Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates
Beginning June 8, 2020 the Building Inspection plan review and zoning review counters will be open to the public by appointment only.
For information about scheduling an appointment and other Building Inspection services please see the Building Inspection Coronavirus (COVID-19) page.
View all impacts to City service on the City's COVID-19 website.
Property Standards & Conditions
Registration of Abandoned Residential Property in Foreclosure
On June 4, 2013, the Common Council passed a Madison General Ordinance 27.10. The purpose of this section is to establish an abandoned residential property registration program and to regulate the maintenance of abandoned residential properties by parties asserting a collateral or other legal or equitable interest in the property. This section is intended to reduce and prevent neighborhood blight and to maintain residential property values and assessments.
Minimum Housing and Property Maintenance Code is a minimum standard that all housing must meet. Some of the items the Property Maintenance Inspectors handle include:
- Trash in yards
- Tall grass and weeds
- Failure to remove snow from the sidewalk
- Erosion problems and graffiti
- Inoperable cars and front yard parking issues
The Housing Inspectors' duties include the items listed above and also include all aspects of building maintenance and requirements, such as:
- Peeling paint
- Deteriorated porches
- Siding, chimneys and roofs
- Broken windows and damaged doors
- Plumbing and electrical violations
- Inadequate heat
- Broken locks on doors and windows
- Holes in walls
- Deteriorated floor coverings
- Missing and defective smoke alarms.
Want to learn more? Download the Exterior Property Enforcement Guide (PDF)
Search BI services
Tenants may be able to reduce their rent if a landlord hasn't corrected certain housing code violations.
Rent Abatement procedure »
By when should sidewalks be cleared? Stay informed via email updates, Facebook or Twitter.
Sidewalk clearing rules »
Learn about the Concealed Carry Law & what public / private spaces the law affects.
FAQs, signage & more »
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
- Hourly Living Wage
- 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
- Wisconsin DFI Interest Rates
- X There are no listings.
- Y There are no listings.
- Z There are no listings.
Translation Services
For interpreter, translator, materials in alternate formats or other accommodations, please call the Building Inspection Division at (608) 266-4551.
Español: Si necesita interprete, traductor, materiales en diferentes formatos, u otro tipo de ayuda para acceder a estos formularios, por favor llame al (608) 266-4551.
Hmoob: Yog tias koj xav tau ib tug neeg txhais lus, txhais ntawv, los sis xav tau cov ntaub ntawv pab kom paub txog cov lus qhia no, thov hu rau Chaw Haujlwm Koog Soj Ntsuam Tsev (Building Inspection Division) (608) 266-4551.
Report: Abandoned Bicycle- Report: Abandoned Vehicle on Private Property
- Report: Consumer Complaint
- Report: Exterior Housing
- Report: Graffiti
- Report: Interior Housing
- Report: Recycle Collection
- Report: Refuse Collection
- Report: Refuse & Recycling Carts
- Report: Sidewalk Concern
- Report: Sign Violation
- Report: Snow Removal
- Report: Tree Concerns
- Report: Weeds & Overgrown Vegetation
- Report: General requests
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