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Dane County and Madison

Public Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health Division

In short

Public Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health Division issues 10 permits we publish for Dane County and Madison, last verified 2026-10-07. Each carries the fee as the agency publishes it, with a link to the schedule it was read from.

Issued in Dane County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Mobile Retail Food Establishment and Service Base LicensePublic Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health Division$266.76–$1,457.35 mobile unit: priced from the serving-meals or not-serving-meals table (PHMDC annual fee $266.76 to $1,457.35 by gross sales, plus a one-time pre-inspection fee of $562.50 to $1,200.00 for a new license); service base with no food preparation: $266.76 PHMDC annual fee + $150.00 pre-inspection fee; each plus the State (DATCP) fee, 14% of the DATCP license fee in ATCP 75.08 Table Bannual; licenses expire June 30, and a license first issued between April 1 and June 30 runs to June 30 of the following year (Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 75.06(2)(a))2026-10-07
Transient Food Establishment License (events)only if it applies to youPublic Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health Division$105.30–$175.50 PHMDC annual fee: $105.30 (prepackaged TCS food only), $140.40 (non-TCS food), $175.50 (TCS food); plus the State (DATCP) fee, 14% of the DATCP license fee in ATCP 75.08 Table B. A transient operator already licensed by the State or another Wisconsin municipality may instead be charged an inspection fee of $25 per day (Ord. 46.34(1)(a))annual fee on the PHMDC schedule; a transient food establishment operates at an event for no more than 14 days2026-10-07
Food License Reinspection, Administrative and Penalty Feesonly if it applies to youPublic Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health DivisionReinspection by sales tier (same for every complexity): first reinspection $37.50 (lowest tier), $75, $112.50, $225, $375, $750 and $1,125 (over $5M); second reinspection $56.25 (lowest tier) to $1,687.50 (highest); third and later $112.50 (lowest tier) to $3,375 (highest). Administrative (document verification-only) reinspection: $37.50. Operating without a license: $375. Operating without a certified food manager: $225. Special condition inspection: $375. HACCP plan validation: $150; HACCP plan verification: $150; risk control plan: $150. Late payment: 25% of the permit fee (Ord. 46.35(1)). Duplicate permit: $5 (Ord. 46.35(3)).per occurrence; charged when the triggering event happens2026-10-07
Public Pool and Water Attraction Licenseonly if it applies to youPublic Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health Division$669.24–$1,387.33 PHMDC annual fee per pool: Simple, no feature $669.24; Simple with feature $1,110.04; Moderate, no feature $912.60; Moderate with feature $1,316.25; Complex, no feature $1,026.68; Complex with feature $1,387.33. A new license also pays a $562.50 pre-inspection / plan review fee. Plus the State (DATCP) annual fee, 14% of the DATCP license fee in ATCP 76.06 Table Cannual, July 1 to June 30; a license issued after April 1 is valid until June 30 of the following year (PHMDC pools page)2026-10-07
Retail Food Establishment License – Not Serving Mealsonly if it applies to youPublic Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health Division$266.76–$1,457.35 PHMDC annual fee by gross annual food and drink sales, the same tiers as the serving-meals license: $266.76 (up to $10,000) to $1,457.35 (over $5M); a new license also pays a one-time pre-inspection / plan review fee of $562.50 to $1,200.00 by the same tiers. Plus the State (DATCP) annual fee, 14% of the DATCP license fee in ATCP 75.08 Table B, set by complexity (prepackaged, simple non-TCS, simple TCS, moderate, complex)annual; licenses expire June 30, and a license first issued between April 1 and June 30 runs to June 30 of the following year (Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 75.06(2)(a))2026-10-07
Tattoo and Body-Piercing Establishment Licenseonly if it applies to youPublic Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health Division$86.05–$922.10 new license, combined PHMDC + State + pre-inspection: tattoo establishment $789.34 ($400.84 PHMDC + $13.50 State + $375.00 pre-inspection); body piercing establishment $789.34 (same components); combined tattoo and body piercing establishment $922.10 ($525.10 + $22.00 + $375.00). Temporary establishment: first day $86.05 ($76.05 PHMDC + $10.00 State), each additional day $29.25annual, July 1 to the following June 30; a license first issued between April 1 and June 30 expires June 30 of the following year (Ord. 48.15(1))2026-10-07
Sanitary Permit (Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System)only if it applies to youPublic Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health Division$509–$1,283 combined county + State amount per permit, as published by PHMDC: conventional gravity-fed system $509; holding tank $509; aerobic treatment unit added to an existing system $776; in-ground pressure $805; mound or at-grade $1,283. Each is the county fee under Ord. 46.23 (review/processing $170, $198 or $227 plus $239 per inspection block under 2023 OA-067) plus the $100 per permit forwarded to the State under SPS 302.67(2). Commercial plan review (Ord. 46.23(16)(a)): $275 up to 1,000 gpd, $358 for 1,001-2,000 gpd, $440 for 2,001-5,000 gpda sanitary permit is valid for two years (Ord. 46.08(5)); renewal or transfer $2012026-10-07
Well Location Permitonly if it applies to youPublic Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health Division$50–$226 well location (siting) permit $226; transfer $50; reinspection $148; doubled where work begins before the permit is obtained (Ord. 45.51)valid for one year or until construction is completed, whichever comes first (Ord. 45.21(12))2026-10-07
Retail Food Establishment License – Serving MealsPublic Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health Division$266.76–$1,457.35 PHMDC annual fee by gross annual food and drink sales: up to $10,000 $266.76; $10,001-$100,000 $591.08; $100,001-$250,000 $759.56; $250,001-$500,000 $1,062.83; $500,001-$1M $1,090.91; $1M-$5M $1,312.74; over $5M $1,457.35. A new license also pays a one-time pre-inspection / plan review fee of $562.50, $600.00, $675.00, $750.00, $900.00, $1,050.00 or $1,200.00 for those tiers. Plus the State (DATCP) annual fee, 14% of the DATCP license fee in ATCP 75.08 Table B, set by complexityannual; licenses expire June 30, and a license first issued between April 1 and June 30 runs to June 30 of the following year (Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 75.06(2)(a))2026-10-07

