Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates
Building Inspection offices are closed to the public until further notice. Our employees are continuing to support critical public services and responding to emails. For general Building Inspection assistance, please email bldginspect@cityofmadison.com or call (608) 266‑4551.
Visit the Building Inspection Coronavirus (COVID-19) page for more information about changes to Building Inspection services.
View all impacts to City service on the City's COVID-19 website.
Building Inspection What We Do »
George Hank, Director
Building Inspection is a code enforcement, project review, and approval agency for a variety of municipal and State ordinances and codes. We also are the agent of the State of Wisconsin for inspection and plan review services for all construction within Madison and Dane County. We regulate land use through the enforcement of zoning approvals and protect consumers through its weights and measures program and housing inspection services.
Building Inspection is a code enforcement, project review, and approval agency for a variety of municipal and State ordinances and codes. We also are the agent of the State of Wisconsin for inspection and plan review services for all construction within Madison and Dane County. We regulate land use through the enforcement of zoning approvals and protect consumers through its weights and measures program and housing inspection services.
Highlights
Bee Ordinance
Learn about the new Bee Ordinance & how to safely keep bees on your property.
Rental Property Contact
Every rental dwelling owner must keep contact information on record with BI.
Chickens in Madison
Learn how to obtain a City of Madison Chicken License.
Search BI services
What do you need to do today?
Report A Problem
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
FAQs
Do I need a Permit?
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 |
| 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 |
Find an Ordinance
Resources
Madison General Ordinances
- MGO Chapter 10
Streets, Alleys,
Sidewalks & Gutters - MGO Chapter 18
Plumbing Code - MGO Chapter 19
Electrical Code - MGO Chapter 22
Consumer Protection,
Weights & Measures - MGO Chapter 24
Peace & Quiet - MGO Chapter 27
Minimum Housing &
Property Maintenance - MGO Chapter 28
Zoning Code - MGO Chapter 29
Building Code - MGO Chapter 30
Heating, Ventilating
& Air Conditioning - MGO Chapter 31
Sign Control - MGO Chapter 32
Landlord & Tenant - MGO Chapter 33
Boards, Commissions
& Committees
Learn what your property is zoned for; view tax descriptions, sales, special assessments & more.
Go to Property Look-up »
Every rental dwelling owner must keep contact information on record with Building Inspection.
Update rental contact info »
Contact Us »
Email Lists
RSS Feeds
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube