Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates
Building Inspection is open to the public by appointment only.
For more on appointments and other services, please see the Building Inspection Coronavirus (COVID-19) page.
View all impacts to City service on the City's COVID-19 website.
Construction
What We Do
»
It is our responsibility to inspect all new buildings for compliance with building codes. We verify compliance through:
- Site approval
- Plan approval
- Construction
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1 & 2 Family Residential »
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Building Moving Permit Procedures »
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Building Plan Review Counter Appointment »
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Construction Noise »
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Contractor Training »
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Demolition »
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Non-Residential »
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Other Residential »
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Permit Reports »
Last Updated: 01/03/2022
Search BI services
Contact
Permits & Inspection Requests
- Inspection Requests: (608) 266-4551
Resources
Inspection Districts
Resources
Forms
- Current Codes
- City Assessor
- Appeals - Petition for Variance
- One & Two Family Home Building Permit Data Sheet
- Erosion Control Form
- Electrical, HVAC, and Plumbing Data Sheets
- Building Plan Approval Application
- Compliance Statement
- Disproportionality
- General Plumbing Approval Application
- Application for Appeal of an MGO
- Fire Marshall Position Statement
- Plan Duplication Application
- Street Occupancy Permit
- Certificate of Insurance
A-Z Services
- A
- Additions to a Home - One & Two Family Residential
- Attic - alterations or conversions
- B
- Basement - alterations or conversions
- Bathroom - alterations
- Beekeeping
- C
- Central Air Conditioner - install
- Chickens (Raising)
- D
- Deck - build
- Demolition of Structures
- Development Services Center
- Door Replacement
- Dwelling Units, Change Number of - 1 & 2 Family Residential
- Dwelling Units, Change Number of - Other Residential
- E
- Electrical Work, All
- Exterior Building & Property Complaints
- F
- Fence - install or replace
- Furnace - install
- G
- Garage - build or replace
- Garage - demolish
- Graffiti Enforcement
- H
- Home Heating and Cold Weather Safety
- Hot Tub, Whirlpool, Spa - install
- House (1 & 2 Family) - New Construction
- Housing Complaint
- I
- Interior Property Complaints
- J There are no listings.
- K
- Kitchen - alterations
- L There are no listings.
- M
- Multi-Family Residential - New Construction
- N
- Non-Residential - New Construction
- O
- Occupancy Standards
- P
- Parking Lot
- Plumbing
- Q There are no listings.
- R
- Rent Abatement
- Rental Property Emergency Contact
- Roofing - Reroof your house or garage
- S
- Screened Porch
- Security Deposits and Rent Credits
- Shed - build or replace
- Shed - demolish
- Siding - replace on house or garage
- Signs & Street Graphics
- Snow Enforcement
- Snow Sidewalk Clearing
- Solar Energy System - install
- Street Occupancy
- Swimming Pool
- T
- Tavern Capacities
- U There are no listings.
- V There are no listings.
- W
- Water Heater - install
- Water Softener - install
- Weights & Measures, New Business
- Windows & Frames - replace
- X There are no listings.
- Y There are no listings.
- Z There are no listings.
Translation Services
Call us at (608) 266-4551 if you need
- an interpreter
- translation
- documents in other formats
- other accommodations
Llámanos al (608) 266-4551 si necesitas
- un intérprete
- una traducción
- documentos en otros formatos
- otras adaptaciones
Hu xovtooj rau peb tim (608) 266-4551 yog koj xav tau
- tus neeg txhais lus Hmoob
- ntawv txhais ua lus Hmoob
- dcov ntaub ntawv hloov ua lwm yam hom ntawv
- lwm yam kev pabcuam
Learn what your property is zoned for; view tax descriptions, sales, special assessments & more.
Go to Property Look-up »
Do I need a permit?
You can determine if you need a permit, however, this does not exclude you from getting approvals on projects that may NOT require a permit. Please contact Zoning Staff for further clarification: (608) 266-4551.