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

Issued in Madison

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Food Establishment LicensePublic Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health DivisionNew license fee for a retail food establishment serving meals, by gross annual sales: $0–$10,000 $861.46 (simple) or $904.86 (complex); $10,001–$100,000 $1,223.28; $100,001–$250,000 $1,466.76; $250,001–$500,000 $1,845.03; $500,001–$1,000,000 $2,023.11; $1,000,001–$5,000,000 $2,394.94; over $5,000,000 $2,689.55. Separate, lower tables apply for establishments not serving meals, mobile/service-base units, micro markets, and schools.annual2026-09-06

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

About each permit

Mobile Retail Food Establishment and Service Base LicenseDane County

A food truck or cart licensed through Public Health Madison & Dane County applies on PHMDC's Mobile Retail Food Establishment and Service Base Licensing Application (dated May 4, 2026). Section E of the application prices the unit from the serving-meals table when more than 50% of the food served is meals and from the not-serving-meals table otherwise; both tables run from a $266.76 to a $1,457.35 PHMDC annual fee by gross sales, with a one-time pre-inspection fee for a new license. A service base with no food preparation is $266.76 PHMDC fee plus a $150.00 pre-inspection fee, plus the State fee. The PHMDC fee and pre-inspection fee are those adopted by 2025 RES-364 (County Board adopted April 16, 2026, County Executive signed April 20, 2026, effective April 1, 2026, under Ord. 46.34(1)) and printed on PHMDC's published fee schedule dated May 4, 2026. PHMDC also collects the State (DATCP) annual fee with the license; RES-364 sets it at 14% of the DATCP license fee in Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 75.08 Table B, and PHMDC is contractually required to reimburse DATCP. The State fee depends on the establishment's complexity, so it is shown here by its basis rather than as a total. PHMDC's food page says DATCP state-licensed mobile vendors are "now exempt from additional Public Health licensing", but that "Even with a DATCP license, you may be subject to an inspection and a $25 inspection fee from us"; Ord. 46.34(1)(a) allows PHMDC to charge a transient operator licensed with the State or another Wisconsin municipality "an inspection fee of $25 per day". Operators send the operation plan and cart and base plans to the Environmental Health Division and schedule a pre-inspection.

