Excavation Permit and Inspection Fees for Work in the Public Right of Way.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 81-50
in effect81-50. Excavation Permit and Inspection Fees for Work in the Public Right of Way.
1. GENERAL. For the excavation required for the construction or repair of an individual storm building sewer, sanitary building sewer, combined building sewer, water service, or any combination thereof laid simultaneously in a single excavation or in more than one excavation connected by tunneling or boring, the fee shall be $150.
2. MAIN OR CONDUIT. For the excavation required for the laying or repair of a main or conduit in each block, the fee shall be $120.
3. REPAIR. For the excavation required for the laying or repair of utility building services in each block, the fee shall be $120.
4. OTHER. For any other excavation or any installation the fee shall be $120.
5. INSPECTION.
a. The fee for inspection services for each permit, except permits issued to city forces, public utilities, or to persons engaged in work under a city contract for which inspectional services have been otherwise provided shall be $100.
b. An additional fee shall be charged for permits for public utilities in accordance with a schedule of the actual costs of inspection services prepared by the commissioner of public works.
c. The fee for permits that need to be resubmitted, except permits issued to city forces, public utilities, or to persons engaged in work under a city contract for which inspectional services have been otherwise provided, shall be $200 for each resubmission.
6. PUBLIC UTILITIES. The fee for the inspection services for permits issued to public utilities in accordance with a schedule of the actual cost of inspection services prepared by the commissioner of public works shall be a sum equivalent to the actual cost of such inspection services.
7. PROCESSING FEE. There shall be a processing fee of $20 for each permit issued.
8. ACCESSIBILITY EXEMPTION. An excavation or work in the right of way necessitated by an accessibility-related alteration or addition shall be exempt from fees under this section if the following criteria are met:
a. The alteration or addition is constructed for the purpose of providing accessible entrance and exit access to persons with disabilities.
b. The alteration or addition is attached to or leading to the primary entrance and exit points of the structure.
c. The alteration or addition is not attached or leading to a side or rear door of a non-residential property that is locked or inaccessible to the public during normal business hours, or a special request has been approved by the department of neighborhood services to waive this requirement for the exemption.
d. The usable square footage of the property is not increased by the addition or alteration. (See s. 115-7.)
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-1/CH81.pdf#page=9Fetched: 10/26/2026