Does It Need a Permit?
Please use this quick reference guide to determine if a permit is needed for a particular job.
The State of Wisconsin Building Code is on the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) website.
Click Here for State of Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code for one and two family homes.
Click here for State of Wisconsin Administrative Code for Commercial Structures.
Please also note that if you are making changes to a historic property, no changes may be made to the exterior unless the owner first obtains a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) from the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), regardless of stated permit requirements below.
| Project | Need a permit? | For more information… |
| Air conditioner | Yes |
Call 414-286-8210 |
| Asbestos abatement -- single family or duplex |
No | Call 414-286-3280 |
| Asbestos abatement -- 3 or more residential units |
Yes | Call 414-286-3280 |
| Asbestos abatement -- commercial building |
Yes | Call 414-286-3280 |
| Attic alterations or conversion | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Banners hung from streetlight poles | Yes | Call 414-286-3329 |
| Basement alterations or conversions | Probably | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Bathroom -- remodel | Probably | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Block party | Yes | Call 414-286-3329 |
| Building cleaning (masonry building | Yes | Call 414-286-3280 |
| Cell phone antenna | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Day care center | Yes -- need occupancy permit |
Call 414-286-8210 |
| Deck | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Deconstruction | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Door -- brand new (one or two-family home) |
Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Door -- new or replacement (commercial building |
Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Door -- replacement (one or two-family home) -- size of opening does not change |
No | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Driveway | Only the approach from the street requires a permit |
Call 414-286-8208 |
| Electrical work -- ALL | Yes -- contractor must be licensed | Call 414-286-2532 |
| Fence -- new | Yes | View/Print the Application Or call 414-286-8210 |
| Fence -- replace | Yes | View/Print the Application Or call 414-286-8210 |
| Festivals (private property) | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Fireplace | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Furnace | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Garage -- demolish / deconstruct | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Garage -- new | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Garage -- replace | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Handicapped ramp | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| House (1 and 2 family) -- additions | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| House (1 and 2 family) -- new construction | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| House -- demolish / deconstruction | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Hydrant use | Yes | Call 414-286-8208 |
| Insulation | Sometimes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Landscaping | Maybe | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Masonry building cleaning | Yes | Call 414-286-3280 |
| New business | Yes -- needs occupancy certificate | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Occupancy | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Parade | Yes | Call 414-286-3329 |
| Parking slab -- one or two-family home | Maybe | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Parking slab -- commercial building or 3 or more residential units | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Patio | No | |
| Photo shoots | Yes | Call 414-286-3329 |
| Plumbing -- commercial project | Yes | Call 414-286-3116 |
| Plumbing -- multi-family home | Yes | Call 414-286-8208 |
| Plumbing -- single-family, owner-occupied home | Yes | Call 414-286-8208 |
| Pool | Yes | Call 414-286-3280 |
| Public way -- use of | Yes | Call 414-286-8208 |
| Retaining walls | Maybe | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Roof -- tear off shingles | Maybe | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Roof -- new (with new rafters, etc.) | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Roof -- replace shingles | Maybe | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Shed | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Shingles -- new | Maybe | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Shingles -- replace | Maybe | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Sidewalk on private property | No | |
| Sidewalk in front of home | Probably | Call 414-286-8208 |
| Sidewalk -- use of | Yes | Call 414-286-8208 |
| Sidewalk café | Yes | Call 414-286-8208 |
| Siding | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Signs | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Solar | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Stairs/steps | Probably | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Street festival | Yes | Call 414-286-3329 |
| Street -- use of | Yes | Call 414-286-8208 |
| Swimming pool | Yes | Call 414-286-3280 |
| TV tower | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Tent with 2, 3 or 4 sides | Yes | Call 414-286-8210 |
| Tent with 3 or 4 open sides | No | |
| Tent smaller than 600 s.f. | No | |
| Water meter | Yes | Call 414-286-8208 |
| Water service | Yes | Call 414-286-8208 |