General Alterations, including Bathrooms, Kitchens & Basements
Before you start work on your alteration, follow these steps.
Process Overview
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Determine Zoning
First, talk to Zoning staff. Your property may have zoning restrictions on your parcel. Zoning staff will tell you if any conditions affect your project. If so, our staff will give you information about next steps.
Find out the zoning for your property.
Who to Contact
Zoning at 608-266-4551 ext. 3 or zoning@cityofmadison.com.
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Draw a Plan
What to Include
- Draw plans to a common architectural scale, not less than 1/8 inch =1 foot. If you're not sure how to draw to scale, you can watch this video. Common scales: (1/4” = 1’ , 3/16” = 1’ , 1/8” = 1’ , 1/2” = 1’ , 3/8” = 1’)
- Make sure that when you print the plans, they keep their scale. Printer settings such as "fit to page," for example, will skew the sizing. You can print and then measure length and width to verify your scale is in place
- Plans should clearly show what is existing and what is proposed or new.
- Show structural info, i.e. beams, headers, post joists, etc.
- Reference the code for more information
- 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.
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Submit Building Plans
Fill out the appropriate forms for your project.
Where to Go
Building Inspection Permit Counter by appointment only
Madison Municipal Building
215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Suite 017
Madison, WI 53703Note: 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 ext. 2 with any questions.
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Pay Fees
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 Permit Counter by appointment only
Madison Municipal Building
215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Suite 017
Madison, WI 53703Once 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. For more complex projects, the initial plan review will take 10 – 15 working days.
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Get Permits
When your plans are approved and your fees have been paid, the Building Inspection will issue the required permits for your project.
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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 at 608-266-4551 ext 1.
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Completion
After your final inspection, your project will be considered complete.