14 published records
Business licenses and permits in Dane County, Wisconsin
Dane County, Wisconsin (county seat Madison) licenses food establishments, public pools and tattoo and body-piercing establishments countywide through Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC), a joint city-county health department that 2025 RES-366 describes as "an agent for the State of Wisconsin to license and inspect retail food establishments, lodging facilities, public swimming pools, ... body art". PHMDC's food page states that "All Dane County food establishments must be licensed and inspected each year", and its tattoo page says the same of all Dane County tattoo and body piercing facilities, so these licenses apply in every city, village and town, the City of Madison included; for events on the UW-Madison campus, PHMDC directs vendors to UW Environmental Health & Safety. Applications and fees are processed by the City of Madison Clerk's Office on PHMDC's behalf. PHMDC also issues septic (POWTS) sanitary permits under Ord. ch. 46, which applies to "all lands and waters within Dane County", and well location permits under Ord. ch. 45. County zoning under Ord. ch. 10 applies only in towns whose town board adopted it under Wis. Stat. 59.69(5) (Ord. 10.003(1)(a)); in those towns the Planning & Development Zoning Division issues zoning, conditional use and sign permits under the Ch. 12 fee ordinance. The Land & Water Resources Department issues erosion control and stormwater permits in the towns; its 'Where to Apply for Permits' sheet sends applicants in every city and village to the city or village office. The Highway and Transportation Department issues access permits onto county trunk highways (Ord. ch. 79). Alcohol licenses are issued by the municipal governing body: Wis. Stat. 125.02(9) defines a license as an authorization "issued by a municipal governing body", 125.02(11) defines a municipality as a city, village or town, and 125.26(1) lets every municipal governing body issue Class B licenses; county Ord. ch. 39 (Alcohol Beverage Control) covers underage and prohibited conduct. The County Clerk's 2025-2026 Official Directory lists 8 cities (Edgerton, Dane County portion; Fitchburg; Madison; Middleton; Monona; Stoughton; Sun Prairie; Verona), 20 villages (Belleville, Black Earth, Blue Mounds, Brooklyn, Cambridge, Cottage Grove, Cross Plains, Dane, Deerfield, DeForest, Maple Bluff, Marshall, Mazomanie, McFarland, Mount Horeb, Oregon, Rockdale, Shorewood Hills, Waunakee, Windsor) and 32 towns; each runs its own local licensing, building permits and, for cities and villages, zoning, all of which stack on the county records here. The population figure of 588347 is the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 estimate.
What are you opening in Dane County?
- RestaurantsFull-service restaurants carry the densest permit load of any small business: food, fire, occupancy, waste, and usually alcohol.See the full permit list
- Coffee shopsCafés are permitted as food service establishments even where no cooking happens, and the plan review step catches most operators by surprise.See the full permit list
- Retail storesRetail is the lightest common permit load, but the sales tax permit and the certificate of occupancy are non-negotiable in every jurisdiction.See the full permit list
- Salons and barbersPersonal care is licensed at state board level as well as locally, so the shop license and the practitioner licenses are separate obligations.See the full permit list
- Food trucksMobile food is the one category with no certificate of occupancy — but it gains a commissary agreement, and the unit itself is inspected rather than the premises.See the full permit list
- Fitness studiosPrepaid memberships trigger state registration and often a surety bond, which catches operators who budgeted only for the fit-out.See the full permit list
- Childcare centresThe heaviest permit load of any small business: state agency licensing, per-person background checks, and a stricter fire standard than ordinary commercial use.See the full permit list
- Contractors and tradesLicensed at state board level rather than locally, and the only common category with no premises permits at all — the bond is usually the long pole.See the full permit list
- Auto repair shopsOrdinary commercial permitting plus an environmental layer: waste oil, solvents and stormwater are each registered separately.See the full permit list
- Veterinary clinicsA state facility permit, controlled substances registration at both state and federal level, and a medical waste manifest — none of which a general business license covers.See the full permit list
Permits that apply to every type of business in Dane County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanitary Permit (Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System)only if it applies to you | Public 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 gpd | a sanitary permit is valid for two years (Ord. 46.08(5)); renewal or transfer $201 | 2026-10-07 |
