Building permits in Madison, Wisconsin
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in Madison, 4 need a permit outright and 4 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
By Mario Bailey Last checked · 2 official sources
Verified against official sources- Project types verified
- 10
- in Madison
2 things Madison does not make you permit
Worth knowing before you call anyone. Most jurisdictions we cover require all of these.
- Fence Permit
Never for the fence itself. Madison's zoning height, placement, materials and vision-triangle rules still apply and are enforced without a permit, so Zoning review is the step to take instead.
- Patio Permit
Never for an at-grade patio itself. Zoning is still the contact of record for patio questions, and adjacent work such as a driveway, a parking slab or land disturbance is permitted separately.
City of Madison Building Inspection Division, Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development
- 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 017, Madison, WI 53703
- Phone: 608-266-4551
- Email: binspection@cityofmadison.com
- Official permit page
- Permit portal
- Official fee schedule
Look up a permit in Madison
Madison permit records are public, and you can check a property's permit history by address or permit number online.
What needs a permit in Madison
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in Madison, 4 need a permit outright and 4 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Not specified | The deck page states: "The permit fee for most decks under 250 square feet is $75." The... |
| Electrical Permit | It depends | Not specified | MGO 19.11, Group IV, Alterations And Special Fees (repealed and recreated by... |
| Fence Permit | No permit needed | Not specified | No fence permit is issued, so there is no permit fee. |
| HVAC Permit | It depends | Not specified | MGO 30.01(5)(a), Group IV, Alterations and Special Fees (amended by ORD-21-00016... |
| Patio Permit | No permit needed | Not specified | No patio permit is issued, so there is no permit fee. |
| Plumbing Permit | It depends | Not specified | MGO 18.09, Group IV, Alterations And Special Fees (repealed and recreated by... |
| Pool Permit | Permit required | Not specified | "Private in-the-ground swimming pools: $25.00 each permit" (MGO 29.09(3)(a), Group IV... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Not specified | "Alterations and repairs to existing structures: $11.00 for each $1,000 value or... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | shed or accessory building floor area; heated sheds and sheds within ten feet of dwelling units on the property need a permit at any size | "Accessory buildings or detached garage serving a single or two family residential... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | "Solar panels or collector system: $21.00 each permit" (MGO 29.09(3)(a), Group IV |
Planning a project in Madison?
Hire it out
Before you sign, ask the contractor:
- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
- Is your contractor license active in this locality, and under which business name?
Planning several things at once? Check your whole project