145.06(1)(a)(a) No person may engage in or work at plumbing in the state unless licensed to do so by the department. A master plumber may work as a journeyman. No person may act as a plumbing apprentice or pipe layer unless registered with the department.
145.06(1)(b)
(b) No public utility shall engage in or perform plumbing unless exempted by
sub. (4).
145.06(2)
(2) No person shall install plumbing unless at all times a licensed master plumber is in charge, who shall be responsible for proper installation. Licenses shall be issued only to individuals and no license shall be issued to or in the name of any firm or corporation. No such license shall be transferable. It is unlawful for any licensed master plumber to allow the use of his or her license, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of obtaining local permits for others or to allow the use of his or her license by others to install plumbing work.
145.06(3)
(3) Each member or employee of a partnership or limited liability company or each officer or employee of a corporation engaging in the business of superintending plumbing installations shall be required to apply for and obtain a master plumber's license before engaging in the work of superintending plumbing installations.
145.06(3m)
(3m) No person may test the performance of cross-connection control devices when the test is required by the department unless he or she is registered with the department as a cross-connection control tester.
145.06(4)
(4) This section shall not apply to:
145.06(4)(a)
(a) Plumbing work done by a property owner in a one-family building owned and occupied by him or her as his or her home or farm building, except where such license is required by local ordinance.
145.06(4)(b)
(b) Plumbing from the private water supply pump to and including the initial pressure tank and connection to an existing water distribution system, when installed by persons licensed under
ch. 280.
145.06(4)(c)
(c) Installation of sewer and water service piping from the main to the property lot line, when installed by authorized municipal utility employees or sewer and water utility installers under a contract with a municipality.
145.06(4)(d)
(d) Making minor repairs to faucets, valves, pipes or appliances, repair or replacement of electrical or gas energy or other automatic valves or control devices or removing of stoppages in waste or drainage pipes.
145.06(4)(e)
(e) Installation of sewer and water mains, when installed by sewer and water utility contractors and their employees.
145.06(4)(f)
(f) Installation, repair or replacement of water service piping, from the property line to the meter, including meter installation, to service any building or structure or proposed building or structure when such installation, repair or replacement is accomplished by employees of a public municipal water utility, providing such utility regularly has engaged in such installation, repair or replacement for at least 5 years prior to January 1, 1964.
145.07
145.07
Licenses and registration; examinations. 145.07(2)(2) Application for a master or journeyman plumber's examination, temporary permit or license shall be made to the department with fees. Unless the applicant is entitled to a renewal of license, a license shall be issued only after the applicant passes a satisfactory examination showing fitness. No such license or permit shall be transferable.
145.07(3)
(3) An applicant for examination for licensure as a master plumber shall submit evidence satisfactory to the department as follows:
145.07(3)(a)
(a) A specific record of not less than 1,000 hours per year experience for 3 or more consecutive years as a licensed journeyman plumber in this state; or
145.07(3)(b)
(b) Graduation in engineering from a school or college approved by the department.
145.07(4)
(4) An applicant for examination for licensure as a journeyman plumber shall submit evidence satisfactory to the department that he or she has completed a plumbing apprenticeship under
s. 106.025.
145.07(5)
(5) Any resident who has been actively engaged in this state in a limited type of plumbing installation work for a period of not less than 1,000 hours per year for 2 or more consecutive years as a licensed journeyman plumber (restricted) may be examined for licensure as a master plumber (restricted).
145.07(6)
(6) Applicants for examination for licensure as a journeyman plumber (restricted) shall have completed one continuous year of work experience consisting of not less than 1,000 hours per year and give evidence of completion of shop training and related instruction as the department by rule requires.
145.07(7)(a)(a) A person shall be registered as a registered learner with the department without examination or training prequalifications and shall not be required to be indentured under
ch. 106.
145.07(9)
(9) Master plumbers, journeyman plumbers and apprentices are not subject to the restrictions under
s. 145.14.