| Well Location Permitonly if it applies to you | Public 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 |
| County Zoning Permit – Commercial Construction, Additions and Alterations (county-zoned towns)only if it applies to you | Dane County Department of Planning & Development, Zoning Division | $250.00 plus $2.00 for each $1,000 of construction cost or fraction thereof, rounded to the nearest dollar; doubled where work begins before the permit is obtained. Construction cost includes mechanical equipment but excludes manufacturing or processing equipment, site preparation, sewage disposal systems, utility lines and landscaping (Ord. 12.03(3), (4), (6)). | one-time, per project | 2026-10-07 |
| Conditional Use Permit, Rezone, Variance and Appeal (county-zoned towns)only if it applies to you | Dane County Department of Planning & Development, Zoning Division | $350–$500 conditional use permit: $450 application fee (Ord. 12.05(3)(a)) plus a $45 digital mapping maintenance fee, $495 as charged on the county's application form; rezone petition $500 for commercial, manufacturing and industrial districts or $350 for other districts, plus $45 where the zoning map changes (12.05(1), (1)(a)); variance $500 (12.05(4)); appeal $500 (12.05(5)); fees double where work or a change in use begins first | one-time, per application | 2026-10-07 |
| County Sign Permit (county-zoned towns)only if it applies to you | Dane County Department of Planning & Development, Zoning Division | $50–$500 per sign (Ord. 12.08(2)): on-premise wall sign $100; ground sign $200; pylon sign $200; electronic message sign $300; billboard $500 per face; directional, subdivision or projecting sign $100; home occupation or limited family business sign $50 | one-time, per sign | 2026-10-07 |
| County Trunk Highway Access Permit – Commercial Siteonly if it applies to you | Dane County Highway and Transportation Department | $245–$1,125 per access to a projected commercial site, by average daily traffic (ADT): under 100 $245; 100 to under 1,000 $575; 1,000 or more $1,125; the same on controlled-access (Ord. 79.15(5)-(7)) and general-access highways (79.31(5)-(7)). Temporary access: $135 on a controlled-access highway, $100 on a general-access highway | one-time, per access permit | 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.
What do these permits involve in Dane County?
Sanitary Permit (Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System)
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 Permit
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.
County Zoning Permit – Commercial Construction, Additions and Alterations (county-zoned towns)
In an unincorporated town whose town board adopted Dane County zoning (Ord. 10.003(1)(a), under Wis. Stat. 59.69(5)), building, adding to or altering a commercial structure needs a county zoning permit from the Planning & Development Zoning Division. Under Ord. 12.03(3) the fee is $250.00 plus $2.00 for each $1,000 of construction cost or fraction thereof, doubled where work begins before the permit; 12.03(4) rounds the fee to the nearest dollar, and 12.03(6) counts mechanical equipment in the construction cost but not manufacturing or processing equipment, site preparation, sewage systems, utility lines or landscaping. Subsection (3) was last amended by 2018 OA-23 and is in the codified Ch. 12 (rev. 09/30/21). A change to these fees is proposed in 2026 OA-022, which was referred to committee on September 25, 2026 and would take effect January 1, 2027 if adopted. In cities, villages and towns outside county zoning, the municipality issues zoning approvals under its own code.
Conditional Use Permit, Rezone, Variance and Appeal (county-zoned towns)
In a town under Dane County zoning, a business whose use is listed as a conditional use in its zoning district needs a conditional use permit, decided with the Zoning & Land Regulation Committee. Ord. 12.05(3)(a) sets a $450.00 application fee and 12.05(3)(d) adds a $45.00 digital mapping maintenance fee; the county's CUP application form, as filed with CUP 02727 in September 2026, prints "Application Fees — General: $495" and states "PERMIT FEES DOUBLE FOR VIOLATIONS OR WHEN WORK HAS STARTED PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF PERMIT". A petition to rezone land into a commercial, manufacturing or industrial district is $500 ($350 for other districts) plus $45 when the zoning map changes (12.05(1), (1)(a)); a variance is $500 (12.05(4)) and an appeal $500 (12.05(5)). 2026 OA-022 does not change section 12.05. In cities, villages and towns outside county zoning, the municipality decides these applications under its own code.
