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Middleton OKs formal inspector contracts, new commercial plan-review fees
Summary
The Middleton City Council approved contracts to formalize mechanical, electrical and plumbing inspection services and backed new square-foot and plan-review fees for commercial projects after a presentation by the building official.
MIDDLETON, July 16 — The Middleton City Council voted to authorize the mayor to sign new service contracts for mechanical, electrical and plumbing inspector services, formalizing work that had been handled informally and approving a new commercial plan-review fee structure.
Building Official Stephen Wise told the council the contracts will replace a month-to-month, verbal arrangement and allow annual verification of inspector certifications, establish transparent fee flows and ensure consistent enforcement of Middleton’s adopted building codes. “It’s essential here that we implement formal service contracts,” Wise said.
Wise said the contracts attach new commercial plan-review charges based on square footage and a reinspection charge. He described the reinspection fee as a $65 payment that goes to the inspector plus a $10 administrative charge from the city, for a $75 total. He also gave a planning-stage example: for a $2 million commercial valuation, a building permit might be $12,000–$15,000 and a plan review could amount to roughly 65% of that permit fee in comparable jurisdictions.
Council members asked about the time frame for plan review. Wise said multi-department commercial reviews typically range from about four to six weeks depending on project complexity, with some smaller projects reviewed in two or three weeks.
Proponents told the council the contract model — in which contracted trade inspectors are paid per permit and the city retains a share — is common across nearby jurisdictions. Wise said two of the inspector teams had worked with Middleton for more than 10 years and had agreed in principle to continue under written contracts.
Councilors moved and seconded a motion authorizing the mayor to execute the contracts, effective Oct. 1, 2025. The motion passed by voice vote.
Why it matters: The change moves the city away from an informal arrangement that, staff said, left both certification checks and fee flows unclear. Formal contracts are intended to give the city and contractors predictable terms while preserving a pay-per-permit model the building official said is cost-effective for the municipality.
What’s next: The contracts and adopted fee schedule will govern commercial plan review and inspection billing going forward. Staff said contracts and the fee schedule documents would be posted and that the city would monitor turnaround times and certification compliance.
