BuildingPermitCost Wisconsin permit fees at a glance
This page covers 4 cities in Wisconsin, each priced from its own official fee schedule. For the same $75,000 addition, totals run from $173.00 in Madison to $319.00 in Waukesha, with a Wisconsin median of $300.00, 63% below the median of $820.58 across all 267 places on this site.
The most common pricing method here is a rate per square foot (3 of 4), followed by a fee table based on floor area (1). For project value, 4 places use floor area instead of value.
4 of 4 charge a separate plan review fee. 1 add a state surcharge to the total, printed for example as "Wisconsin state UDC sticker fee (one and two-family residential)".
1 of 4 schedules state an effective date, 1 of them from 2025 or later. Every page shows its effective date and the date we last checked it against the official source.
| Project | Wisconsin median | National median | Places |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 remodel | $290.00 | $380.00 | 4 |
| $75,000 addition | $300.00 | $820.58 | 3 |
| $350,000 new home | $1,060.00 | $2,918.63 | 4 |
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Wisconsin permit fee questions
How much is a building permit in Wisconsin?
It depends on the city or county, because each sets its own fees. Across the 3 places we cover in Wisconsin, the median for a $75,000 addition is $300.00 and for a $350,000 new home $1,060.00, including plan review and required surcharges.
Which Wisconsin places have the lowest and highest permit fees?
For a $75,000 addition, the lowest total we found is $173.00 in Madison, WI and the highest is $319.00 in Waukesha, WI. The tables on this page list every place we cover.
Are Wisconsin state fees included?
Yes, where the local schedule adds them to the permit. 1 of the 4 Wisconsin schedules we cover include a state surcharge, and each city page shows it as its own line.
Totals use each jurisdiction's own formula for a 300 sq ft remodel, a 400 sq ft addition and a 2,400 sq ft wood-frame home. Trade permits and conditional fees are not included. Fees are estimates based on the official schedules; confirm with the permit office before applying.