City of Kenosha, Wisconsin : CITY DEPARTMENTS : CITY CLERK-TREASURER : GUIDE TO LICENSES & PERMITS

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CITY DEPARTMENTS : CITY CLERK-TREASURER : GUIDE TO LICENSES & PERMITS

Neighborhood Services
Guide to Licenses, Permits & Applications

Page 36


ANTENNA/LOW VOLTAGE Note: The following permits relate to Additions, Alterations, and Building of single-family and two-family property
•	Purpose of Permit
	To erect a low voltage antenna (Zoning Ordinances, Chapter 9).
•	Who May Apply?
	Contractor/owner.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	1 year.
•	Important Information.
	Monitored through inspections by this department.

CANOPY/AWNING
•	Application for Accessory Permit
•	Purpose of Permit
	To construct and/or erect a canopy or awning on a building (Zoning Ordinances, Chapter 9).
•	Who May Apply?
	Contractor/owner.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	Variable.
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans. Monitored through inspections by this department.

COMMERCIAL ADDITION
•	Purpose of Permit
	To construct a commercial addition (Zoning Ordinances, Chapter 9).
•	Who May Apply?
	General Contractor.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	2 years.
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans. Commercial additions may be subject to C.U.P. requirements.

COMMERCIAL ALTERATION
•	Purpose of Permit
	To renovate the interior of an existing commercial building (Zoning Ordinances, Chapter 9).
•	Who May Apply?
	General Contractor.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	2 years.
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans. Monitored and enforced through inspections by this department.

COMMERCIAL ELECTRIC
•	Purpose of Permit
	To perform commercial electric work.
•	Who May Apply?
	Licensed Electric Contractor.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	Variable.
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans. Monitored and enforced through inspections by this department.

COMMERCIAL NEW BUILDING
•	Purpose of Permit
	To construct a new commercial building (Zoning Ordinances, Chapter 9).
•	Who May Apply?
	General Contractor.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	2 years.
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans. Commercial new building construction may be subject to C.U.P requirements. Monitored and enforced through inspections by this department.

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Page 37


EROSION CONTROL
•	Purpose of Permit
	To prevent soil from contaminating natural waterways (City Code of General Ordinances, 9).
•	Who May Apply?
	Contractor/owner.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	Variable.
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans.

FENCE
•	Purpose of Permit
	To construct a fence (Zoning Ordinances, Chapter 9).
•	Who May Apply?
	Contractor/owner.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	Open
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans. Monitored and enforced through inspections by this department.

FOOTING / FOUNDATION
•	Purpose of Permit
	To construct a footing or foundation for a building (City Code of General Ordinances, 9.07).
•	Who May Apply?
	Anyone.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	Open
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans. Monitored and enforced through inspections by this department.

GARAGE
•	Purpose of Permit
	To construct a garage (Zoning Ordinances, Chapter 9).
•	Who May Apply?
	Contractor/owner.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	60 days (without starting).
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans. Monitored and enforced through inspections by this department.

HEATING, VENTILATING & AIR-CONDITIONING
•	Purpose of Permit
	To install heating, ventilating and air-conditioning equipment (City Code of General Ordinances, 9.17).
•	Who May Apply?
	Licensed Contractor.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	Variable.
•	Important Information.
	Requires permit application.

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Page 38


INSTITUTIONAL ADDITION
•	Purpose of Permit
	To construct an institutional addition (Zoning Ordinances, Chapter 9).
•	Who May Apply?
	Contractor/owner.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	2 years.
•	Important Information.
	Requires permit application Institutional addition may be subject to Conditional Use Permit requirements. Monitored and enforced through inspections by this department.

INSTITUTIONAL ALTERATION
•	Purpose of Permit
	To alter an existing institutional structure (City Code of General Ordinances, 9.07).
•	Who May Apply?
	Contractor/owner.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	Variable.
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans. Institutional addition may be subject to Conditional Use Permit requirements.

INSTITUTIONAL NEW BUILDING
•	Purpose of Permit
	To construct a new institutional structure (City Code of General Ordinances, 9.07).
•	Who May Apply?
	Contractor/owner.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	2 years.
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans. Institutional addition may be subject to Conditional Use Permit requirements.

MANUFACTURING ADDITION/ALTERATION/ NEW BUILDING
•	Purpose of Permit
	To construct a new manufacturing building or to alter or construct an addition to an existing building (City Code of General Ordinances, 9.07).
•	Who May Apply?
	Contractor/owner.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	2 years.
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans.

MOVING BUILDING
•	Purpose of Permit
	To move a building from one location to another (City Code of General Ordinances, 9.12)
•	Who May Apply?
	Appropriately bonded and insured contractor/owner.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	1 year.
•	Important Information.
	Requires route approval by City Forester and Public Works Administrator. Requires insurance by a liability insurer licensed by the State covering death or personal injury.

