State Passes Home Construction Bill
Many Problems Attributed To Insufficient Inspections
POSTED: 10:16 a.m. CDT October 23, 2003
UPDATED: 9:02 a.m. CDT October 24, 2003
MADISON, Wis. -- The state Legislature passed a bill Thursday that expands building code inspection to all new homes.
News 3 told you about Steve and Donna Reed in southwest Wisconsin whose builder left them with an unfinished home and, the Reeds say, plenty of building code violations.
Their home was never inspected because their tiny village opted out of state building code enforcement.
Under the new bill that's no longer possible. It mandates building code inspections on all new homes, no matter where they're built.
Assembly Bill 347 and Senate Bill 168, "Wisconsin's Home Safety Act," requires that all new one- and two-family homes built in the state be inspected for compliance with the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, regardless of the size of the community in which the homes are built.
Under the old law, communities with populations of less than 2,500 could choose not to have new residential construction inspected.
"(That) put thousands of families at risk each year because the lack of inspections threatens property value, insurance rates, the environment and, most notably, safety," said Wisconsin Builders Association President Jack Sjostrom. ( Read More )
All you needed to build somebody a house is $40 and proof you have liability insurance, News 3 reported. Sometimes, you didn't even need that. Many serious -- and costly -- problems have been attributed to insufficient inspections. ( Read More )
In some cases, builders have left homes unfinished, increased building costs and left consumers with unsafe living conditions.
"(The lawl) would lead to about 10 to 20 visits on-site by building inspectors dealing with plumbing, electrical and construction itself ... at a cost of about $400," said Rep. Tom Hebl, D-Sun Prairie.
That average cost would be paid for by the builders through higher builder permits, Hebl told News 3.
Assembly Bill 347 (pdf)
Senate Bill 168 (pdf)
Assembly Bill 347 and Senate Bill 168, "Wisconsin's Home Safety Act," requires that all new one- and two-family homes built in the state be inspected for compliance with the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, regardless of the size of the community in which the homes are built.
Under the old law, communities with populations of less than 2,500 could choose not to have new residential construction inspected.
"(That) put thousands of families at risk each year because the lack of inspections threatens property value, insurance rates, the environment and, most notably, safety," said Wisconsin Builders Association President Jack Sjostrom. ( Read More )
All you needed to build somebody a house is $40 and proof you have liability insurance, News 3 reported. Sometimes, you didn't even need that. Many serious -- and costly -- problems have been attributed to insufficient inspections. ( Read More )
In some cases, builders have left homes unfinished, increased building costs and left consumers with unsafe living conditions.
"(The lawl) would lead to about 10 to 20 visits on-site by building inspectors dealing with plumbing, electrical and construction itself ... at a cost of about $400," said Rep. Tom Hebl, D-Sun Prairie.
That average cost would be paid for by the builders through higher builder permits, Hebl told News 3.
News 3's Linda Eggert's I-Team Reports:
Contact I-Team Reporter Linda Eggert
- September 20, 2003: I-Team: Volunteers Help Fix Builder's Mess
- June 5, 2003: I-Team: Construction Trouble Follow-Up, Part I
- May 27, 2003: I-Team: Construction Trouble Follow-Up, Part II
- February 19, 2003: Dreamhouse Disasters: Part III
- February 12, 2003: I-Team: Dream House Disasters
- April 29, 2002: I-Team Investigation: Mold Is No Surprise
- March 21, 2002: Report Blames Construction Process For Mold
Copyright 2003 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.







