Madison deck permit
Madison Building Inspection says you need a permit to build a deck. The fee for most decks under 250 square feet is $75, and staff can approve plans and issue the permit on the spot when the design meets code. You must call for an inspection after the footing holes are dug and before the footings go in. Swapping deck boards needs no permit if the cost is under $500.
Sources: City of Madison Development Services Center, Decks · Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, SPS 325 Appendix B. Checked November 9, 2026. Confirm current requirements with your building inspector.
Planning notes for Madison
Have the parcel’s municipality, the deck height and the distance to each lot line ready. Those three facts decide most of the permit path in Dane County.
Deck projects
Price check
See the Madison deck cost guide for 2026 published price ranges and permit fees from Madison and Verona.
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Madison deck questions
What permit does a deck in Madison need?
Madison Building Inspection says you need a permit to build a deck. The fee for most decks under 250 square feet is $75, and staff can approve plans and issue the permit on the spot when the design meets code. You must call for an inspection after the footing holes are dug and before the footings go in. Swapping deck boards needs no permit if the cost is under $500.
Do you have builders in Madison?
We pass Madison requests to independent builders who may serve the area. A match is not guaranteed.
What helps a builder quote?
Deck height, rough size, distance to lot lines and photos of the yard or any old deck.