Transient Food Establishment License (events)Dane County

A vendor selling food at fairs, festivals and other events in Dane County needs a transient food establishment license from Public Health Madison & Dane County, issued as the State's agent. The PHMDC annual fee is $105.30 for prepackaged temperature-controlled (TCS) food only, $140.40 for non-TCS food and $175.50 for TCS food, as adopted by 2025 RES-364 (County Board adopted April 16, 2026, effective April 1, 2026) and printed on PHMDC's fee schedule dated May 4, 2026. PHMDC also collects the State (DATCP) annual fee with the license; RES-364 sets it at 14% of the DATCP license fee in Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 75.08 Table B, and PHMDC is contractually required to reimburse DATCP. The State fee depends on the establishment's complexity, so it is shown here by its basis rather than as a total. The application is paid by mail or in person at the City of Madison Clerk's Office, 210 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd #105, and PHMDC asks vendors to call before the event to discuss the stand set-up. A transient operator already licensed with the State of Wisconsin or another Wisconsin municipality may be charged "an inspection fee of $25 per day" under Ord. 46.34(1)(a), the amount PHMDC's food page also states. For events on the UW-Madison campus, PHMDC directs vendors to UW Environmental Health & Safety.

Food License Reinspection, Administrative and Penalty FeesDane County

These charges sit on top of the PHMDC food license fees anywhere in Dane County. 2025 RES-366 (County Board adopted April 16, 2026, County Executive signed April 20, 2026, effective April 1, 2026) adopted the reinspection fees by sales tier, from a $37.50 first reinspection in the lowest tier to $1,125 in the over-$5 million tier, rising for second and third reinspections to as much as $3,375; the same amounts are printed on PHMDC's fee schedule dated May 4, 2026. RES-366 also created a $37.50 administrative reinspection fee for reinspections that only verify documents, effective April 1, 2026; that line is not printed on the May 4, 2026 published schedule. The published schedule's other fees are $375 for operating without a license, $225 for operating without a certified food manager, $375 for a special condition inspection and $150 each for HACCP plan validation, HACCP plan verification and a risk control plan; Ord. 46.34 assigns these amounts to the PHMDC Fee Schedule. Under Ord. 46.35(1) a fee not paid when due carries a late fee of 25% of the permit fee, and 46.35(3) sets a $5 duplicate permit fee.

Public Pool and Water Attraction LicenseDane County

A fitness studio or gym in Dane County that operates a public pool, whirlpool or water attraction needs a license for it from Public Health Madison & Dane County, which licenses public swimming pools as the State's agent (2025 RES-366). A studio without a pool has no pool license. The PHMDC annual fee runs from $669.24 (simple, no feature) to $1,387.33 (complex with feature), with a $562.50 pre-inspection / plan review fee for a new license. The PHMDC fee and pre-inspection fee are those adopted by 2025 RES-364 (County Board adopted April 16, 2026, County Executive signed April 20, 2026, effective April 1, 2026, under Ord. 46.34(1)) and printed on PHMDC's published fee schedule dated May 4, 2026. PHMDC also collects the State (DATCP) annual fee, which RES-364 sets at 14% of the DATCP license fee in Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 76.06 Table C; it is shown here by its basis rather than as a total. Reinspections cost $225, $337.50 and $675 for the first, second and third or later (2025 RES-366), and RES-366's $37.50 administrative reinspection fee applies to document-only reinspections. PHMDC's pools page says licenses are valid from July 1 to June 30 and that plans for a new public pool must first be approved by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.

Retail Food Establishment License – Not Serving MealsDane County

A grocery, convenience store or other shop that sells food without serving meals, or a coffee shop that does not serve meals, anywhere in Dane County needs this license from Public Health Madison & Dane County, issued as the State's agent (2025 RES-366). The PHMDC annual fee uses the same gross-sales tiers as the serving-meals license, from $266.76 (sales up to $10,000) through $591.08, $759.56, $1,062.83, $1,090.91 and $1,312.74 to $1,457.35 (over $5 million), and a new license also pays a one-time pre-inspection / plan review fee of $562.50, $600.00, $675.00, $750.00, $900.00, $1,050.00 or $1,200.00. The PHMDC fee and pre-inspection fee are those adopted by 2025 RES-364 (County Board adopted April 16, 2026, County Executive signed April 20, 2026, effective April 1, 2026, under Ord. 46.34(1)) and printed on PHMDC's published fee schedule dated May 4, 2026. PHMDC also collects the State (DATCP) annual fee with the license; RES-364 sets it at 14% of the DATCP license fee in Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 75.08 Table B, and PHMDC is contractually required to reimburse DATCP. The State fee depends on the establishment's complexity, so it is shown here by its basis rather than as a total. Applications and payment go to the City of Madison Clerk's Office, which PHMDC's food page says processes all food and drink applications and fees in Madison and Dane County.

