POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTOR OF THE BUILDING INSPECTION DIVISION.
Madison General Ordinances § 29.18
in effect29.18 - POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTOR OF THE BUILDING INSPECTION DIVISION.
(1) The Building Inspection Division of the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development shall be under the supervision of the Director of the Building Inspection Division or such other person designated by the Director of the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development who shall be held to be the same officer as is referred to in the Statutes as Building Inspector, and who shall have the same powers and duties. The Director of the Building Inspection Division shall have, except where otherwise provided herein, the general management and control of all matters pertaining to the Building Inspection Division, and shall enforce all state laws, City ordinances and lawful orders relating to the construction, alteration, repair, removal, safety and use of buildings and permanent building equipment. They shall have full power to pass upon any question arising under the provision of building, plumbing and electrical codes and zoning ordinances, subject to conditions contained herein. They shall be responsible for the issuances of all permits and the inspection of all work done under the provisions of the plumbing, electrical and building codes of the City and the safety inspection of all premises, including structures and appurtenances located thereon, shall see to it that the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Madison is enforced and complied with, and direct the work of the Smoke and Heating Plant Inspector and the City Weights and Measures Officials.
(2) The Director of the Building Inspection Division shall keep a record of all applications for building permits in a book for such purpose. They shall keep a record showing the number, description and size of all new buildings erected, indicating the kind of materials used and the cost of each building, and the aggregate cost of all buildings of the various classes. They shall keep a record, which shall not be open to the public, at their direction, of all inspections made, and of all removals and condemnations of buildings. They shall keep a record of all fees collected by them, showing the date of their receipt and delivery to the City Treasurer. They shall make a monthly report and an annual report to the Mayor of the above matters.
(3) The inspectors provided for in this Ordinance shall have the power and authority at all reasonable times, for any proper purpose, to enter upon any public or private premises and make inspection thereof, and to require the production of the permit for any building, electrical or plumbing work, or to require license therefore. Any person interfering with or refusing entrance to the said inspector while in the performance of their prescribed duties shall be punished as provided in Section 29.20 of this chapter.
(4) Director of the Building Inspection Division to Authorize Repairs.
(a) Upon the discovery of a lack of proper plumbing, heating or electrical service in any income property, or that a cooking stove or refrigerator furnished for the use of tenants as part of a rental agreement is not functioning, the Director of the Building Inspection Division or designee, shall notify the operator, manager or owner of the property of such lack of service. The Director of the Building Inspection Division or their designee shall first attempt telephonic notification, and then, if necessary, shall make notification by Certified or Registered Mail, Return Receipt Requested.
(b) Seventy-two (72) hours after notification and after an inspection showing that any lack of such service still exists, the Director of the Building Inspection Division shall authorize the immediate repair or reconnection of any such service by private contractor. The cost of any such repair or reconnection shall be paid by the owner or shall be placed, with interest, upon the tax bill of such owner. (Am. by ORD-23-00085, 10-2-23)
(c) The Purchasing Agent shall obtain a minimum of three (3) bids from private contractors for the performance of the work described in Subsection (b) above. The work shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder.
(5) Any person who shall fail or neglect to comply with any lawful order of the Director of the Building Inspection Division issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter may be assessed seventy-five dollars ($75) per compliance inspection, as defined in Section 27.03(2), MGO, that does not result in compliance with the order. A thirty-five dollar ($35) charge may be assessed when an inspector fails to gain entry to carry out a compliance inspection.
(6) The Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development shall keep an accurate account of all unpaid inspection fees incurred for compliance inspection services rendered and report the same to the Finance Director, who shall annually prepare a statement of these special charges at each lot or parcel of land and report the same to the City Clerk, and the amount therein charged to each lot or parcel of land shall be by said Clerk entered in the tax roll as a special charge against said lot or parcel of land, and the same shall be collected in all respects like other special charges upon real estate as provided in Wis. Stat. § 66.0627.
(Rpld. and Recreated by ORD-21-00024, 3-26-21)
Source: City of Madison, Wisconsin, Madison General Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wi/madison/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORMAWIVOIICH20--31_CH29BUCO_GEADPR_29.18PODUDIBUINDIFetched: 11/1/2026