General contractors
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Madison?
A common question, answered by the MadisonWI.com editors · November 9, 2026
1 answer
From MadisonWI.com
Yes. The City of Madison requires a permit to build a deck, and there's a fee. You'll need a deck application form and construction drawings showing the deck's size, post locations, beam sizes, and joist size and spacing. If the deck will be three feet or more above the ground, you also need a scaled site plan showing the whole property and distances to lot lines and other structures, and the deck must meet your zoning district's setbacks; lower decks can usually extend up to the lot line. Lakefront lots need a survey by a registered land surveyor. Plans are reviewed at the Building Inspection permit counter by appointment, and most deck permits can be issued on the spot if the design meets code. You'll schedule an inspection after digging footing holes and before footings go in. This covers the City of Madison; other towns set their own rules. Source: City of Madison Development Services Center, Decks (checked November 2026).
Written by the MadisonWI.com editors · November 9, 2026