Permits and licensing · Wisconsin
Renovation permits and contractor licences in Wisconsin
Wisconsin ties licensing to the permit itself: under the state administrative code no person may obtain a building permit for a one- or two-family dwelling unless they hold a Dwelling Contractor or Dwelling Contractor Restricted certification from the Department of Safety and Professional Services, or hold or employ someone with a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier certification. The same department licenses electrical contractors and plumbers and registers HVAC contractors. The Uniform Dwelling Code is the statewide building code for one- and two-family dwellings and is enforced in all Wisconsin municipalities.
Regulators and licensing bodies in Wisconsin
These official bodies license contractors, oversee safety or issue permits in Wisconsin.
DSPS – Dwelling Contractor credentialing
Certifies Dwelling Contractors, Dwelling Contractor Restricted holders and Dwelling Contractor Qualifiers. The administrative code provides that no person may obtain a building permit for a one- and two-family dwelling unless they hold one of the first two certifications, or hold or employ a certified Dwelling Contractor Qualifier, apart from narrow statutory exceptions. Applications and renewals run through the state's online licensing platform.
DSPS Division of Industry Services – Uniform Dwelling Code programme
Runs the Uniform Dwelling Code, the statewide building code for one- and two-family dwellings built since June 1980, and states that the code is enforced in all Wisconsin municipalities. The division provides consultation and education on UDC construction standards and inspection procedures, evaluates building materials for conformance with standards, and administers UDC inspection and contractor credentials.
DSPS – Electrical Contractor licensing
Licenses electrical contractors. State statute and the administrative code provide that no person or entity may engage in, or offer to engage in, the business of installing, repairing or maintaining electrical wiring unless licensed or certified by the department, with narrow exceptions. A licensed electrical contractor must use appropriately licensed or registered individuals for the work and must put the licence number on all construction bids and contracts.
Madison Building Inspection
Reviews plans and issues building permits for the City of Madison, and publishes a project-by-project chart showing which work needs a permit and which city office to contact. Some projects that need no building permit still need other approvals, such as zoning sign-off, so the chart is worth reading before you start.
Trades that need a licence in Wisconsin
General contracting and renovation
The most useful check in Wisconsin is the permit. Nobody can pull a building permit for a one- or two-family dwelling without a Dwelling Contractor or Dwelling Contractor Restricted certification, or without holding or employing a certified Dwelling Contractor Qualifier. Ask your contractor which of those three they have before you sign.
Sources:Wisconsin DSPS – Dwelling Contractor(opens in a new tab)
Electrical work
An electrical contractor must hold a department licence, must use appropriately licensed or registered individuals for the work, and may not start installing wiring on a job that needs a uniform building permit until that permit has been issued. The licence number is required on bids and contracts, so it should already be on the paperwork you are given.
Sources:Wisconsin DSPS – Electrical Contractor(opens in a new tab)
Plumbing
State statute says no person may engage in or work at plumbing in Wisconsin unless licensed to do so by the department. A licensed Master Plumber who is responsible for an installation or modification must use appropriately credentialed people to carry it out, so ask whose master plumber licence the job sits under.
Sources:Wisconsin DSPS – Master Plumber(opens in a new tab)
Certified trades
HVAC is a registration rather than a licence: the administrative code provides that no person, entity or business may engage in, or offer to engage in, installing or servicing heating, ventilating or air conditioning equipment unless registered with the department as an HVAC Contractor, apart from listed exceptions.
Sources:Wisconsin DSPS – HVAC Contractor(opens in a new tab)
Consumer protection
Check any trades credential in the state licence search before you sign. Wisconsin's standard electronic building permit form for a new one- or two-family dwelling requires contractor licence numbers and their expiry dates, so a contractor who cannot give you a number is a problem before the permit stage, not after.
Sources:Wisconsin – Licence search(opens in a new tab)Wisconsin DSPS – One- and two-family (Uniform Dwelling Code)(opens in a new tab)
Building and renovation permits in Wisconsin
For a one- or two-family dwelling, the department's uniform building permit is issued either by the municipality where the dwelling is located, or by a UDC inspection agency where the municipality does not administer the Uniform Dwelling Code. The permit form requires contractor licence numbers and expiry dates, and municipalities have to report the permits they issue back to the department. Larger cities run their own permit desks: Madison publishes a chart of which projects need a permit and who to contact about each one.
Sources:Wisconsin DSPS – One- and two-family (Uniform Dwelling Code)(opens in a new tab)Wisconsin DSPS – Electrical Contractor(opens in a new tab)
Permit information from large municipalities
Before you hire a contractor in Wisconsin
Practical checks you can do yourself, using official tools where they exist.
Ask which Dwelling Contractor certification the company holds, because without one nobody can pull your permit.
Official lookup: Wisconsin DSPS – Dwelling Contractor(opens in a new tab)
Check the credential in the state licence search before you sign.
Official lookup: Wisconsin – Licence search(opens in a new tab)
For electrical work, look for the contractor's licence number on the bid and the contract, where state law requires it.
Official lookup: Wisconsin DSPS – Electrical Contractor(opens in a new tab)
For plumbing, confirm which licensed Master Plumber is responsible for the installation.
Official lookup: Wisconsin DSPS – Master Plumber(opens in a new tab)
Ask whether your municipality administers the Uniform Dwelling Code, or whether a UDC inspection agency issues the permit instead.
Official lookup: Wisconsin DSPS – One- and two-family (Uniform Dwelling Code)(opens in a new tab)
Confirm the contractor's licence and insurance with your state or county government, and get the work, materials and price in writing.
Official lookup: FTC – How to avoid a home improvement scam(opens in a new tab)
Sources for renovation permits and licences in Wisconsin
Every fact on this page comes from these official sources.
- Wisconsin DSPS – Dwelling Contractor(opens in a new tab)
- Wisconsin DSPS – One- and two-family (Uniform Dwelling Code)(opens in a new tab)
- Wisconsin DSPS – Electrical Contractor(opens in a new tab)
- Madison – Building Inspection(opens in a new tab)
- Madison – Permits: do I need one?(opens in a new tab)
- Wisconsin DSPS – Master Plumber(opens in a new tab)
- Wisconsin DSPS – HVAC Contractor(opens in a new tab)
- Wisconsin – Licence search(opens in a new tab)
- FTC – How to avoid a home improvement scam(opens in a new tab)
Find licensed pros
Compare local pros for the regulated trades in this guide, then confirm their licence with the regulator before you hire.
Renovation permits in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Planning a renovation?
Describe your project once and hear from local pros. Ask each one for their licence and permit details before you hire.