County Sign Permit (county-zoned towns)
In a town under Dane County zoning, Ord. 12.08(1) requires a zoning permit "for the installation, erection, replacement, or reconstruction of a sign". The fees in 12.08(2) are $100 for an on-premise wall sign, $200 for a ground or pylon sign, $300 for an electronic message sign, $500 per face for a billboard, $100 for a directional, subdivision or projecting sign and $50 for a home occupation or limited family business sign; 12.08(3) says signs not listed are exempt from any fee and permit requirements. Section 12.08 was last amended by Sub. 1 to 2020 OA-34 (published February 25, 2021). A shop, restaurant, salon, garage or clinic putting up a sign in a county-zoned town applies to the Planning & Development Zoning Division; in cities, villages and towns outside county zoning, the municipality's sign rules apply instead.
County Trunk Highway Access Permit – Commercial Site
A business building a new driveway or other access onto a Dane County trunk highway needs an access permit from the Dane County Highway and Transportation Department under Ord. ch. 79, which provides for "the review and approval of proposed new points of access onto county trunk highways". For a projected commercial site the fee depends on the expected average daily traffic: $245 under 100, $575 for 100 to under 1,000, and $1,125 for 1,000 or more, on both controlled-access highways (79.15(5)-(7), last amended 2021 OA-32) and general-access highways (79.31(5)-(7), last amended 2022 OA-15); a temporary access is $135 or $100. These amounts are in the codified Ch. 79 (rev. 07/31/23). A change to these fees, including new review fees, is proposed in 2026 OA-019, which was referred to committee on September 25, 2026 and would take effect January 1, 2027 if adopted.
Sources
Every figure in the table above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 2023 OA-067 — signed copy (adopted December 21, 2023; signed December 27, 2023)Dane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
- Wis. Admin. Code SPS 302.67 — sanitary permit fees; $100 of each fee forwarded to the departmentWisconsin Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
- Wis. Stat. 145.19 — sanitary permitsWisconsin Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
- Dane County Code of Ordinances ch. 45, Private Water Systems — ss. 45.21, 45.51Dane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
- Dane County Code of Ordinances ch. 12, Zoning Fees (rev. 09/30/21) — ss. 12.03, 12.05, 12.08Dane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
- Dane County Code of Ordinances ch. 10, Zoning (rev. 04/30/25) — s. 10.003(1)(a) applicabilityDane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
- 2026 OA-022 — proposed amendment of zoning fees (in committee)Dane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
- 2026 OA-022 (matter 33281) legislative history — referred September 25, 2026Dane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
- Conditional Use Permit application form as filed with CUP 02727 (application dated 09/11/2026) — application feesDane County Department of Planning & Development · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
- Dane County Code of Ordinances ch. 79, County Trunk Highway Access Control (rev. 07/31/23) — ss. 79.15, 79.31Dane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
- 2026 OA-019 — proposed amendment of county trunk highway access fees (in committee)Dane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
- 2026 OA-019 (matter 33179) legislative history — referred September 25, 2026Dane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
Who issues business permits in Dane County?
Permitting in Dane County is split across 4 agencies we hold records for, with tax registration handled at state level. No single office issues everything, which is why an opening usually means filing in several places rather than one.
Dane County issuing agencies
- Public Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health DivisionLicenses and inspects retail food establishments (serving meals and not serving meals), mobile retail food establishments, service bases and transient food establishments throughout Dane County as the agent of the State of Wisconsin (2025 RES-366; Ord. 46.33-46.34); applications and fees are processed by the City of Madison Clerk's Office · Licenses public pools and water attractions, and tattoo and body-piercing establishments, throughout Dane County as the State's agent (Ord. 46.33-46.34; Ord. ch. 48) · Issues sanitary permits for private onsite wastewater treatment systems (Ord. ch. 46) and well location permits (Ord. ch. 45) throughout Dane County10 permits
- Dane County Department of Planning & Development, Zoning DivisionIssues zoning permits, conditional use permits and sign permits, and processes rezone, variance and appeal applications, under Ord. ch. 10 and the Ch. 12 fee ordinance, in the unincorporated towns whose town board adopted county zoning (Ord. 10.003(1)(a))3 permits
- Dane County Highway and Transportation DepartmentReviews and permits new points of access onto county trunk highways (Ord. ch. 79)1 permit
- Dane County Land & Water Resources DepartmentIssues erosion control and stormwater management permits under Ord. ch. 14 in the towns; per the department's 'Where to Apply for Permits' sheet, applicants in every city and village apply at the city or village office1 permit
Other Wisconsin jurisdictions we cover
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.