Building Permit Fees in Madison, WI (2026)

What common projects cost

Kitchen or bath remodel

$25,000 value, remodel 300 sq ft

$300.00

$275.00 building permit + $25.00 plan review

Room addition

$75,000 value, addition 400 sq ft

$173.00

$40.00 building permit + $36.00 electrical inspection (group 1) + $36.00 plumbing inspection (group 1) + $36.00 hvac inspection (group 1) + $25.00 zoning review fee (mgo 28.206)

New single-family home

$350,000 value, new single-family 2,400 sq ft

$1,060.00

$240.00 building permit + $100.00 plan review + $216.00 electrical inspection (group 1) + $216.00 plumbing inspection (group 1) + $216.00 hvac inspection (group 1) + $72.00 zoning review fee (mgo 28.206)

How Madison calculates your permit fee

The city charges a building permit fee using $0.10 per square foot, with a $25.00 minimum. Plan review is a separate charge: a flat $100.00. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work gets its own permits.

The fee table

Group 1: single/two-family (and R-2, R-3, R-4) new buildings and additions

$0.10 per square foot, with a $25.00 minimum.

Alterations and repairs to existing structures

$11.00 per $1,000 of project value, with a $25.00 minimum.

Group 2 commercial (A, B, E, H, I, M, R-1) new construction and additions

$0.18 per square foot, with a $25.00 minimum.

Added to every matching permit

Electrical inspection (Group 1): $0.09 per square foot, with a $25.00 minimum (Residential · new construction, additions)
Plumbing inspection (Group 1): $0.09 per square foot, with a $25.00 minimum (Residential · new construction, additions)
HVAC inspection (Group 1): $0.09 per square foot, with a $25.00 minimum (Residential · new construction, additions)
Electrical inspection (Group 2 commercial): $0.11 per square foot, with a $25.00 minimum (Commercial · new construction, additions)
Plumbing inspection (Group 2 commercial): $0.11 per square foot, with a $25.00 minimum (Commercial · new construction, additions)
HVAC inspection (Group 2 commercial): $0.11 per square foot, with a $25.00 minimum (Commercial · new construction, additions)

Surcharges

Zoning review fee (MGO 28.206): $0.03 per sq ft, minimum $25.00

What counts as project value

Floor area (square feet). New buildings and additions are charged per square foot of total building area 'including all floor levels, attached garages, porches, balconies and decks'. Alterations and repairs to existing structures are charged per $1,000 of value; the page does not say how value is determined.

Worked example: a $350,000 new home

Building permit fee: 2,400 sq ft × $0.10 = $240.00
Plan review fee: flat = $100.00
Electrical inspection (Group 1): 2,400 sq ft × $0.09 = $216.00
Plumbing inspection (Group 1): 2,400 sq ft × $0.09 = $216.00
HVAC inspection (Group 1): 2,400 sq ft × $0.09 = $216.00
Zoning review fee (MGO 28.206): 2,400 sq ft × $0.03 = $72.00
Total before trade permits: $1,060.00.

Fees people miss

Fee	Amount
Erosion control fee	$0.01 per sq ft of lot area
State Seal fee (DSPS)	as charged by DSPS
Revisions to previously examined plansWhen: plan revisions	$100.00 each
Early start permit (commercial only)When: optional early start	$50.00 each
Certificate of occupancy	$10.00 first certificate

Trade permits are separate. Electrical: New buildings/additions: per sq ft by group (Group 1 $0.09). Existing buildings: new or altered openings $25 for the first ten plus $1 each additional; service replacement $50 per panel. Plumbing: New buildings/additions: per sq ft by group (Group 1 $0.09). Existing buildings: $8 per new or altered fixture, minimum $25. Plumbing plan review per SPS 302.64. Mechanical: New buildings/additions: per sq ft by group (Group 1 $0.09). Replacement heating equipment $25 up to 100,000 BTU, $50 to 165,000, $75 above; A/C unit $25; ductless split $25.

How to apply

Gather your plans and your project's total value and floor area.
Submit to Building Inspection Division, Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development (Development Services Center).
Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.

Source record

Effective: not stated
Verified: 2026-11-04
Issuer: Building Inspection Division, Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development (Development Services Center)
Valuation: Floor area (square feet)
Confidence: medium

What this page does not cover (6)

No effective date or adopting ordinance stated on the fee page
Erosion control fee ($0.01/sq ft of lot area) and the DSPS State Seal fee are not in the calculator total
Residential plan review is listed for new buildings ($100) and alterations ($25); no fee is listed for additions (none modelled)
How 'value' is determined for alterations is not stated
Commercial HVAC plan review ($0.03/sq ft) and state SPS plan review fees not modelled; Group 3 commercial not a separate variant
Alteration trade fees (per fixture/opening) need counts the calculator does not ask for

Separate electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire, impact, utility and school fees are usually not included unless they are listed. BuildingPermitCost is not a government permit office, and this is not legal advice.

Report an error · How we verify fees

How Madison compares

A $25,000 remodel costs $300.00 in Madison: 21% below the national median of $380.00.

A $75,000 addition costs $173.00 in Madison: 79% below the national median of $820.58.

A $350,000 new home costs $1,060.00 in Madison: 64% below the national median of $2,918.63.

Same standard projects everywhere, including plan review and required surcharges. All Wisconsin places · Compare side by side

Madison permit fee FAQ

How much is a building permit in Madison, WI?

A $25,000 remodel: $300.00. A $75,000 addition: $173.00. A $350,000 new single-family: $1,060.00. These include every fee the schedule applies to that project; trade permits are separate.

Is plan review included in the Madison permit fee?

No. Plan review is charged separately at a flat $100.00.

How does Madison determine project value?

Floor area (square feet). New buildings and additions are charged per square foot of total building area 'including all floor levels, attached garages, porches, balconies and decks'. Alterations and repairs to existing structures are charged per $1,000 of value; the page does not say how value is determined.

Are electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits included?

No. They are separate permits. Electrical: New buildings/additions: per sq ft by group (Group 1 $0.09). Existing buildings: new or altered openings $25 for the first ten plus $1 each additional; service replacement $50 per panel. Plumbing: New buildings/additions: per sq ft by group (Group 1 $0.09). Existing buildings: $8 per new or altered fixture, minimum $25. Plumbing plan review per SPS 302.64. Mechanical: New buildings/additions: per sq ft by group (Group 1 $0.09). Replacement heating equipment $25 up to 100,000 BTU, $50 to 165,000, $75 above; A/C unit $25; ductless split $25.

When did these Madison fees take effect?

The schedule does not state an effective date. We last checked it against the official source on Nov 4, 2026.