Clearwater Inspection Program
In an effort to eliminate clearwater (storm or rain water) entering the sanitary sewer system, the City of Appleton is implementing a clearwater inspection program.  The Department of Natural Resources has directed the City of Appleton as well as other neighboring communities to reduce the amount of clearwater entering the drain system.  To comply with this directive, the City of Appleton is implementing a program which will require that any single or two family residence built prior to 1980 have a clearwater inspection performed prior to the sale of the property.  The pre-1980 date was chosen as this was when the State of Wisconsin adopted the Uniform Dwelling Code which required the installation of sump pumps.

Permits
The Inspection Division is responsible for issuing construction permits such as building, plumbing, electrical, pressure vessel, elevator, heating, ventilating and air conditioning permits. A permit from the Inspection Division is required for private property construction, alteration or repair work in buildings within the City of Appleton. For information on obtaining a permit, please call the Inspection Division at 920-832-6411.

Construction Inspections
The Inspection Team is responsible for construction permit inspections within the City Appleton. After you obtain the required permit(s) for the work you intend to do, you need to call and schedule an inspection. The inspector will make sure that all work is being performed in accordance with the applicable codes and standards. Depending on the type of work being performed and the type of building, you may have one or multiple inspections. Inspectors will inspect the different trades, such as building, plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work. You can schedule an inspection by contacting our Customer Center at 920-832-6411 during our regular:

Deferred Property Maintenance
The Property Maintenance Team is responsible for investigating building, mechanical and zoning code violations on existing land and buildings. To report property violations such as illegal construction, sub-standard conditions, trash and debris, zoning violations, etc., you may contact our Customer Center at 920-832-6411.

Contract Nuisance Abatement
The mission of Contract Nuisance Abatement Program is the abatement of open, vacant, abandoned or vandalized buildings. The process includes declaring these properties to be a 'Nuisance' and/or 'Hazard'. When property owners fail to comply with orders requiring them to clean, secure, rehabilitate or demolish these buildings, the Division steps in and actually performs preliminary physical abatement work through contract with private contractors. The scope of the work performed by these contractors includes: Removing debris, rubbish and excessive vegetation; Barricading all of the openings on the buildings; Painting out graffiti and Demolishing the buildings when they become a repeated problem. The cost of this effort is charged to the property owner as a special assessment.

Enforcement Team
This unit, a partnership between the City Attorney’s Office, the Inspection Division and the Clerical Team, issues citations and represents the City in court when the Division is not successful in obtaining compliance by voluntary means.

Sign Enforcement
As a part of our effort to reduce visual blight in the City, our sign enforcement section issues permits for new signs and responds to complaints about illegal signs.