PLEASANT PRAIRIE BUILDING INSPECTION DEPARTMENT - AN OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS THEY PERFORM
Pleasant Prairie's Building Inspection Department currently employs five full-time positions: one electrician, two building inspectors, a superintendent (who also performs inspections) and one clerical support position. These employees work to ensure that all construction, home improvement, and repair projects completed in the Village meet State and local building code requirements that have been established for safety purposes.
Building codes were created based on past, real-life experiences in order to prevent dangerous situations (water and electricity, carbon monoxide poisoning, structural collapse) from being repeated. The Building Inspection Department is responsible for:
• Conducting safety/compliance inspections for residential construction and home improvement and repair projects;
• Conducting safety/compliance inspections for commercial and industrial construction, expansion and improvement projects;
• Maintaining knowledge of all building, mechanical, electrical and plumbing practices and codes for a variety of construction situations;
• Working with other Village Departments (such as Community Development, Engineering, Utilities, Public Works and Fire & Rescue) from the plan review stage of a project through to final inspection;
• Working with residents and contractors on the permitting process for various projects; and
• Assisting other Village departments with construction and electrical expertise.
In addition to these duties, members of the building Inspection Department answer incoming telephone calls and walk-in inquiries from the public, assist in the razing of dangerous properties according to rules outlined by State law, and maintain records for the permitting and construction process.
Since its establishment following incorporation in 1989, the Building Inspection Department has worked to keep pace with the growth that has occurred in the Village by improving internal controls and building knowledge of new and evolving building materials and practices.