HVAC contractors
Do I need a permit to replace a furnace or central air conditioner in the City of Madison?
A common question, answered by the MadisonWI.com editors · November 9, 2026
1 answer
From MadisonWI.com
Plan on one. On its Permit Applications page, the City of Madison's Development Services Center lists furnaces and central air conditioners among the projects where a "data sheet" is the right application. A data sheet is how you apply for a permit when a project doesn't need plan review. If you're installing an air conditioner condenser, the City also asks for a site plan. You can fill out the HVAC Data Sheet or apply online through the City's "HVAC Upgrades and Replacements" application. The City uses the data sheet to calculate fees and issue the permit, so there's a fee. The page doesn't say whether you or your contractor files the application, so settle that with your contractor before work starts, or call Building Inspection. This covers the City of Madison only; Middleton, Fitchburg and other nearby communities set their own rules. Source: City of Madison Development Services Center, Permit Applications (checked November 2026).
Written by the MadisonWI.com editors · November 9, 2026