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Building Contractor Registration FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions From the Safety and Buildings Division of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce - GO to the S&B Building Contractor Program Web page- What does the registration cost? The four-year registration costs $25 per year - $100. There will be a $15 fee for people using paper forms rather than using the automated online registration. - If I hold a contractor license from some municipality in Wisconsin, do I still need to have a state Building Contractor Registration? Yes, the registration is required everywhere in the state unless the contractor's business holds another of Commerce's construction business credentials. - If the business does more than one type of work, say both flooring and windows, does it need more than one registration? No, a business needs only one Building Contractor Registration. - Is a company or an individual required to have the BCR? The BCR is required of a contractor business, not of an employee of the business. A one-person business needs the BCR. - Does a plumbing business, including utility contractors, need a BCR? Yes, a plumbing business must have a BCR. Employees of a plumbing business do not need the BCR to do plumbing. (Employees do need the appropriate plumbing credential to do the work.) - If a neighbor or a volunteer helps out on a construction project, do they need the BCR? No, volunteers are not "engaging in a construction business" and do not need the BCR. Anyone other than an owner who pulls a building permit needs the BCR or another construction contractor credential. - Who is responsible for ensuring all subcontractors have the proper credentials? Under the permanent rule changes, a contractor has the responsibility of contracting with properly-credentialed subcontractors. - Does a crane company delivering trusses to a job site need the BCR? No, delivery of materials to a job site does not require the BCR. If the crane company doesn't pound any nails, the company is not doing construction. - Do sign contractors need the BCR? If the contractor is attaching the sign to a building, they are working under a building code and need the BCR. - Are there consequences of not obtaining the Building Contractor Registration? Yes. If an owner pulls a one- or two-family dwelling building permit, a contractor still needs the BCR to do work under five construction codes. Registration is needed to obtain commercial building permits unless the contractor holds one of the other construction contactor business credentials. Stop-work orders can be issued against the project. Fines can be levied by courts. Contractors may not subcontract with businesses who do not have the proper credential. Read the language of S&B's stop-work, stop-use authority. - How does the Building Contractor Registration (BCR) compare to the two Dwelling Contractor Certifications? Both the Dwelling Contractor (DC) and the Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (DCQ) Certifications are needed to obtain building permits for work on one- or two-family dwellings in Wisconsin. Dwelling Contractors (DC) (and other contractor business credentials issued by Commerce do not need the Building Contractor Registration. The two dwelling contractor certifications have prerequisites. Proof of insurance of bonding is required for the DC and a 12-hour initial education class for the DCQ. The DCQ has continuing education requirements for renewal. The BCR does not have con ed requirements. The DC has a one-year term and the DCQ has a two-year. The BCR is a four-year registration. - If a property owner obtains a one- or two-family building permit, are there possible unforeseen consequences? Yes, read the "Cautionary Statement To Owners Obtaining Building Permits" which is printed on dwelling building permits - "If the owner hires a contractor to perform work under the building permit and the contractor is not bonded or insured as required under s. 101.654(2)(a), the following consequences might occur: (a) The owner may be held liable for any bodily inquiry to or death of others or for any damage to the property of others that arises out of the work performed under the building permit or that is caused by any negligence by the contractor that occurs in connection with the work performed under the building permit. (b) The owner may not be able to collect from the contractor damages for any loss sustained by the owner because of a violation by the contractor of the one- and two family dwelling code or an ordinance enacted under sub. (1) (a), because of any bodily injury to or death of others or damage to the property of others that arises out of the work performed under the building permit or because of any bodily injury to or death of others or damage to the property of others that is caused by any negligence by the contractor that occurs in connection with the work performed under the building permit. - How does contractor registration effect material or equipment suppliers? Suppliers will have a tool to identify people who are asking to be treated as contractors. Registration implies intending to stay in business and maintain finances. - Must someone have the physical proof-of-registration card on their person? No. However, inspectors and other people may check online