Operative Text
SPS 326.35 Disconnection procedure. (1) (a) A notice of disconnection may not be issued until at least 20 days after the date of issuance of the bill. (b) Manufactured home community water and sewer service shall not be disconnected or refused because of any disputed matter while the disputed matter is being pursued in accordance with the provisions of s. SPS 326.38. (c) A manufactured home community operator or manufactured home community contractor shall postpone the disconnection of service, or reconnect the service if disconnected, for up to 21 days on the written recommendation of a licensed physician or notice from a public health, social services, or law enforcement official that identifies the medical or protective services emergency and specifies the period of time for postponement of the disconnection. This postponement is to enable the manufactured home community occupant to arrange for payment. (d) During the period service is continued under the provisions of this subsection, the manufactured home community occupant is responsible for the cost of residential water and sewer service. However, no action to disconnect that service shall be undertaken until expiration of the period of continued service. (e) If there is a dispute concerning an alleged medical emergency, either party may request an informal review by the department. During the informal review, residential water and sewer service shall be continued if the manufactured home community occupant has submitted a statement or notice as set forth in par. (c). (2) (a) A manufactured home community operator or manufactured home community contractor shall not disconnect service unless written notice by first class mail is sent to the manufactured home community occupant or personally served upon the occupant at least 8 calendar days prior to the first date of the proposed disconnection except as provided in s. SPS 326.34 (2), (3), and (4). If the billing address is different from the service address, notice shall be posted at the service address not less than 5 days before disconnection. The notice shall contain the information set forth in s. SPS 326.36. (b) If disconnection is not accomplished on or before the 15th day after the first notice date, a subsequent notice shall be left on the premises not less than 24 hours nor more than 48 hours prior to the disconnection unless the manufactured home community occupant and the manufactured home community operator or manufactured home community contractor agree to extend the 15-day time period. If disconnection is not accomplished on or before the 30th day after the original eight-day disconnection notice was issued, the manufactured home community operator or manufactured home community contractor shall issue a new eight-day disconnection notice prior to proceeding with the disconnection of water and sewer service. (c) The manufactured home community operator or manufactured home community contractor shall make a reasonable effort to have a personal or telephone contact with the manufactured home community occupant prior to disconnection. If a contact is made, the manufactured home community operator or manufactured home community contractor shall review the reasons for the pending disconnection of service and explain what actions shall be taken by the manufactured home community occupant to avoid disconnection. The manufactured home community operator or manufactured home community contractor shall keep a record of the contacts and contact attempts. (d) If a dispute cannot be resolved, the manufactured home community operator or manufactured home community contractor shall inform the manufactured home community occupant of the right to appeal to the department in accordance with s. SPS 326.38. (3) Service shall not be disconnected on a day, or on the day immediately preceding a day, when the business offices of the manufactured home community operator or manufactured home community contractor are not available to the manufactured home community occupants for the purpose of transacting all business matters. If the manufactured home community operator or manufactured home community contractor is not available for all business matters, it shall be considered to be available if it provides personnel that are readily available to the manufactured home community occupant 24 hours per day to evaluate, negotiate, or otherwise consider the manufactured home community occupant’s objection to the disconnection as provided under s. SPS 326.38, and proper service personnel are readily available to restore service 24 hours per day.
Wisconsin Administrative Code § SPS 326.35 establishes a multi-step procedural framework that must be followed before water or sewer service can be disconnected in a manufactured home community. The rule sets minimum waiting periods between billing, notice, and actual disconnection; requires postponement of disconnection during verified medical or protective-services emergencies; and prohibits disconnection while a dispute is being formally reviewed. Service also cannot be cut off on days when the operator's business office is unavailable to occupants, unless around-the-clock personnel and service restoration capacity are provided.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators and contractors subject to § SPS 326.35 generally maintain documented timelines showing that at least 20 days elapsed after billing before any disconnection notice was issued, and that written eight-day disconnection notices were sent by first-class mail or personally served. Compliant operators keep records of all contact attempts with occupants prior to disconnection, issue new notices if disconnection is not completed within 30 days of the original notice, and postpone or reverse disconnection upon receiving a licensed physician's written recommendation or an official notice of a medical or protective-services emergency. Operators also ensure that disconnection does not occur on days when business offices are closed, or alternatively that 24-hour personnel and restoration capacity are in place as specified under § SPS 326.35(3).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § SPS 326.35, occupants of manufactured home communities have the right to receive proper written notice—at minimum eight calendar days in advance—before water or sewer service can be disconnected, and service cannot be cut off while a dispute is being pursued under the related appeal process at § SPS 326.38. If a licensed physician or a public health, social services, or law enforcement official identifies a medical or protective-services emergency in writing, an occupant may be entitled to a postponement of up to 21 days to arrange payment. Tenants who believe these procedures have not been followed may request an informal review by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, or may consult a tenant-rights organization to understand the full range of options available to them.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
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Rules and statutes that cite this regulation