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- As of July 1, 2009, no person or entity may engage or offer to engage in construction business in Wisconsin unless they hold a Building Contractor Registration issued by the Safety and buildings Division of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce. Emergency rules were effective March 2, 2009. Read announcement, with note of exceptions, PDF Who needs Building Contractor Registration? PDF list of types of work that require the BCR. Who doesn't need Building Contractor Registration? People who hold these S&B credentials do not need to obtain the BCR for any reason. There are construction contractors and employees which don't need the Building Contractor Registration - GO Here is the code language defining construction business: "Construction business" means a trade that installs, alters or repairs any building element, component, material or device that is regulated under the commercial building code, chs. Comm 60 to 66, the uniform dwelling code, chs. Comm 20 to 25, the electrical code, ch. Comm 16, the plumbing code, chs. Comm 81 to 87, or the public swimming pools and water attractions code, ch. Comm 90. The term does not include the delivery of building supplies or materials, or the manufacture of a building product not on the building site."
Contact S&B Staff S&B Credential Unit Processing of applications for registration as a Building Contractor are done by S&B Credentialing Unit staff in the Madison office, 201 West Washington Ave., fourth floor. 608-261-8467. Email questions about Building Contractor Registration to comsbbuildingcontractor@wi.gov. Email Technical Construction Questions to Specific Programs - Building and Plumbings Products: productech@commerce.state.wi.us - Boilers and Pressure Vessels: sbboilertech@commerce.state.wi.us - Commercial Buildings, Comm 60-66: bldgtech@commerce.state.wi.us - Credentials (licenses, certifications, registrations): madisoncred@commerce.state.wi.us - Electrical: electrictech@commerce.state.wi.us - Elevators: elevatortech@commerce.state.wi.us - Fire Protection Systems: fireprotech@commerce.state.wi.us - Manufactured / Mobile Homes: manf-homes@commerce.state.wi.us - Material Orders: materialorders@commerce.state.wi.us - One- and Two-Family Dwellings: udctech@commerce.state.wi.us - Permits to Operate, Invoices: comsbinspectionsupport@wi.gov - Plumbing, Cross Connection: plbgtech@commerce.state.wi.us - Product Evaluations (plumbing, POWTS): comsbproducttech@wi.gov - Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment: powtstech@commerce.state.wi.us - Public Sector Safety: healthsafetech@commerce.state.wi.us - Public Swimming Pools: pooltech@commerce.state.wi.us - Rental Weatherization: rwptech@commerce.state.wi.us Fax Technical Construction Questions to Programs - Building Products Evaluation: 608-283-7407 - Commercial Buildings: 608-283-7402 - Credentialing: 608-283-7400 - Electrical: 608-283-7418 - Elevator: 608-283-7411 - Fire Protection: 608-283-7405 - Manufactured/Mobile Homes: 608-267-0592 - Plumbing: 608-283-7403 - Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment: 608-283-7404 - Public Sector Safety: 608-283-7419 - Public Swimming Pools: 608-283-7406 - Rental Weatherization: 608-283-7413 - Uniform Dwelling Code: 608-283-7409 Links to other government agencies County Web Sites City, Town, Village Web Sites State Agencies Web Sites Links to Other Agencies' Information of Interest to Contractors What is the Building Contractor Registration program? Building Contractor Registration is to identify building contractor businesses working in Wisconsin and to provide more information to contractors. Identifying contractor businesses helps local and state agencies have a better chance making sure the businesses are following the same rules in terms of employees, taxes, permits, workers compensation, and unemployment insurance. BCR works against unfair competition. Providing more information on codes, code changes, employer regulations, education, and business responsibilities helps contractors provide better service and helps consumers get better results. Contractors often complain that no one is telling them about what's going on and the BCR is a way to provide contractors with more info. **** Building Contractor Registration has multiple facets - The registration will aid the department's communication, education and oversight, efforts for businesses which create or alter buildings in ways that limit the safety and health risks for the citizens of Wisconsin. In setting up the relationship with contracting businesses, S&B will more efficiently and effectively inform contractors about safety regulations and consumer protection regulations. Lack of information about codes and government processes is one of the most common complaints by contractors. - PDF file ;Unfair business competition is another common problem for contractors. Contractor registration helps employees, employers, and government agencies work against "Misclassification of Workers." - The BCR will assist the Department of Commerce with carrying out statutory mandates. Commerce is charged with facilitating the establishment and retention of business enterprises in Wisconsin, and with seeking closer cooperation and coordination between units of state government, so that the economy of the state may continue to develop. The department also protects public health, safety, and welfare relative to design, construction, use and maintenance of public buildings and places of employment, public swimming pools, and sets statewide standards for the construction of one- and 2-family dwellings. The state Dept. of Commerce - The Bureau of Minority Business Development provides consultation and services to minority business owners, entrepreneurs, and resource organizations. - Three of four adjacent states have similar contractor systems. Iowa requires all individual contractors and contracting businesses to be registered. The prerequisites for registration include the demonstration of compliance with worker’s compensation insurance requirements and compliance with unemployment insurance requirements. Michigan requires licenses for persons and businesses that contract to build new homes or remodel homes. The license types are Residential Builder, and Maintenance and Alteration Contractor. The Maintenance and Alteration Contractor is restricted to perform only specific trades and services for which they are licensed. The fee is $225 for a three year license. Applicants for the license must complete 60 hours of approved education and pass an examination. Michigan does not have a licensing law regulating builders of commercial buildings. Minnesota requires certifications for persons and businesses that contract with property owners to construct or improve dwellings for one to four families, and where the person or business is involved with two or more "special building skills." The Residential Contractor and Remodeler licenses are annual licenses, with fees, of $260 to $360, based upon gross receipts. The applications for the licenses must include a qualifying person who must take the required examination and fulfill continuing education requirements. As of January 1, 2009, a Minnesota certification is required for building contractors where contractors must establish that they are independent contractors versus employees. The fee for a two year certification is $250. Illinois does not have any licensing of building contractors, except roofers. County Web sites || City/Town/Village Web sites || State Portal || Build Your Business Email this page's manager, Todd Taylor, ttaylor@commerce.state.wi.us or 608-267-3606 The Department of Commerce Safety and Buildings Division is an equal opportunity service provider and employer. If you need assistance to access services or need material in an alternate format, please contact us, 608-266-3151, TDD Relay dial 711 in Wisconsin or 800-947-3529, or ttaylor@commerce.state.wi.us |
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