Permit records
Milwaukee permit search
Milwaukee permit records are public. The county publishes them through Land Management System, and searching does not require an account.
By Mario Bailey Last checked · 10 official sources
- Project types verified
- 10
- in Milwaukee
- Search verified
- 8 Sep 2026
- we opened it ourselves
Search Milwaukee permit records
Building permits live in the Building module; the same search page exists per module (Development, Enforcement, Licenses, Public Works). Permits from 2016 and earlier were migrated with an -H suffix on the record number.
The search accepts address, record number, parcel number, or contact name.
Open the Milwaukee record searchApplying rather than searching? Use the Milwaukee permit portal
We opened this address ourselves on . Official government links only, and we check them on a schedule.
How to search
- Open the Milwaukee permit record search.
- Enter an address, or switch the search type to look up permits by record number, parcel number, or contact name.
- Open a result to see the permit's status, inspection history, and issue date.
If the permit does not turn up
Older permits are often missing from online records, and a permit filed under a contractor's name will not surface in an address search that expects the owner. City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS), Permit and Development Center can check the paper file.
- Permit and Development Center, 809 N. Broadway, 1st Floor, Milwaukee, WI 53202
- Phone: 414-286-8210
- Email: DevelopmentCenterInfo@milwaukee.gov
- Official permit page
- Official fee schedule
What needs a permit in Milwaukee
Every project type we have verified in Milwaukee, with the rule, the threshold, and the fee that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | Before building a new deck or porch or rebuilding an existing one | ...and equipment shall be computed at 1.6% of the cost of construction", minimum $150... |
| Electrical Permit | It depends | Before any electrical work beyond swapping a switch, dimmer or light fixture, or... | 200-33" and "Most permits have processing fees of $20 or $25, with the specific fee... |
| Fence Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...be computed at 1.6% of the cost of construction", with a stated minimum of $150 for... |
| HVAC Permit | It depends | Before installing or replacing a furnace, a central air conditioning or refrigeration... | ...from MCO 200-33-23: heating, incinerator units and wood-burning appliances are "$55... |
| Patio Permit | No permit needed | Exempt | No permit and therefore no DNS permit fee |
| Plumbing Permit | It depends | Before any plumbing work other than swapping a fixture without touching the water... | ...work, plumbing plan examination is priced by fixture count starting at $350 for 11... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | pool at least 15 feet by 3 feet in size or holding 3,965 gallons | ...Instruction Sheet (soc 03/18/25) instructs applicants to "Submit a check for... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | No permit for stripping and replacing shingles or roof covering on a house or duplex | No permit fee for a one- or two-family re-roof, because no permit is required |
| Shed Permit | It depends | detached tool or storage sheds located in the rear yard and at least three feet from the property lines | ...one-and 2-family dwellings and not more than 150 square feet in area shall be... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...Permit Process sheet (DNS soc 06/02/2021) states "Expedited solar permits cost $70... |