Do I need a permit for HVAC work in
De Pere, Wisconsin?

De Pere HVAC permits — the key details

De Pere's HVAC permitting authority rests with the City of De Pere Building Department, which enforces Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC) as adopted locally. The UDC is the state's mandatory baseline for residential mechanical systems and is actually more prescriptive than the base 2015 or 2018 IRC in several areas — notably combustion air, ductwork sizing, and refrigerant charge verification. When you apply for a permit at De Pere's office (located at City Hall; hours typically Monday–Friday 8 AM–5 PM), the staff will ask for three critical pieces of information: the type of work (replacement, new install, modification), the equipment model and capacity (in BTU or tonnage), and whether the work is in a single-family owner-occupied home or a rental/commercial property. This distinction matters enormously. Wisconsin State Statute 101.02 allows owner-occupants to perform certain HVAC work on their own home without a licensed contractor, but De Pere's local interpretation is strict: you must be the true owner of the property, it must be your primary residence, and the work must be a direct like-for-like replacement of a failed furnace, air conditioner, or heat pump with identical or smaller capacity. Any expansion of capacity, any modification to ductwork, any addition of a second zone, or any work on a rental property voids this exemption and requires a licensed mechanical contractor and a full permit.