Apartment buildings along rail ways
Development Services Center
  1. Building Inspection Counter Appointments

    Building Inspection plan review and zoning review counters will be open to the public by appointment only.

Decks

You need a permit to build a deck. If you have questions during any part of the process, call or email Building Inspection. Staff will work with you to answer your questions.

Process Overview

  1. Determine Zoning

    Find out the zoning for your property.

    The zoning code (Chapter 28 of Madison General Ordinances) includes information about required setbacks in your property's zoning district. Some decks are allowed to encroach into setbacks; see MGO 28.132 for those allowed encroachments. However, if your property is zoned Planned Development (PD), you will need to contact Zoning staff for this information.

    When you have more details, contact Zoning staff who can review:

    • setback requirements
    • design requirements
    • if there are any special conditions that affect your project.

    Who to Contact

    Zoning at Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551, ext. 3 or zoning@cityofmadison.com.

  2. Review Requirements

    Placement

    • Decks less than three feet above ground can extend up to the lot line in most cases. Measuring Deck Height
    • Decks three or more feet above the ground must meet the setback rules for your district. Call (608) 266-4551, etx. 3 for zoning rules in your area.

    Construction

    • Use weather-resistant materials, such as treated lumber.
    • Footings must be able to support the load. Building Inspection staff will help you determine the type of footing to use.
    • Footings for decks must be at least 48 inches deep to prevent frost heaving.

    Safety

    • Guardrails must surround any deck that is more than 2 feet above ground. The guardrails must be at least three feet high.
    • Stairs with more than three risers need a handrail with a guard that prevents passage of a 4 3/8-inch ball. The guard must be in place on all open sides.

    Maintenance

    • You may replace deck boards without a permit if the cost is under $500.
    • Replacement of the stairs, joists, beams, columns, guardrails, or any combination should either have a permit obtained or have situation specifics checked with Building Inspection Staff.

  3. Site plan review

     Make a drawing (site plan) of your lot. The site plan drawing must show:

    • All existing and proposed structures.
    • The dimensions of the lot, the shed, the house, and any other structures.
    • The distances from the shed to the lot lines and the distances to all other structures.
    Draw your site plan to scale. Make sure you use an accepted scale.
     
    For lakefront properties, a survey prepared by a registered land surveyor is required. The survey must show existing setbacks to the Ordinary High Water Mark of buildings on adjacent lots.
     
    Schedule an appointment with Zoning to review your site plan. If you skip this step and your site plan is not acceptable, it may add weeks to your permit processing time. 

  4. Submit Building Plans

    Where to Go

    Building Inspection Permit Counter by appointment only. Our office is in the Madison Municipal Building:
    215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Suite 017
    Madison, WI 53703

    What to Include

    • A site plan, if your deck is over three feet high. This drawing must show the:
      • whole property
      • deck’s location and size
      • deck's distance from lot lines and other structures
      • measurements of the lot, house, deck, and any other structures
      • distances from the house and deck to the lot lines and any other structures
      • above items drawn to scale, such as 1″=20′
    • Construction drawings that show:
      • deck size
      • post locations, beam sizes, joist size and spacing
      • the above items drawn to a common scale, such as 1/4"=1'
    • Deck application form

  5. Obtain a Building Permit

    For decks, we can review your plans and issue a permit on the spot if the design meets the required codes. You can make an appointment to come to our office.

    The City charges for building permits to cover the cost of plan review and inspections. The permit fee for most decks under 250 square feet is $75. Staff will calculate your exact fee once they have approved your plans.

  6. Start the Work

    Be sure to display the permit where it can be seen from the street during construction.

  7. Call for an Inspection

    Once we issue your permit, we will give you the name and phone number of the inspector for your area. The Building Inspector will work with you to be sure the work is done correctly.

    You must schedule an inspection

    • after you dig your footing holes AND
    • before you install the footings

    These inspections make sure that the materials and the work are up to code. If any work does not pass inspection, you must correct it and call for a reinspection.

  8. Completion

    After your final inspection, your project will be considered complete.

Related Forms & Handouts

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