for whether the construction business has the proper credential and then follow up. An Excel spreadsheet is updated weekly with the names of construction contractor businesses. Their is also a service online to search for an individual or a group of credential holders. - Can a municipality use the state registration for their own purposes? Yes. If a municipality chooses to have an ordinance that requires the state registration for some local purpose, they may do so. - Does the registration effect insurance companies? Insurance companies may have a sales tool in identifying contractors and also have another piece for weighing potential liability. People who do not register are potentially less responsible. - Is the BCR required if an owner pulls the permit? If an owner pulls a Uniform Dwelling Code permit for a one- or two-family dwelling project, the owner does not need a credential. Any work done under the five codes mentioned in the rules by a subcontractor requires a construction contractor credential (see list). Currently, if the home was built before 1978 and is not covered under the UDC, then the owner can pull the permit and a contractor does not need the BCR. (Other credentials may be needed for some trades - HVAC, plumbing, or electrical work, for example.) For a commercial building project, the question of who may pull any building permit is governed by local regulations. If the contractor pulls a permit, the contractor business needs the BCR. Regardless of who pulls a commercial building permit, work done by contractor businesses (other than the owner or the owner's employees) on the project under the codes in the BCR rules requires the BCR. - Do people of the Amish faith or some similar religious perspective need to get the BCR, if required under the code? Yes, there is no exemption for such groups. - Do people with Utility Contractor licenses need the BCR, if covered under the code? Yes. Utility Contractor Licenses are issued to individuals, not to businesses. The BCR is to register the business. - If a company has multiple divisions, for example, plumbing, heating and cooling, does each division need the BCR? If the divisions function under the same Federal Employee Identification Number (FEIN), the divisions are considered one company. If a division has a different FEIN, then it is a separate company and needs a separate BCR. (Note that heating and cooling businesses need an HVAC contractor registration.) - What is my BCR number? The BCR number is the customer identification number issued by S&B for the business. It is printed on the credential card sent to each business after registration. Do not confuse the customer identification number with the shopping cart number or transaction number associated with the online registration. Once the registration is completed, it is the customer number that is used for identification and on contracts. Commercial Building Code, Comm 60 to 66 Uniform Dwelling Code, Comm 20 to 25 Electrical Code, Comm 16 Plumbing Code, Comm 81 to 87 Public Swimming Pools and Water Attractions Code, Comm 90 *Comm 5.30 Building contractor. (1) GENERAL. (a) Except as provided in par. (b), no person or entity may engage in a construction business or offer to engage in a construction business that affects public buildings, places of employment, one- and 2- family dwellings, public swimming pools and water attractions, unless the person or entity holds a registration issued by the department as a registered building contractor. (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to any of the following: 1. A person or entity that holds any of the following credentials issued by the department: a. A dwelling contractor certification. b. A dwelling contractor – restricted certification. c. A manufactured home manufacturer license. d. A manufactured home dealer license. e. A manufactured home installer license. f. An electrical contractor certification. g. An electrical contractor – restricted certification. h. An HVAC contractor registration. i. An elevator contractor license. 2. A person or entity that works only on real estate or property they own or lease. Comm 3.13 Stop work and stop use procedures. (1) REASONS FOR ISSUANCE. Pursuant to the statutory goals regarding the protection of public safety and health enumerated under chs. 101, 145 and 167, Stats., the division may, without advance written notice, issue an order to immediately cease any construction, installation, operation, or activity or the use of a building, building component, structure or mechanical device for any of the following reasons: (a) There is reasonable cause to believe that the construction, installation, activity, existing condition or method of operation creates an imminent danger to public safety or health as a result of a violation of a statute or administrative rule administered by the division. (b) The activity is being performed or conducted by an individual who does not hold the appropriate license, certification or registration as required by statute or administrative rule administered by the division. (c) The construction, installation, activity or operation has not been approved or been issued the appropriate permit as required by statute or administrative rule administered by the division. 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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