Shed permit checklist — Madison, Wisconsin
Assembled from Madison’s own published permit rules. Every line below is quoted from a city document and linked to it. Nothing here is generated, estimated, or inferred from another jurisdiction.
Do you need a permit?
Madison requires a permit for a shed.
Sheds that are 150 square feet or less, unheated, and ten feet or more from dwelling units on the property do not require a permit. They still need to meet the shed size and placement rules covering maximum height, total accessory building footprint, and setbacks from the house, other structures and lot lines.
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Sources
- shed — fee schedule ↗verified August 2026
Other permits Madison publishes rules for
Listed because the city publishes a separate rule for each type — not because this project necessarily triggers one. Whether it does depends on your scope of work.
- Deck permit checklist
- Fence permit checklist
- Water heater permit checklist
- Re-roof permit checklist
- Electrical work permit checklist
- General building work permit checklist
BuildSpec is a reference, not the authority having jurisdiction. Confirm requirements with Madison before you build.