Whitefish Bay Loosens Plumbing Ordinance

The Whitefish Bay Village Board decided to loosen the bolts on its plumbing ordinance by letting residents perform simple plumbing work themselves.

Under a new ordinance adopted by the board Monday night, a master plumber would no longer be required to replace sinks, tubs, traps, faucets, toilets or any related components. To perform those tasks, residents are still required to pull a $50 permit and undergo an inspection.

Paul Launer, the village's building inspector, was charged with loosening the ordinance at a previous board meeting, when Trustee Garry Davis proposed easing up the village's plumbing code, which prohibits residents from doing any plumbing work – other than faucet repair and stoppage removal – without a $50 permit, an inspection and hiring a master plumber.

At Monday's meeting, Launer said he was uncomfortable lifting the permit requirement. Village President Julie Siegel agreed with Launer, saying she would like to maintain the permit requirement because it helps preserve the village's older housing stock.

“I would like to know as a potential purchaser of a home what’s been replaced," she said. "I think we need to protect the value and integrity of the homes, and one way to do that is to ensure everything done is of high quality.”