Building Permits in Madison

Madison requires a building permit for most construction, alteration, and repair work affecting structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems. Permits are issued by the City of Madison Building Inspection Division, a division of the Department of Planning & Community & Economic Development (PCED).

As Wisconsin's state capital and a full-service city in Dane County, Madison operates under two parallel regulatory frameworks:

• 1- and 2-family residential projects are governed by the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC), a uniform statewide code administered by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) under SPS 320–325. Madison's Building Inspection Division enforces the UDC locally and conducts required inspections.
• Commercial, industrial, multi-family (3+ units), and mixed-use projects fall under the Wisconsin Commercial Building Code (based on the International Building Code, administered under SPS 361–366). Madison's Building Inspection Division administers commercial plan review and permits for these project types within city limits.

All permit activity for the City of Madison is managed through the Madison Accela Citizen Access online portal.

When You Need a Permit

You generally need a Madison building permit for:

• New construction, additions, and accessory structures (including ADUs and detached garages)
• Structural alterations, load-bearing wall changes, and foundation work
• Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical (HVAC) changes — including panel upgrades, water heater replacements, and HVAC system installations
• Reroofing (full tear-off and replacement) and changes to exterior wall openings
• Swimming pools, hot tubs, and retaining walls above a height threshold
• Demolition of any habitable structure or accessory building
• Change of occupancy or use in an existing building

Minor cosmetic work — painting, floor coverings, cabinetry without plumbing or electrical changes — is typically exempt. When in doubt, contact the Building Inspection Division before starting work. Unpermitted work can result in stop-work orders, fines, and complications when selling the property.

Accela Citizen Access — The Online Portal

Accela Citizen Access is the City of Madison's online permitting portal for the Building Inspection Division. Through it you can:

• Create an account and submit permit applications
• Upload construction documents for electronic plan review
• Track application and review status
• Respond to correction comments without visiting the Building Inspection office
• Pay permit fees online
• Request and track inspections

The portal is available through the Building Inspection Division's website at cityofmadison.com/dpced/bi. For projects not eligible for online submission, or for complex commercial submittals, contact the Building Inspection Division directly for guidance on alternative submission methods.

Permit Costs

Madison Building Inspection Division fees are set by the official Building Inspection Fee Schedule, updated periodically and published on the city website. Fees are generally calculated based on:

• Building permit fee — scales with project valuation (construction cost)
• Plan review fee — charged for projects requiring staff review of construction documents
• Trade permit fees — separate permits for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC/mechanical work
• Zoning review fee — for projects requiring zoning verification or Board of Zoning Appeals review
• Reinspection fees — assessed when work fails inspection or the site is not ready for the scheduled inspection

Do not rely on third-party fee estimates. Always check the current Building Inspection Fee Schedule linked in the sources above for exact amounts before submitting your application.

Typical Timeline

Timelines fluctuate with Building Inspection Division workload. The Accela Citizen Access portal shows application and review status in real time.

The Process

1. Pre-application: Verify your property's zoning district using the Madison zoning map or by contacting the Planning Division at (608) 266-4635; confirm any overlay district requirements
2. Plans: Prepare drawings and construction documents; a licensed Wisconsin architect or engineer stamp is required for many commercial and larger residential projects
3. Submit via Accela: Create an account through the Building Inspection Division website and submit your application with required documents and initial fees
4. Plan review: Building Inspection staff review for compliance with the applicable code — UDC (SPS 320–325) for 1–2 family homes, or the Wisconsin Commercial Building Code (SPS 361–366) for commercial and multi-family; the portal shows review status
5. Corrections: Respond to plan review comments and resubmit revised documents through Accela Citizen Access until the review is approved
6. Permit issuance: Pay any remaining fees; download or pick up the approved permit
7. Post permit on site: The permit must be visible at the job site during all phases of construction
8. Inspections: Schedule required inspections at each phase through the Accela portal or by calling Building Inspection at (608) 266-4551
9. Final inspection: Pass the final inspection; obtain a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) for new buildings and changes of occupancy

Inspections

The Building Inspection Division conducts inspections throughout construction. Typical stages for a residential project include:

• Erosion and sediment control (where required)
• Footing and foundation (before concrete pour)
• Underground plumbing and electrical (before backfill)
• Rough framing
• Rough electrical, plumbing, and mechanical
• Insulation
• Drywall (before taping)
• Final building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical inspections

For commercial projects, additional disciplines — fire, structural, energy code — may require separate inspection sign-offs coordinated through Building Inspection and the Madison Fire Department.

Schedule all inspections through the Accela Citizen Access portal or by contacting the Building Inspection Division. Advance scheduling is required; same-day inspections are not guaranteed.

Common Reasons for Denial or Corrections

• Plans do not comply with the Wisconsin UDC (SPS 320–325) or Wisconsin Commercial Building Code (SPS 361–366)
• Missing structural calculations, energy code compliance documentation (Wisconsin Energy Conservation Code), or required architect/engineer stamps
• Zoning conflicts — setbacks, height, lot coverage, or use not permitted in the applicable district under Title 29 of the Madison Code of Ordinances
• Incomplete submittal — missing site plan, floor plans, elevation drawings, or material specifications
• Missing utility clearances from Madison Water Utility, Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), or Madison Gas & Electric (MGE)
• Historic district or landmark overlay review not completed (contact the Madison Landmarks Commission)
• Prior unpermitted work on the property requiring resolution before a new permit is issued
• Capitol Square overlay or Capitol View Preservation regulations triggered for downtown projects near the State Capitol

Official Sources

Always verify current requirements with the City of Madison Building Inspection Division and the Accela Citizen Access portal before starting any project. See the sources listed in the frontmatter for direct links to Building Inspection, the permit portal, the Madison Code of Ordinances, the Wisconsin DSPS UDC program, and the Building Inspection Fee Schedule.

Disclaimer: This guide summarizes publicly available information from official City of Madison and State of Wisconsin sources and is provided for general orientation only. It does not constitute legal or engineering advice. Building code and permitting requirements change — always confirm current rules with the City of Madison Building Inspection Division or the Wisconsin DSPS before submitting plans or starting construction.