Deck Permit in Madison, Wisconsin
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
Before building a deck, and before replacing deck stairs, joists, beams, columns, posts, footings or guardrails. Plans go to the Building Inspection permit counter or by email for digital review.
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Madison requires a building permit to build a deck, with no size or height exemption; the Development Services Center chart lists "Deck - build" as "Yes". A site plan is required if the deck is over three feet high, along with construction drawings showing deck size, post locations, beam sizes and joist size and spacing. Footings must be at least 48 inches deep to prevent frost heaving, guardrails at least three feet high are required on any deck more than two feet above ground, and stairs with more than three risers need a handrail. Zoning setbacks turn on height: a deck less than three feet above ground can generally extend to the lot line, while a deck three or more feet above ground must meet the district setback.
Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
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?
When a permit is usually needed
Before building a deck, and before replacing deck stairs, joists, beams, columns, posts, footings or guardrails. Plans go to the Building Inspection permit counter or by email for digital review.
What a deck permit costs in Madison
How to apply in Madison
A residential deck permit application is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the IRC deck provisions. In practice that means a scaled site plan locating the deck and its setbacks, plus deck plans and structural details covering the footings, posts, beams, joists, ledger, guards, and stairs.
What most deck permit applications include:
- A permit application identifying the work, the deck's size (square footage), and whether electrical work such as lights or receptacles is included, submitted for plan review before construction begins (IRC R106).
- A scaled site plan (for example 1/4 inch to 1 foot) showing the new deck's location relative to the house, its overall length and width, and dimensioned distances from the deck to all property lines and other structures so required setbacks can be verified (IRC R106.1.1).
- A deck plan drawn to scale showing overall dimensions and the framing layout: joist size, spacing, span, and species; beam size and span; post size and height; and footing or pier size and depth (IRC R507.4 posts, R507.5 beams, R507.6 joists, R507.3 footings).
- A section or side elevation with connection details showing the ledger attachment to the house band joist with flashing, the fastener or bolt schedule, joist hangers, post-to-beam and post-to-footing connections, and the required lateral load connection (IRC R507.9 ledger connection, R507.9.2 lateral connection, R507.2.4 flashing).
- Footing sizing derived from tributary area, the soil bearing value, and design loads per IRC Table R507.3.1, with footings shown bearing on undisturbed soil at the frost depth required by the jurisdiction (IRC R507.3).
- Details for the guards required where the walking surface is more than 30 inches above grade, and for the stairs and handrails, showing guard height and opening limits, stair riser and tread dimensions, and handrail location (IRC R312 guards, R311.7 stairs and handrails).
- For designs that fall outside the prescriptive R507 tables (for example multi-story or stacked decks, or a ledger attached to a cantilever), engineered and stamped structural plans are submitted in place of the prescriptive details (IRC R507.1 and R301).
General submittal guidance from IRC R106.1.1 (construction documents) and IRC R507 (exterior decks), 2021 IRC. Source. City of Madison Building Inspection Division, Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development sets the exact checklist for Madison.
Where to apply in Madison:
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
Inspections and closing out your permit
Deck work is inspected in sequence as it is built: the footings before concrete is placed, the framing before the decking boards go down, and a final inspection once the deck is complete. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if missed.
- Footing or pier inspection: after the holes are dug and any forms or reinforcing are set but before concrete is placed, the inspector checks footing depth and diameter, a flat undisturbed bearing surface, and that the holes are free of water (IRC R109.1.1 foundation inspection; R507.3 footings).
- Framing inspection: after the deck is framed but before the decking conceals it, the inspector verifies the ledger attachment and its flashing, the fastener and bolt schedule, joist hangers and metal connectors, post-to-beam and post-to-footing connections, and the lateral load connection; call it before decking is installed (IRC R109.1.4 frame inspection; R507.9 ledger and flashing).
- Final inspection: after the deck is complete and before it is used, the inspector confirms guard height and opening limits (a 4 inch sphere must not pass, 4 3/8 inch at stairs), stair riser and tread dimensions, handrail height and graspability where there are 4 or more risers, stair landings, and required stair lighting (IRC R109.1.6 final inspection; R312 guards, R311.7 stairs and handrails).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Madison permit portal or by phone at 608-266-4551.
Inspection sequence from IRC R109 (inspections: R109.1.1 footing before concrete, R109.1.4 frame, R109.1.6 final), 2021 IRC. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Deck Permit checklist for Madison
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: Before building a deck, and before replacing deck stairs, joists, beams, columns, posts, footings or guardrails. Plans go to the Building Inspection permit counter or by email for digital review.
- Budget the fee. The deck page states: "The permit fee for most decks under 250 square feet is $75." The underlying schedule line is "Alterations and repairs to existing structures: $11.00 for each $1,000 value or fraction thereof, Minimum Fee $25.00" (MGO 29.09(3)(a), Group IV; amended by ORD-25-00034, 6-13-25), plus the MGO 28.206 zoning review fee of $0.03 per sq. ft., minimum $25.00. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. A residential deck permit application is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the IRC deck provisions. In practice that means a scaled site plan locating the deck and its setbacks, plus deck plans and structural details covering the footings, posts, beams, joists, ledger, guards, and stairs. Start at the Madison permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. City of Madison Building Inspection Division, Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development. Phone: 608-266-4551. Address: 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 017, Madison, WI 53703.
- Plan for inspections. Deck work is inspected in sequence as it is built: the footings before concrete is placed, the framing before the decking boards go down, and a final inspection once the deck is complete. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if missed.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a deck permit in Madison?
- Madison requires a building permit to build a deck, with no size or height exemption; the Development Services Center chart lists "Deck - build" as "Yes". A site plan is required if the deck is over three feet high, along with construction drawings showing deck size, post locations, beam sizes and joist size and spacing. Footings must be at least 48 inches deep to prevent frost heaving, guardrails at least three feet high are required on any deck more than two feet above ground, and stairs with more than three risers need a handrail. Zoning setbacks turn on height: a deck less than three feet above ground can generally extend to the lot line, while a deck three or more feet above ground must meet the district setback. Always confirm with the City of Madison Building Inspection Division, Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development before starting.
- How much does a deck permit cost in Madison?
- The deck page states: "The permit fee for most decks under 250 square feet is $75." The underlying schedule line is "Alterations and repairs to existing structures: $11.00 for each $1,000 value or fraction thereof, Minimum Fee $25.00" (MGO 29.09(3)(a), Group IV; amended by ORD-25-00034, 6-13-25), plus the MGO 28.206 zoning review fee of $0.03 per sq. ft., minimum $25.00. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- How long does a deck permit take in Madison?
- Plans that meet code can be reviewed and the permit issued on the spot at the permit counter by appointment. Times can vary by workload and project scope, so confirm with the office.
- Where do you apply for a deck permit in Madison?
- You can apply through the Madison permit portal or contact the City of Madison Building Inspection Division, Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a deck permit themselves in Madison?
- Under Wisconsin law (Wis. Stat. 101.654(1)(a) and (1)(b); Wis. Admin. Code SPS 305.31(1), SPS 320.09(9)(a)2., 3. and 4.; Wis. Stat. 101.65(1m) and (1r); Wis. Stat. 101.862(4)(a); Wis. Stat. 145.06(4)(a)): A Wisconsin homeowner may pull the permit and do the work on their own dwelling. The general rule is that nobody may obtain a building permit for a one- or two-family dwelling without a DSPS dwelling contractor certification plus a dwelling contractor qualifier credential, but the statute exempts an owner of a dwelling who resides or will reside in the dwelling and who applies for a building permit to perform work on that dwelling. Neither the statute nor the implementing rule places any cap on how often that exemption may be used, and Wisconsin has no counterpart to Florida's one-year resale restriction. The trade-off is a disclosure: the permit issuer must have the owner sign a statement warning that if the owner hires a contractor who is not bonded or insured, the owner may be held liable for injury or property damage arising from the work and may be unable to collect damages from that contractor. Trade licensing carries its own homeowner carve-outs, both defeasible by local ordinance: a residential property owner may do electrical wiring on premises the owner owns and occupies as a residence, and a property owner may do plumbing work in a one-family building owned and occupied as the owner's home. Confirm how Madison applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Madison
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Deck Permit in other Wisconsin localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Madison documents; the office above sets the local rules.
Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with City of Madison Building Inspection Division, Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Deck Permit requirements across Wisconsin localities
Permit office
City of Madison Building Inspection Division, Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development
608-266-4551Permit portalCompare
Deck Permit across Wisconsin