Project |
Need a Permit? |
Who should I contact? |
| Additions - One and Two Family | Yes | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| Aerosol Products - manufacture, store or handle | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Amusement Buildings - operation | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Assembly, Places of - operation | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Attic - alterations or conversions | Yes | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| Aviation Buildings | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Basement - alterations or conversions | Yes | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| Bathroom - alterations | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Battery Systems - install | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Beekeeping | Yes | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| Cellulose Nitrate Film - store, handle or use | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Central Air Conditioner - install | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Chickens - raising | Yes | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| Combustible Dust Producing Operation | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Combustible Fibers - storage or handling | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Compressed Gases - storage, use or handling | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Covered Malls | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Cryogenic Fluids - produce, store, transport on site, use, handle or dispense | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Cutting or Welding - conduct operations | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Deck - build | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Demolition, of Structures | Yes | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| Door - replacement | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Drive Opening, Commercial - constructing or replacing | Contact Traffic Engineering | Traffic Engineering: (608) 266-4761 |
| Drive Opening, Residential - constructing or replacing (1-2 Family Residential with less than 4 stalls) Obtain: Street Terrace Permit or Permit to Excavate in the Right of Way |
Yes | Engineering: (608) 266-4537 |
| Driveway | Yes | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| Dry Cleaning & Dry Dyeing | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Dwelling Units, Change Number of - 1 & 2 Family Residential | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Dwelling Units, Change Number of - Other Residential | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Electrical Work, All | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Excavating for ANY reason in the public right-of-way Obtain: Excavate in the Right-of-Way Permit | Yes | Engineering: (608) 266-4751 |
| Explosives - manufacture, storage, handling, sale or use of | Yes | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Fence - install or replace | No (may need approvals) | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| Fireplace | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Flammable and Combustible Liquids - store, handle or use | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Furnace - install | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Garage - build or replace | Yes | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| Garage - demolish | Yes | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| Garages, Repair or Service - operation | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Hazardous Materials - store, transport on site, dispense, use or handle | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Hazardous Production Materials (HDM) Facilities - store, handle or use hazardous production materials | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Grading or Land Disturbance Obtain: Erosion Control Permit (pdf) |
Yes | Engineering: (608) 266-4751 |
| Handicapped Ramp, on private property | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Hot Tub, Whirlpool, Spa - install | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| House (One and Two Family) - Addition | Yes | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| House (One and Two Family) - New Construction | Yes | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| Insulation | Contact Building Inspection | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Kitchen - alterations | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Landscaping | No (might need approvals) | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) - install (500 - 1,999 gallons) |
Yes | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) - install (2,000 gallon or larger water capacity, or 4,000 gallon or larger aggregate water capacity) |
Yes | State of Wisconsin - Department of Commerce |
| Lumberyards, Woodworking Plants, and Building Material Dealers - storage or processing of lumber | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Magnesium - melt, cast, heat treat, or grind | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Multi-Family Residential - New Construction | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Non-Residential - New Construction | Yes | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| Occupancy | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Organic Coating | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Parking | Yes | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| Parking Slab (One and Two Family) | Yes | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| Patio | No | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| Plumbing - All | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Pyrotechnic Special Effects Material | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Pyroxylin Plastics - storage, handling or the assembly or manufacture of articles involving Pyroxylin plastics | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Rain Garden - installation in the street terrace or right of way
Obtain: Street Terrace Permit |
Yes | Engineering: (608) 266-4751 |
| Roofing - Reroof your house or garage | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Sanitary Sewer - connect to
Obtain: Permit to Excavate in the Right of Way |
Yes | Engineering: (608) 266-4751 |
| Sanitary Sewer Lateral - abandoning or plugging Obtain: Permit to Plug Sewer Lateral | Yes | Engineering: (608) 266-4751 |
| Screened Porch | Yes | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| Sewer Deduct Meters - install | Yes | Water Utility: (608) 266-4646 |
| Shed - build or replace | Yes | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| Shed - demolish | Yes | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| Short-Term Rental/Tourist Rooming House | Yes | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| Sidewalk or Residential Drive Apron in Right-Of-Way - replacing or constructing Obtain: Street Terrace Permit |
Yes | Engineering: (608) 266-4751 |
| Siding - replace on house or garage | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Signs and Street Graphics | Yes | Zoning: (608) 266-4551 |
| Solar Energy System - install | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Spraying or Dipping - conduct a spraying or dipping operation utilizing flammable or combustible liquids or the application of combustible powders | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Storage, High-Piled | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Storage of Scrap Tires, Tire Byproducts (pdf) | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Storage Tank, containing flammable / combustible / hazardous liquid - install (Less than 5,000 gallons) |
Yes | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Storage Tank, containing flammable / combustible / hazardous liquid - install (5,000 gallons or larger) |
Yes | State of Wisconsin - Department of Commerce |
| Storage Tank, containing flammable / combustible / hazardous liquid - removal or closure | Yes | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Storm Sewer - connect to
Obtain: Permit to Excavate in the Right of Way |
Yes | Engineering: (608) 266-4751 |
| Street Encroachment | Yes | Office of Real Estate Services: (608) 266-4222 |
| Street Occupancy | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Street Terrace, alterations (sidewalk, terrace, drive apron) | Yes | Engineering: (608) 266-4751 |
| Swimming Pool | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Trees on the street terrace - planting, maintenance, and removal | Contact City Forestry | Forestry: (608) 266-4816 |
| Waste Handling - operation of wrecking yards, junkyards and waste material-handling facilities | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |
| Water Heater - install | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Water Meter (City of Madison) - change the location, its inlet or outlet, valves, the meter bypass, or meter test piping | Yes | Water Utility: (608) 266-4646 |
| Water Service (City of Madison) - install, connect to existing, or replace | Yes | Water Utility: (608) 266-4646 |
| Water Softener - install | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Windows & Frames - replace | Yes | Building Inspection: (608) 266-4551 |
| Wood Products - store chips, hogged material, lumber or plywood | Contact Fire | Fire: (608) 266-4420 |