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Building Inspection Counter Appointments
Building Inspection plan review and zoning review counters will be open to the public by appointment only.
Permits
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 |
| Cabinets If you are only adding or replacing wall-mounted cabinets, you do not need a permit. More extensive work may require a permit. | No | Building Inspection: 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 |
| Drywall | Contact BI | Building Inspection: 608-266-4551 |
| 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 | Yes | Engineering: 608-266-4751 |
| Accessible 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 (may 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 Sanitary 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 |
| 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 | 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 |
| Storm Sewer Lateral - abandoning or plugging Obtain: Permit to Plug Storm Sewer Lateral | Yes | Engineering: 608-266-4751 |
| Street Encroachment | Yes | Office of Real Estate Services: 608-266-4222 |
| Street Occupancy | Yes | Traffic Engineering: 608-266-4761 |
| 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 |