Tattoo and Body-Piercing Establishment LicenseDane County

A salon or studio in Dane County offering tattooing, body piercing or permanent make-up needs an establishment license from Public Health Madison & Dane County. PHMDC's tattoo page says "All Dane County tattoo and body piercing facilities (including permanent make-up facilities) must be licensed and inspected each year", and that the City of Madison Clerk's Office "handles all tattoo and body piercing establishment licensing fees in Dane County". A new tattoo or body piercing establishment pays $789.34 ($400.84 PHMDC fee, $13.50 State fee and $375.00 pre-inspection fee) and a combined establishment $922.10 ($525.10, $22.00 and $375.00); a temporary establishment pays $86.05 for the first day ($76.05 PHMDC plus $10.00 State) and $29.25 for each additional day. The PHMDC fee and pre-inspection fee are those adopted by 2025 RES-364 (County Board adopted April 16, 2026, County Executive signed April 20, 2026, effective April 1, 2026, under Ord. 46.34(1)) and printed on PHMDC's published fee schedule dated May 4, 2026. Ord. 48.16(2) directs the division to collect the State fee in addition to the county fee. Reinspections cost $225, $337.50 and $675 (2025 RES-366). Each tattooist and body piercer also needs a practitioner license from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (Ord. 48.11(2), ch. SPS 221). A salon offering only hair, nail or skin services, without body art, has no body-art license.

Sanitary Permit (Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System)Dane County

A business whose premises use a private onsite wastewater treatment system (septic system, mound or holding tank) anywhere in Dane County needs a sanitary permit from Public Health Madison & Dane County before installing or replacing it; Ord. ch. 46 applies to "all lands and waters within Dane County". PHMDC's Well and Septic Program Fee Schedule ("Effective January 1, 2024", sheet dated December 2025) lists $509 for a conventional gravity-fed system or holding tank, $805 for in-ground pressure, $1,283 for a mound or at-grade system and $776 to add an aerobic treatment unit. These are combined county + State amounts: each equals the county review/processing fee in Ord. 46.23(1)(b) plus $239 for each inspection block (one block for gravity or holding tank, two for in-ground pressure, four for mound or at-grade), plus the $100 of each sanitary permit fee that SPS 302.67(2) requires the county to forward to the State (that $100 includes the $25 State groundwater fee). The $239 block was adopted by 2023 OA-067 (adopted December 21, 2023, signed December 27, 2023); the published Ch. 46 text (rev. 01/31/25) has not been updated and still prints $199 in 46.23(1)(a). The sheet notes that conventional systems for commercial properties require plan review: $275 up to 1,000 gallons per day, $358 for 1,001-2,000 and $440 for 2,001-5,000, with $275 for a commercial holding tank. Other ordinance fees: soil test inspection $227, reinspection $239, permit transfer or plumber change $201 and a $12 annual maintenance programme fee (46.23(12)); fees double if work starts before the permit (46.23(18)).

Well Location PermitDane County

A business that installs a private well anywhere in Dane County, for example a rural restaurant, shop or clinic on its own water supply, needs a well location permit before the well is installed; Ord. 45.21(1) requires the property owner to hold "a valid well location permit issued by the county", and chapter 45 covers private water systems throughout the county. Under Ord. 45.51, as amended by 2023 OA-067, the permit fee is $226, a transfer is $50, a reinspection is $148, and the fee is doubled where work begins before the permit is obtained. PHMDC's Well and Septic Program Fee Schedule (sheet dated December 2025) lists the same $226, $50 and $148. The permit is valid for one year or until construction is completed, whichever comes first (45.21(12)). PHMDC administers the chapter; contact it at 608-242-6515.

