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.

New House

Before you start your project, you need to check zoning rules and building codes. Below is an outline of the process.

Process Overview

  1. Determine Zoning

    Find out the zoning for your property. 

    The zoning code (Chapter 28 of Madison General Ordinances) includes information about setbacks in your property's zoning district. 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 share:

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

    Who to Contact

    Zoning at Building Inspection, (608) 266-4551, ext. 3 or by email.

  2. 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. 

  3. Submit Building Plans

    Once you have your house design, you will submit building and site plans. Staff will review plans to ensure they meet code requirements.

    If your project cannot follow building code, you may apply for a building variance. Please contact Building Inspection at (608) 266-4551, ext. 2 with any questions.

    Where to Go

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

    What to Include

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

    • Floor Plans
    • Foundation / Basement Plans
    • Elevation Views (Exterior Picture Views)
    • Cross Section View
    • Site Plan For Zoning to sign off on
    • Heat Loss Calculator for any new heated spaces
      (Use the ResCheck to calculate your heat loss.)
    • Erosion control form and plan for new one and two family homes

    For more complex projects, the initial plan review will take 10 – 15 business days.

  4. Pay Fees

    Once staff approve the plans, we will contact you for payment. You can pay the fee in person or online.

    Where to Go

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

    If the plans have not been approved, you will need to submit new plans. Make sure to correct the items listed in the withholding letter.

  5. Get Permits

    Once you have paid the fees, we will issue your permit. Make sure you place your permit in a window facing the street for the duration of your project.

  6. Schedule Inspections

    You must call for certain inspections depending on your project. You can request an inspection when you finish the work in an area.

  7. Completion

    We will close your permits after approved final inspections. Building Inspection considers your project done once we issue a certificate of occupancy. 

Related Forms & Handouts

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1 & 2 Family Residential