Dwelling Contractor Certification on Wisconsin's Horizon

Starting January 1, 2008, dwelling contractors must hold the Dwelling Contractor Financial Responsibility Certification in order to take out building permits for one- and two-family homes.

Also beginning January 1, 2008, that contractor also must hold or employ someone holding a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Certification, and the local official issuing the permit will be required to check for both certifications. A property owner will still be able to obtain a building permit for his/her residence without holding either certification.
These dwelling contractor certification requirements do not apply to plumbing, electrical, or heating work, or to work on commercial or multi-family dwellings.

Contractors holding a current Dwelling Contractor Financial Responsibility Certification (through mid-April 2006) will be able to receive a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Certification because they will be "grandfathered in." Commerce notified those contractors by letter in August 2007.

In September, Commerce will begin processing grandfathered (and new) Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Certification applications, and will post on the Internet lists of contractors holding Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Certifications, www.commerce.wi.gov/SB/SB-CredList.html.

Contractors that obtained a new Dwelling Contractor Financial Responsibility Certification after mid-April, 2006, must hold a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Certification or employ someone holding a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Certification, in order to obtain a one- or two-family dwelling building permit after January 1, 2008.

A contractor not "grandfathered-in" and wishing to obtain a new Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Certification must pass an initial contractor training class approved by the Safety and Buildings Division. People who now hold a Dwelling Contractor Financial Responsibility Certification and are not eligible to be "grandfathered-in" will receive a letter from Commerce informing them of their need to take an initial training class.

Approved Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Certification courses may be organized by various entities and may charge varying fees for attendance. Criteria for those training classes will be decided upon and will be announced online as soon as possible at www.commerce.wi.gov/SB/SB-DivContinuingEducation.html.

After taking the initial training class, the contractor must apply to the Safety and Buildings Division to obtain a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Certification.

In the future, anyone renewing any Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Certification will need to attend 12 approved continuing education hours during the two-year education cycle that parallels the two-year term of the certification.

For more information regarding this program please contact Larry Swaziek at 608-267-7701.

-- Larry Swaziek