home is specifically excluded under the applicable statute.

101.91(3) (3) “Manufactured home dealer” means a person who, for a commission or other thing of value, sells, exchanges, buys or rents, or offers or attempts to negotiate a sale or exchange of an interest in, manufactured homes or who is engaged wholly or partially in the business of selling manufactured homes, whether or not the manufactured homes are owned by the person, but does not include:

101.91(3)(a) (a) A receiver, trustee, personal representative, guardian, or other person appointed by or acting under the judgment or order of any court.

101.91(3)(b) (b) Any public officer while performing that officer’s official duty.

101.91(3)(c) (c) Any employee of a person enumerated in par. (a) or (b).

101.91(3)(d) (d) Any lender, as defined in s. 421.301 (22).

101.91(3)(e) (e) A person transferring a manufactured home used for that person’s personal, family or household purposes, if the transfer is an occasional sale and is not part of the business of the transferor.

101.91(4) (4) “Manufactured home owner” means any person who purchases, or leases from another, a manufactured home primarily for use for personal, family or household purposes.

101.91(5m) (5m) “Manufactured home community” means any plot or plots of ground upon which 3 or more manufactured homes that are occupied for dwelling or sleeping purposes are located. “Manufactured home community” does not include a farm where the occupants of the manufactured homes are the father, mother, son, daughter, brother or sister of the farm owner or operator or where the occupants of the manufactured homes work on the farm.

101.91(6m) (6m) “Manufactured home community contractor” means a person, other than a public utility, as defined in s. 196.01 (5) (a), who, under a contract with a manufactured home community operator, provides water or sewer service to a manufactured home community occupant or performs a service related to providing water or sewer service to a manufactured home community occupant.