Written by Don Byrd
Following up a story from last month, the State of Wisconsin has granted the first waiver to building codes, under a new law designed to allow religious accommodations. Over the objection of county officials, the waiver allows Amish farmer John Yoder to bypass plumbing codes and smoke detector requirements after a state department determined it would not pose an unreasonable danger.
Eau Claire’s WQOW reports:
The request for an exemption was filed by John Yoder in August under a new Wisconsin law, just passed this year, which allows for exemptions to the state building code for people with certain religious convictions. The law requires a DSPS review whenever a county does not approve a Religious Waiver.
“The state approval…is a victory for the Amish throughout the state,” said David Mortimer, Member, National Committee for Amish Religious Freedom, Eau Claire Chapter. “This will hopefully mark the end of a years-long David vs. Goliath battle where Eau Claire County used all its powers—even evicting Amish families from their homes—to force compliance to every part of the building code.”
You can read previous posts on the clash between government regulation and Amish religious beliefs here.