Retail Food Establishment License – Serving MealsDane County

A restaurant, or a coffee shop that serves meals, anywhere in Dane County needs this license from Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC), which licenses retail food establishments as the agent of the State of Wisconsin (2025 RES-366). PHMDC's food page states that "All Dane County food establishments must be licensed and inspected each year" and that "The City of Madison Clerk's office processes all food and drink applications and fees in Madison and Dane County", so the application and payment go to the City Clerk's Office even outside Madison; for events on the UW-Madison campus, PHMDC directs vendors to UW Environmental Health & Safety. The PHMDC annual fee is set by gross annual food and drink sales, from $266.76 to $1,457.35, and a new license also pays a one-time pre-inspection / plan review fee of $562.50 to $1,200.00. The PHMDC fee and pre-inspection fee are those adopted by 2025 RES-364 (County Board adopted April 16, 2026, County Executive signed April 20, 2026, effective April 1, 2026, under Ord. 46.34(1)) and printed on PHMDC's published fee schedule dated May 4, 2026. PHMDC also collects the State (DATCP) annual fee with the license; RES-364 sets it at 14% of the DATCP license fee in Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 75.08 Table B, and PHMDC is contractually required to reimburse DATCP. The State fee depends on the establishment's complexity, so it is shown here by its basis rather than as a total. New or remodelled premises send kitchen plans to the Environmental Health Division and schedule a pre-inspection. Contact PHMDC at 608-242-6515.

Food Establishment LicenseMadison

Every establishment must have a Certified Food Protection Manager; operating without one draws a $225 fine, and operating without a license at all draws a $375 fine. Reinspection fees range from $37.50 up to $3,375 depending on tier and repeat count. A separate, undated fee table on the City Clerk's own site shows lower, apparently stale figures for the same tiers — this current, dated PHMDC table is used here.

Contact

Jurisdiction
Dane County and Madison
Phone
608-242-6515

Contact details are taken from the agency’s own site or its published fee schedule. Where we have not verified a phone number we leave it blank rather than guess.

Sources

Every fee and term above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.

  1. 2023 OA-067 — amending Ord. 45.51 and 46.23 fees (inspection block $239)Dane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  2. 2023 OA-067 — signed copy (adopted December 21, 2023; signed December 27, 2023)Dane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  3. 2025 RES-364 — DATCP reimbursement update and PHMDC license fee schedulesDane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  4. 2025 RES-364 (matter 31667) legislative history — County Board adoption April 16, 2026Dane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  5. 2025 RES-364 attachment — 2026 food license fees (adopted table)Dane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  6. 2025 RES-364 attachment — 2026 general license fees (adopted table)Dane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  7. 2025 RES-366 — PHMDC reinspection and administrative reinspection feesDane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  8. 2025 RES-366 attachment — food license reinspection fees (adopted table)Dane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  9. 2025 RES-366 attachment — general license reinspection fees (adopted table)Dane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  10. Dane County Code of Ordinances ch. 45, Private Water Systems — ss. 45.21, 45.51Dane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  11. Dane County Code of Ordinances ch. 46, Private Sewage Systems and Public Health (rev. 01/31/25) — ss. 46.08, 46.23, 46.34, 46.35Dane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  12. Dane County Code of Ordinances ch. 48, Tattooing and Body Piercing (rev. 11/30/24) — ss. 48.11, 48.15, 48.16Dane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  13. Food Establishments — licensing, City of Madison Clerk processing, mobile and transient vendorsPublic Health Madison & Dane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  14. General License Fees (fees effective May 4, 2026): public pool and water attraction, tattoo and body piercing, reinspection feesPublic Health Madison & Dane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  15. Mobile Retail Food Establishment and Service Base Licensing Application (May 4, 2026)Public Health Madison & Dane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  16. Pools — license year July 1 to June 30, renewal, DSPS plan approvalPublic Health Madison & Dane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  17. Public Health Madison and Dane County — food license fees effective 4 May 2026Public Health Madison and Dane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  18. Tattoo and Body Piercing — establishment licensing and practitioner licensesPublic Health Madison & Dane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  19. Well and Septic Program Fee Schedule (Effective January 1, 2024; sheet dated December 2025)Public Health Madison & Dane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  20. Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 75 — retail food establishments (75.06 licence term; 75.08 Table B licence fees)Wisconsin Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  21. Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 76 — public swimming pools and water attractions (76.06 Table C licence fees)Wisconsin Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  22. Wis. Admin. Code SPS 302.67 — sanitary permit fees; $100 of each fee forwarded to the departmentWisconsin Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  23. Wis. Stat. 145.19 — sanitary permitsWisconsin Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07

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