WRECKING OF BUILDINGS.

Madison General Ordinances § 29.15

in effect

29.15 - WRECKING OF BUILDINGS. (1) No building as defined in Section 29.04, MGO, shall be razed demolished, removed or wrecked without a permit from the Building Inspection Division of the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development issued in accordance with the provisions of Section 28.185, MGO. (2) A snow fence or other approved barricade shall be provided as soon as any portion of the building is removed and shall remain during razing operations. After all razing operations have been completed, the foundation shall be filled at least one (1) foot above the adjacent grade, the property raked clean, and all debris hauled away. Razing permits shall lapse and be void unless the work authorized thereby is commenced within six (6) months from the date thereof or completed within thirty (30) days from date of commencement of said work. Any unfinished portion of work remaining beyond the required thirty (30) days must have special approval from the Building Inspection Division of the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development. (3) All debris must be hauled away at the end of each day for the work that was done on that day. No combustible material shall be used for backfill, but shall be hauled away. There shall not be any burning of materials on the site of the razed building. If any razing or removal operation under this section results in, or would likely result in, an excessive amount of dust particles in the air creating a nuisance in the vicinity thereof, the permittee shall take all necessary steps, by use of water spraying or other appropriate means, to eliminate such nuisance. The permittee shall take all necessary steps, prior to the razing of a building, through the employment of a qualified person in the field of pest control or by other appropriate means, to treat the building as to prevent the spread and migration of rodents and insects therefrom during and after the razing operations. (4) If a street occupancy is required, refer to Section 10.055, MGO, for the necessary permit and restrictions. (5) Prior to the issuance of a permit to remove or wreck an existing building, the owner of the property shall obtain a Permit to Plug Sewer Lateral per Section 35.02(4)(c)14., MGO, if the existing building is serviced by the public sanitary sewer. (6) (a) Any owner or operator who shall raze, demolish, remove or wreck or authorize or permit the razing, demolishing, removing or wrecking of any existing building as defined in Section 29.04, MGO, without a permit from the Building Inspection Division of the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development in violation of this section or Section 28.185, MGO, shall forfeit not more than five hundred dollars ($500) per day. The violation shall be deemed to continue, with each separate day to be considered a separate offense, until either of the following occurs: 1. The building is restored to its condition and appearance prior to demolition; or 2. A replacement building approved pursuant to Section 28.185, MGO, by the Plan Commission and by the Landmarks Commission if the building was a landmark or was located in an Historic District is constructed at the site and a certificate of occupancy is issued therefore. (b) Any person violating any other provision of this section shall forfeit twenty-five dollars ($25). Each day of violation shall be deemed a separate offense. (c) Any person, either individually, as a member of a firm or as an officer or employee of a corporation who performs or carries out the razing, demolishing, removing or wrecking of any existing building for any owner or operator when no wrecking permit has been issued therefore shall forfeit up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) if the building is a landmark or is located in an Historic District and up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) in all other cases. (Rpld. and Recreated by ORD-21-00024, 3-26-21)

Source: City of Madison, Wisconsin, Madison General Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wi/madison/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORMAWIVOIICH20--31_CH29BUCO_GEADPR_29.15WRBUFetched: 11/1/2026