Appointment Only

Building Inspection is open to the public by appointment only.

For more on appointments and other services, please see the Building Inspection Services page.

Services

Building Inspection's counters are open by appointment only. Masks are welcome but not required.

For general Building Inspection assistance, please email bldginspect@cityofmadison.com. You can also call (608) 266-4551.

If you need to drop-off a check or an application, we have a drop box located at the Doty Street door. This dropbox cannot accommodate large plans. To submit large plans, please see our Submittal information below.

Please see below for more information on each of our services.

Minimum Housing and Property Maintenance Inspection Services

Only current tenants can schedule inspections. Our inspectors will make an appointment with the caller. At our inspection, we will look at the dwelling and assess code violations.

For urgent complaints, please call our office at (608) 266-4551, ext. 4. Otherwise, you can use our online system to report interior and exterior issues. You can also use this system to report other issues.

Plan Review Services

The Building Inspection Permit Counter is open by appointment only. Please schedule an appointment for service. We do not serve walk-ins.

Checklists for common submittals

If your project needs a site plan, you must schedule an appointment with Zoning. If Zoning does not review your site plan before you apply for a building permit, it may delay the process.

Accessory building, detached garage, or unheated shed (PDF)
Addition - heated (PDF)
Addition- unheated: sunroom, 3 season room, enclosed porch (PDF)
- Spanish: Adición - sin calefacción (PDF)
Deck (PDF)
Finish basement (PDF)
Gazebo (PDF)
New 1&2 family homes (PDF)
Pergola (PDF)
Screen porch (PDF)
- Spanish: Adición “Screen Porch” (PDF)

If the project does not fit the above categories, please call us at (608) 266-4551, ext. 2 before submitting. Incomplete submittals will delay your application.

Commercial Projects

Submittals must include

an application
the plan review fee
two sets of hard copy plans stamped by an architect or engineer.

We will not accept, or hold, incomplete submissions. You can submit completed application packets by mail or by making an appointment.

By USPS mail:

Building Inspection Division

Attention: Plan Review
PO Box 2984
Madison, WI 53701-2984

By FedEx, UPS, or other courier:

Building Inspection Division

Attention: Plan Review
215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Suite 017
Madison, WI 53703

One or Two Family Home Projects

Submittals must meet the following requirements:

You must submit plans and the application in the same email. Incomplete submissions will not hold your place in line for review. If you have questions about completeness of an application call (608) 266-4551, ext. 2 before submitting.
Plans must be in PDF format and will print to scale on 8.5x11 or 11x17. We will not accept photos of drawings.

You can submit One or Two Family home project applications by mail (see above) or by email. Send a completed application packet to biplans@cityofmadison.com.

After Submittal

We will review applications in the order in which we receive them. Staff will review applications within 15 business days of receipt. Only ask about the status of your application if you have not heard from us within 15 business days.

We will notify you by email if we have approved or rejected your project. We will also provide you the fee amount.

If you submit hard copies of plans, you can pick these up by appointment after we approve the plans. If you do not need plan review for your project, or if you have digital plans, we will email the permit after payment.

Construction Inspection Services

Please call (608) 266-4551 ext. 1 to schedule an inspection. You can schedule inspections before 8:30 am for the same day, Monday-Friday.

Contractors can also ask to be set up to schedule inspections online. You'll be able to see inspection results as soon as the inspector enters them.

Weights and Measures Services

If you have concerns about Weights and Measures, call staff at (608) 246-4515 or (608) 243-0585.

Zoning Services

The Zoning Counter is open by appointment only. Please review the Zoning Review Counter Appointment site for scheduling information. We will not be able to serve walk-ins.

If you need to submit plans to zoning for review, please email zoning@cityofmadison.com
If you need site plan review, email information to sprapplications@cityofmadison.com.

Submissions must be less than 20 MB in size.

Last Updated: 12/08/2023