Building and plumbing plan review and variances by cities, villages, towns, and counties for public buildings and places of employment and affecting related rules of the Department of Safety and Professional Services

Current statutory law also allows first class cities and certified second class cities to grant variances from commercial building code requirements. For other cities, as well as towns, villages, and counties, current statutory law allows DSPS to certify local governments to approve plans and grant variances, but only for construction of buildings with volumes smaller than 50,000 cubic feet and alterations to buildings with volumes smaller than 100,000 cubic feet. In addition, DSPS has promulgated rules that allow DSPS to appoint local governments as agents with authority to approve plans for construction and alteration of larger buildings. The bill repeals those rules and gives DSPS statutory authority to make those appointments. The bill also includes requirements for local governments to apply to DSPS for the appointments, which are based on the rules repealed by the bill. If DSPS appoints a local government to approve plans under the bill, the local government may also grant variances.

For plumbing, DSPS has promulgated rules that allow DSPS to appoint local governments to approve plans for certain installations in public buildings and places of employment. The bill gives DSPS statutory authority to appoint local governments to review plans for plumbing installations specified by DSPS.

The bill also requires DSPS to establish requirements for local governments to renew the certifications and appointments described above every five years. The requirements apply to construction, alteration, and plumbing plan review. If DSPS certified or appointed a local government before the bill's effective date, the process established by DSPS must specify deadlines for renewing the certification or appointment.