MULTI-FAMILY ALTERATION/ ADDITION
•	Purpose of Permit
	To alter or construct an addition for a multi-family dwelling (City Code of General Ordinances, 9.07).
•	Who May Apply?
	Contractor/owner.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	2 years.
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans. Subject to Conditional Use Permit requirements.

MULTI-FAMILY NEW BUILDING
•	Purpose of Permit
	To construct a multi-family new building (City Code of General Ordinances, 9.07).
•	Who Should Apply?
	General Contractor/owner
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	2 years.
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans. May be subject to Conditional Use Permit requirements.

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Page 39


OCCUPANCY
•	Purpose of Permit
	To legally occupy a building. (City Code of General Ordinances, 9.07).
•	Who May Apply?
	Owner/occupant/contractor.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	Open
•	Important Information.
	Requires pre-occupancy inspection. Requires name, address and phone number of person applying for occupancy permit.

PLUMBING
•	Purpose of Permit
	To engage in plumbing work in the City of Kenosha (City Code of General Ordinances, 9.15).
•	Who May Apply?
	Master Plumbers, Journeyman Plumber, Plumbing Apprentice, Registered Learner, Restricted Plumber Licensee, Utility contractor, Automatic Fire Sprinkler System Apprentice or Journeyman Automatic Fire Sprinkler, Owner/Dweller.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	Open
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans. Requires inspections by this dept.

PORCH/DECK/ WHEELCHAIR RAMP
•	Purpose of Permit
	To construct a porch, deck or wheelchair ramp (City Code of General Ordinances, 9.15).
•	Who May Apply?
	Contractor/owner.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	1 year.
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans. Requires inspection by this department.

POOL
•	Purpose of Permit
	To install a swimming pool (City Code of General Ordinances, 9.185).
•	Who May Apply?
	Licensed Electrical Contractors, to install a pool, hot tub or spa.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	Variable.
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans. Requires inspection by this department.

RAZE BUILDING
•	Who May Apply?
	Licensed Contractors, to raze any building or structure (City Code of General Ordinances, 9.11).
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	60 days.
•	Important Information.
	Requires written notice of the commencement of razing to this department at least two (2) full working days prior to commencement of razing. Requires asbestos abatement. Requires a certificate from a licensed master plumber that all sanitary sewer and water laterals have been disconnected and capped. Requires a certificate from a licensed electrician that electrical power has been disconnected. Requires foundation to be leveled to at least one (1) foot below grade and filled in with 95% non-combustible fill material. The top two feet of fill must be dirt, sand or gravel. Permit is issued on the condition that applicant provides a bond, approved by the City Attorney as to form, guaranteeing that the structure will be razed within the time limits and in the manner provided by City Ordinance.

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Page 40


RESIDENTIAL ADDITION
•	Purpose of Permit
	To alter or construct an addition to a residential building (City Code of General Ordinances, 9.07).
•	Who May Apply?
	Contractor/owner.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	1 year.
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans.

RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC
•	Purpose of Permit
	To perform electrical work on a residential building (City Code of General Ordinances, 9.16).
•	Who May Apply?
	Homeowners who have been issued a permit by the City Building Inspection Supervisor. Applicant may also be a licensed contractor.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	Variable.
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans.

RETAINING WALL
•	Purpose of Permit
	To construct or alter a retaining wall (City Code of General Ordinances, 9.16).
•	Who May Apply?
	Anyone.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	60 days.
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans. Retaining walls which exceed 24" in height above the adjacent finished grade are required to have a fence installed a minimum of 36" in height on top of the wall. Retaining walls exceeding 18" in height are required to have plans and specifications prepared and stamped by a Wisconsin Licensed Engineer, and submitted with permit application.

SHED
•	Purpose of Permit
	To construct a shed. (City Code of General Ordinances, 9.10)
•	Who May Apply?
	Contractor/owner.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	60 days.
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans. Sheds and other accessory buildings may be built with a continuous floating slab of concrete not less than 4" in thickness and anchored in accordance with City regulations.

SIGN
•	Purpose of Permit
	To erect advertising signage (City Code of General Ordinances, 9.07).
•	Who May Apply?
	Licensed Contractors.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	Open
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans. Monitored and enforced through inspections by this department. Property owners/occupants may apply for portable sign permits, non-illuminated sign permits and ground sign permits for signs not exceeding 32 square ft. in area. See page 41 for amendments to the City Sign Ordinance.

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Page 41


SINGLE-FAMILY OR TWO-FAMILY NEW BUILDING
•	Purpose of Permit
	To construct a single-family or two-family new building (City Code of General Ordinances, 9.025, 9.026).
•	Who May Apply?
	Contractor.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	2 years.
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans.

TENT/GAZEBO
•	Purpose of Permit
	To erect a tent or gazebo (City Code of General Ordinances, 9.10).
•	Who May Apply?
	Contractor/owner.
•	Is A Fee Required?
	Yes. See Neighborhood Services & Inspections for current amount.
•	Expiration Date
	30 days to 60 days.
•	Important Information.
	Requires construction plans. Monitored and enforced through inspections by this department.

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