Wisconsin building permits

Where to get a building permit in Wisconsin

Apply to the building department of the city, town or county where the property is (the steps).

Our Wisconsin city guides, with each department's contacts, fees, inspections and project rules:

• Milwaukee

Wisconsin state agencies

These offices set statewide codes or license the trades. They do not issue permits for most home projects.

Building code in Wisconsin

Every code family, edition and effective date is on Wisconsin building codes.

State rules on which work needs a permit

Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 320 (scope and permits) as summarized by DSPS

• State UDC permit required for new one- and two-family dwellings. A permit under the UDC is required for new one- and two-family dwelling units.²
• Commercial: minor alterations such as one-to-one roofing or window replacement may skip state plan approval if the building official agrees. Repairs or replacements or minor alterations where the state building official (if in a delegated municipality, then the local building official) agrees plan approval is not necessary – e.g., one to one roofing or window replacement.⁴
• Commercial: buildings under 25,000 cubic feet (except listed occupancies) need no state plan approval but must comply. Except for residential, educational, institutional, hazardous, and Group A1, A-4, and A-5 occupancies; those commercial buildings of less than 25,000 total cubic feet volume (volume includes basements, crawl spaces, attics and projected volume of structures without walls).⁴

Homeowners doing their own work

Wis. Admin. Code SPS 305 dwelling contractor certification, owner exception

• Owner-occupant may obtain a UDC building permit without dwelling contractor certification. Per Wisconsin Administrative code the above does not apply to an owner of a dwelling who resides or will reside in the dwelling and who applies for a building permit to work on that dwelling.¹¹
• Owner-occupant attestation on the permit application. At Step 5, you will check the box above your electronic signature which states “I vouch that I am or will be an owner-occupant of this dwelling for which I am applying for an erosion control or construction permit without a Dwelling Contractor Certification and have read the cautionary statement regarding contractor responsibility on the reverse side of the last ply of this form.”¹²

Applies to

One- and two-family dwellings under the UDC¹¹

Contractor licensing

Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 305 (credentials), as summarized by DSPS

• Building permit for a 1-2 family dwelling requires Dwelling Contractor (or Restricted) certification plus a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier. Per Wisconsin Administrative code, no person may obtain a building permit for a one and two family dwelling unless the person compiles with the following…¹¹
• Holds a Dwelling contractor certification or a Dwelling Contractor Restricted Certification issued by the Department. Holds a Dwelling contractor certification or a Dwelling Contractor Restricted Certification issued by the Department.¹¹
• Holds or engages, as an employee, a certified Dwelling Contractor Qualifier. Holds or engages, as an employee a person who holds a certification issued by the Department as a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier.¹¹
• $25,000. A bond of at least 25,000 endorsed by a surety company authorized to do business in Wisconsin.⁶
• $250,000. A policy of general liability insurance of at least 250,000 per occurrence.⁶
• Qualifier renewal: 12 hours of approved continuing education. You must complete 12 hours of relevant department approved continuing education.¹¹

Private plan review and inspections

DSPS delegation rules (SPS 320.06; SPS 305.629 as quoted by DSPS)

• No: authority is delegated only to municipalities, counties or health departments, not to private inspectors. Authority is not delegated to inspectors, contracted agencies, or fire departments.¹³
• Delegated governments may contract private inspection firms but remain responsible. They may contract or hire other individuals or entities to assist with the responsibilities but the delegated municipality/county/health department is ultimately responsible for meeting the requirements of their delegation.¹³
• Contracted commercial electrical inspection agencies need their own EIA credential. Note that if the municipality/county contracts with an independent inspection agency, the inspection agency must also hold a separate EIA credential.¹⁴