FEE SCHEDULE.
Madison General Ordinances § 29.09
in effect29.09 - FEE SCHEDULE.
(1) Scope. The fees fixed in this Ordinance shall be assessed and collected by the Building Inspection Division of the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development for the inspection of new buildings and structures, additions and alterations, for the examination and approval of building plans and component parts of the buildings, and for all other services for which the Common Council has authorized the Building Inspection Division of the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development to fix and collect fees as provided in Chapter 29 of the Ordinances of the City of Madison. Fees are collected in advance from owner or agent and shall include any mechanical fees which apply. This fee schedule applies to plan review and inspections done on buildings within the City and outside of the City of Madison within Dane County.
(2) Plan Examinations, Approvals, Inspections, and Fees.
(a) Plans showing design and construction details, design computations, and specifications submitted for examination and approval as required by Chapter 29 shall be accompanied by a fee in the amount determined in accordance with Section 29.09(3).
(b) For the purpose of determining the fee on the basis of square foot, floor area measurements shall be taken from outside of building at each floor level, including basement.
(c) For the purpose of determining the fee on the basis of estimated cost, it shall represent the actual cost for alterations and repairs to existing buildings, including all labor and material less the cost of real estate and installation of electrical, heating, and plumbing equipment and services. See Section 29.09(3)(b), MGO. In no case shall the fee exceed those as calculated for new buildings as listed in Section 29.09(3)(a), MGO, Groups I, II and III.
(3) Fee Schedule. Penalty for failure to obtain a permit before starting work shall be double the fees. This shall be in addition to any other penalties provided elsewhere in this Ordinance; in addition, a penalty of one hundred dollars ($100) shall be assessed for each day that any work requiring a permit progresses without a permit, calculated from the date the stop work notification is delivered to either the property owner or the contractor performing the work, until the date a permit is obtained.
(a) Inspection Fees.
Project Type | Fees (Round up all fees to the next highest dollar)
Group I - New Residential* | $.10 per sq. ft. Minimum Fee $25.00 | The use group shall include new construction and any additions to all single or two family residential buildings and to all commercial building space classified as R-2, R-3, or R4.
Group II - New Commercial Non Residential* | $.18 per sq. ft. Minimum Fee $25.00 | The use group shall include new construction and any additions to all commercial building space classified as A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, B, E, H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4, H-5, I-1, I-2, I-3, I-4, M, or R-1.
Group III - New Industrial* | $.12 per sq. ft. Minimum Fee $25.00 | The use group shall include new construction and any additions to all commercial building space classified as F1, F2, S-1, S-2, or U and other buildings not classified in Groups I, II and IV.
*Note Group I, II and III: | When an application is submitted for a property where only the shell of the property is to be completed, the fee will be calculated at 50% of the total fee for that particular fee group. When an application is submitted for construction of the interior of a building where the shell of the building has been previously granted a permit, the fees shall be based on the square footage of that space as a percentage of the entire square footage of the subject building and that fee shall be calculated at 50% of the total fee for that particular fee group.
Group IV | Alterations And Special Fees
Alterations and repairs to existing structures | $11.00 for each $1,000 value or fraction thereof Minimum Fee $25.00
Accessory buildings or detached garage serving a single or two-family residential building | $.06 per sq. ft. Minimum fee $25.00
Awnings | $20.00 each permit
Certificate of Occupancy | $50.00 first certificate $150.00 each additional certificate
Certificate of Occupancy for zoning change of use or occupancy | $75.00 each certificate
Erosion Control Fee | 0.01 per sq. ft. of lot area
Mobile home occupancy permit and inspection fees | $15.00 each mobile home
Moving of structure | $0.125 per cu. ft. Minimum Fee $250.00 Maximum Fee $450.00
Private in-the-ground swimming pools | $25.00 each permit
Razing a garage or building accessory to a principal building | $20.00 each permit
Razing a one-family dwelling | $150.00 each permit
Razing a two-family dwelling | $250.00 each permit
Razing a commercial building | $0.005 per cu. ft. Minimum Fee $250.00
Solar panels or collector system | $21.00 each permit
Tents used for merchandising and display | $50.00 each location
(b) Plan Review Fees. In addition to the Plan Review Fees listed in the chart below, the Building Inspection Division of the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development will also collect both of the following:
1. State Seal fee as charged by Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). (Am. by ORD-25-00076, 11-6-25)
2. Plan review fees as prescribed by SPS 302.31(1)(g) in Table 302.31-3.
Project Type | Fees (Round up all fees to the next highest dollar)
Commercial Building New | $.04 per sq. ft. Minimum Fee $100.00 | Project area includes all spaces bound by outside surfaces of enclosing walls. Fee includes footings and structural, if submitted with the plans.
HVAC Commercial Building New | $.03 per sq. ft. Minimum Fee $100.00
Commercial Building Alterations & Remodeling | $.04 per sq. ft. Minimum Fee $100.00 | Area includes floor, roof and exterior wall area being altered or remodeled.
HVAC Alterations & Remodeling | $.03 per sq. ft. Minimum Fee $100.00
Structural Review of Building Elements | $50.00 per building element | No fee for structural review if building elements with submission of building plans for review.
Fire Escape | $100.00 per escape
Stadium, Grandstand Bleachers | $0.05 per seat Minimum Fee $100.00
Miscellaneous | $100.00 | All plan type not mentioned elsewhere.
Revisions to Previously Examined Plans | $100.00
Priority Review (Optional) | Double above fees | Initial review to be completed within three business days of accepted submittal
Early Start Permission (Optional) | $50.00 | Applies only to projects with footings and foundations.
New single-family or two-family residential buildings | $100.00
Alteration or Remodel of single-family or two-family residential buildings | $25.00
(Am. by ORD-21-00040, 6-14-21; Am. by ORD-25-00034, 6-13-25) (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_29.09FESCFetched: 11/1/2026