Impact Fees - About - Madison Parks - City of Madison, Wisconsin

Impact fees support capital costs to construct, expand or improve public park facilities needed to accommodate land development in the city. They ensure new development fairly contributes to the cost of public park facilities as the city grows. Park impact fees are generally payable in full, at the annually adjusted rate, then in effect, at the time of issuance of any building permit under Chapter 29 of the Madison General Ordinances. The City of Madison Parks Division administers park impact fees for parks located throughout Madison.

More Information

Madison General Ordinance Chapter 20

Madison General Ordinance Chapter 16

Needs Assessment

Each individual impact fee that has been created by the City must have a public facility needs assessment associated with it. The Needs Assessment for an impact fee provides the rationale for the fee, sets forth how the fee was determined and explains how the fee will be used.

Park Impact Fee and Land Dedication Policy and Public Facility Needs Assessment for the City of Madison (June 2016)

Park Impact Fee Payment Information

Park impact fees are based on the Needs Assessment and Ordinance effective January 1, 2017. Fees are broken into two components: Park-Infrastructure Impact Fee and Park-Land Impact Fee.

2025 Park Impact Fee Rates and Payment Options

If your residential development project is ready to pay Park Impact Fees, please complete the Park Impact Fee Deposit Form and attach it to your payment. Once payment is received, Parks staff will verify the fee amount and send a receipt to the email address provided on the form. For questions, please send an email to parkimpactfees@cityofmadison.com.

2025 Park Impact Fee Deposit Form

Park Impact Fee Deposit Form Supplemental Information

Park and Open Space Plan

Every five years, the City adopts the Park and Open Space Plan as a supplement to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The Park and Open Space Plan sets forth the desired vision for the future of the City’s parks and open spaces and provides recommendations to guide land use, policy and investment decisions over time to ensure that the vision is achieved. This Plan also guides the City’s impact fee revenue expenditures.