145.07(10)
(10) An application for a utility contractor's license shall be made to the department with fees required by the department under
s. 145.08 (1) (o). The department shall issue a utility contractor's license to any person who is skilled in the planning, superintending and practical installation, within public or private premises, of piping which conveys sewage, rain water or other liquid wastes to a legal point of disposal and who is skilled in the design, planning, superintending and practical installation of water service piping from the street main to the immediate inside building perimeter.
145.07(11)
(11) An application for registration as a pipelayer shall be made to the department with the fees required by the department under
s. 145.08 (1) (q). The department shall approve the registration of any person as a pipelayer if the person is employed by a utility contractor and if the person is engaged in the practical installation, within public or private premises, of piping which conveys sewage, rain water or other liquid wastes to a legal point of disposal or engages in the practical installation of water service piping from the street main to the immediate inside building perimeter.
145.07(12)
(12) An applicant for registration as a cross-connection control tester shall submit an application and registration fee to the department as prescribed by the rules promulgated under
s. 145.02 (4) (b).
145.08
145.08
Fees; expiration of license; registration. 145.08(1)(1) The department shall fix, by rule, the amount of the fees for the examinations, licenses and registrations specified in this section. The fees specified in this section are not returnable and may not exceed the amounts stated in this section as follows:
145.08(1)(a)
(a) For master plumber's examination, $50. For each subsequent examination, $30.
145.08(1)(b)
(b) For master plumber's license, $250, and $250 for each renewal of the 2-year license if application is made prior to the date of expiration; after that date an additional fee of $20.
145.08(1)(c)
(c) For journeyman plumber's examination, $30. For each subsequent examination, $20.
145.08(1)(d)
(d) For journeyman plumber's license, $90, and $90 for each renewal of the 2-year license if application is made prior to the date of expiration; after that date an additional fee of $10.
145.08(1)(e)
(e) For temporary permit pending examination and issuance of license for master plumber, $400; for journeyman $150 and which shall also cover the examination fee prescribed and the license fee for the 2-year period in which issued.
145.08(1)(f)
(f) For master plumber's (restricted) examination, $50. For each subsequent examination, $30.
145.08(1)(g)
(g) For master plumber's license (restricted), $250, and $250 for each renewal of the 2-year license if application is made prior to the date of expiration; after that date an additional fee of $20.
145.08(1)(h)
(h) For journeyman plumber's (restricted) examination, $30. For each subsequent examination, $20.
145.08(1)(i)
(i) For journeyman plumber's license (restricted), $90, and $90 for each renewal of the 2-year license if application is made prior to the date of expiration; after that date an additional fee of $10.
145.08(1)(k)
(k) For an automatic fire sprinkler contractor's examination, $100.
145.08(1)(L)
(L) For an automatic fire sprinkler contractor's license, $1,000, and $1,000 for each renewal of the 2-year license if application is made prior to the date of expiration; after that date an additional fee of $25.
145.08(1)(Lm)
(Lm) For an automatic fire sprinkler - maintenance only registration, $200, and $200 for each renewal of the 2-year registration if application is made prior to the date of expiration; after that date an additional fee of $25.
145.08(1)(m)
(m) For a journeyman automatic fire sprinkler fitter's examination, $20 and $20 for each subsequent examination.
145.08(1)(n)
(n) For a journeyman automatic fire sprinkler fitter's license, $90, and $90 for each renewal of the 2-year license if application is made prior to the date of expiration; after that date an additional fee of $10.
145.08(1)(nm)
(nm) For an automatic fire sprinkler fitter - maintenance only registration certificate, $30, and $30 for each renewal of the 2-year registration if application is made prior to the date of expiration; after that date an additional fee of $10.
145.08(1)(o)
(o) For utility contractor's license, $250, and $250 for each renewal of the 2-year license if application is made prior to the date of expiration; after that date an additional fee of $10.
145.08(1)(p)
(p) For a plumbing supervisor employed by the department in accord with
s. 145.02 (3) (a), no cost for the appropriate 2-year license for which the plumbing supervisor has previously qualified.
145.08(1)(q)
(q) For a pipelayer's registration, $90 at the time of registration and $90 for each subsequent 2-year period of registration.
