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.

General Additions, including Screened Porches

Below are the steps to build an addition to a single-family house or duplex. The proposed addition must meet zoning setback and yard requirements. If your home is a landmark, next to a landmark, or in an historic district, any changes may need special review. In older houses, you may need to upgrade the electrical, heating and plumbing systems.

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 property improvements 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. Draw a Plan

    Consider these points when planning your addition:

    Use

    • City codes allow additions for almost any type of single family use. However, adding a second dwelling unit to a single family home is permitted only under certain circumstances.
    • Additions solely for a home occupation (home-based business) are not allowed. Home occupations are subject to special requirements. Ask Zoning staff about these requirements.

    Placement

    • Houses and additions must be set back from all lot lines. This setback distance is determined by how your property is zoned. If the depth of your house from front to back is large, you may be required to increase the side yard setbacks. Again, Zoning staff will advise you if a special review and approval is needed.

    With these requirements in mind, you need to make a drawing (site plan) of your entire property with the location of the addition. 

    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. 

  3. Review Plans

    Be sure to meet with Zoning staff at least a month or more before you apply for your construction permits. This will help you avoid delays when you want to start construction. Some types of additions need special review by a board or commission. These reviews usually require a fee and can add weeks to the review and approval process. Zoning staff will look at your plan and tell you if a special review is needed.

  4. Submit Building Plans

    Where to Go

    Madison Municipal Building

    Building Inspection Permit Counter by appointment only
    Madison Municipal Building
    215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Suite 017
    Madison, WI 53703

    What to bring

    (Note: All plans are required to be drawn to scale)

    • Site Plan
    • Floor Plans
    • Elevation Views (Exterior Picture Views)
    • Cross Section View
    • Heat Loss Calculator for any new heated spaces
      (Use the ResCheck to calculate your heat loss.)

    Note: If your project cannot conform to building code, follow the variance procedure. See the Petition for Variance Application for more information. Please contact Building Inspection at (608) 266-4551 with any questions.

  5. Pay Fees

    After obtaining Zoning and Building Plan approval, either you or your contractor can apply for the building permit.

    You will need to pay for any plan review costs, building permits or other fees that may apply to your project.

    Where to Go

    Building Inspection
    215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd  Suite 017
    Madison, WI 53703

    Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 4:30 pm

    Once the plans have been reviewed and approved, the permit can be issued. If the plans have not been approved, new plans need to be submitted correcting the items listed in the withholding letter. Minor projects can be approved at the counter. More complex projects may take 10 – 15 business days to review.

  6. Get Permits

    When your plans are approved and your fees have been paid, the Building Inspection will issue the required permits for your project.

  7. Schedule Inspections

    Once the work permitted is completed, but before covering up or building over any permitted work, you will need to call and request an inspection. Inspections are required to ensure that all work was completed correctly. View required inspections.

    Call for an inspection request: (608) 266-4551.

  8. Completion

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

Related Forms & Handouts

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1 & 2 Family Residential