145.08(1m)
(1m) An applicant shall pay the initial license fee under
sub. (1) immediately upon receiving notice from the department that the applicant has passed an examination. If an applicant fails to pay the license fee within 30 days after receiving such notice, the department may not issue a license and the applicant shall again appear for examination and pay the examination fee.
145.08(2)
(2) No license or registration may be issued for longer than 2 years. Any license or registration may be renewed upon application made prior to the date of expiration. The department may renew licenses or registrations upon application made after the date of expiration if it is satisfied that the applicant has good cause for not applying for renewal prior to the date of expiration and upon payment of the renewal and additional fees prescribed.
145.08(3)
(3) To establish a record of beginning an apprenticeship, as a plumber, as an automatic fire sprinkler system apprentice, or as a plumber learner (restricted), every plumbing and automatic fire sprinkler system apprentice and every plumbing learner (restricted) shall within 30 days after beginning an apprenticeship or learnership register with the department. A fee of $15 shall be paid at the time of registration and before January 1 of each subsequent calendar year during which the apprentice is engaged in the apprenticeship or learnership.
145.09
145.09
State comity. Any person may be accepted for examination for the appropriate classification of license without submitting evidence required under
s. 145.07, if:
145.09(1)
(1) The person holds a current license under the laws of any other state, or under the ordinances of any city, town or village, having license provisions governing plumbers that the department determines are equivalent to the requirements of this chapter; or
145.09(2)
(2) The person has practical experience in plumbing in another state that the department determines is equivalent to the experience required under this chapter.
145.09 History
History: 1981 c. 60.
145.10
145.10
Investigations, hearings; suspension, revocation. 145.10(1)(1) The department may make investigations and conduct hearings and may, on its own or upon complaint in writing duly signed and verified by the complainant, and after providing not less than 10 days' notice to the licensee, suspend any master or journeyman plumber's license, cross-connection control tester's registration, utility contractor's license or temporary permit if it has reason to believe, and may revoke such license, registration or permit in the manner provided under this section if it finds, that the holder of such license, registration or permit has:
145.10(1)(a)
(a) Made a material misstatement in the application for a license or registration or renewal thereof or for a temporary permit;
145.10(1)(am)
(am) Committed gross negligence or misconduct or is incompetent in the practice covered by the person's license, registration or permit;
145.10(1)(b)
(b) Failed to correct an installation for which he or she is responsible, at his or her own expense, within 30 days following notification by the department of a violation of any rule adopted under this chapter; or
145.10(2)
(2) A copy of the complaint with notice of the suspension of license, registration or permit shall be served on the person complained against, and the person's answer to the complaint shall be filed with the department and the complainant within 10 days after service. The department shall thereupon set the matter for hearing as promptly as possible and within 30 days after the date of filing the complaint. Either party may appear at the hearing in person or by attorney or agent. The department shall make its findings and determination within 90 days after the date that the hearing is concluded and send a copy to each interested party.
145.10(3)
(3) No order revoking a license, registration or permit shall be made until after a public hearing to be held before the department at such place as the department designates. At least 10 days prior to the hearing the department shall send written notice of the time and place of the hearing to the licensee or permittee and to the person's attorney or agent of record by mailing the notice to the last-known address of such persons. The testimony presented and proceedings had at the hearing shall be recorded and preserved as the records of the department. The department shall as soon thereafter as possible make its findings and determination and send a copy to each interested party. One year after the date of revocation, application may be made for a new license or registration.
145.11
145.11
Advertising restrictions. 145.11(1)
(1) No person offering plumbing services may do any of the following, unless the person is a licensed master plumber or employs a licensed master plumber:
145.11(1)(a)
(a) Advertise as a plumbing contractor, master plumber or plumber.
145.11(1)(b)
(b) Append his or her name to, or in connection with, the title "plumbing contractor", "master plumber" or "plumber".
145.11(1)(c)
(c) Append his or her name to any other title or words that may tend to represent the person as a plumbing contractor, master plumber or plumber.
145.11(2)
(2) No person other than a licensed master plumber shall use or display the title "Master Plumber" or append his or her name to or in connection with such title or any other title or words which represent or may tend to represent him or her as a licensed master plumber. Every holder of a master plumber's license shall promptly notify the department of any change of his or her business address.
145.11(3)
(3) Any person who advertises as a master plumber through the use of printed material designed for public distribution shall include in the advertisement the number of his or her license as a master plumber. Any person who advertises as a plumbing contractor through the use of printed material designed for public distribution shall include in the advertisement the license number of the master plumber employed by the plumbing contractor.
145.11(4)
(4) Subsection (1) does not apply to any person who advertises as providing services for which no license is required under
s. 145.06, unless the person holds himself or herself out as providing services for which a license is required.
145.11 History
History: 1983 a. 125;
1993 a. 482.
145.12
145.12
Prohibitions and penalties. 145.12(1)
(1) Any person who engages in or follows the business or occupation of, or advertises or holds himself or herself out as or acts temporarily or otherwise as a master plumber, as an automatic fire sprinkler contractor or as a business establishment holding an automatic fire sprinkler - maintenance only registration certificate without first having secured the required license or certificate, or who otherwise violates any provisions of this chapter, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500 or imprisoned for 30 days or both. Each day such violation continues shall be a separate offense.
145.12(2)
(2) Any person violating this chapter or failing to obey a lawful order of the department, or a judgment or decree of a court in connection with this chapter, may be imprisoned for not more than 3 months or fined not more than $500.
145.12(3)
(3) Any master plumber who shall employ an apprentice on plumbing representing the apprentice to be a journeyman, or who shall charge for an apprentice a journeyman's wage, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $25, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 30 days. Each day of violation shall be a separate offense.
145.12(4)
(4) Any person who violates any order under
s. 145.02 (3) (f) or
145.20 (2) (f) or any rule or standard adopted under
s. 145.13 shall forfeit not less than $10 nor more than $1,000 for each violation. Each violation of an order under
s. 145.02 (3) (f) or
145.20 (2) (f) or a rule or standard under
s. 145.13 constitutes a separate offense and each day of continued violation is a separate offense.
145.13
145.13
Adoption of plumbing code. The state plumbing code and amendments to that code as adopted by the department have the effect of law in the form of standards statewide in application and shall apply to all types of buildings, private or public, rural or urban, including buildings owned by the state or any political subdivision thereof. The state plumbing code shall comply with
ch. 160. All plumbing installations shall so far as practicable be made to conform with such code.
145.135(1)(1)
Validity. In this section, "sanitary permit" means a permit issued by the department or any governmental unit responsible for the regulation of private sewage systems for the installation of a private sewage system. No person may install a private sewage system unless the owner of the property on which the private sewage system is to be installed holds a valid sanitary permit. A sanitary permit is valid for 2 years from the date of issue and renewable for similar periods thereafter. A governmental unit responsible for the regulation of private sewage systems may not charge more than one fee for a sanitary permit or the renewal of a sanitary permit in any 12-month period. A sanitary permit shall remain valid to the end of the established period, notwithstanding any change in the state plumbing code or in any private sewage system ordinance during that period. A sanitary permit may be transferred from the holder to a subsequent owner of the land, except that the subsequent owner must obtain a new copy of the sanitary permit from the issuing agent. The results of any percolation test or other test relating to the disposal of liquid domestic wastes into the soil shall be retained by the governmental unit responsible for the regulation of private sewage systems where the property is located. The governmental unit responsible for the regulation of private sewage systems shall make the test results available to an applicant for a sanitary permit and shall accept the test results as the basis for a sanitary permit application unless the soil at the test site is altered to the extent that a new soil test is necessary.
145.135(2)
(2) Notice. A sanitary permit shall include a notice displayed conspicuously and separately on the permit form, to inform the permit holder that:
145.135(2)(a)
(a) The purpose of the sanitary permit is to allow installation of the private sewage system described in the permit.
145.135(2)(b)
(b) The approval of the sanitary permit is based on regulations in force on the date of approval.
145.135(2)(c)
(c) The sanitary permit is valid and may be renewed for a specified period.
145.135(2)(d)
(d) Changed regulations will not impair the validity of a sanitary permit.
