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13 permits · verified 2026-10-07

What permits do you need to open a contractor or trade in Dane County?

In short

No permit applies to every contractor or trade in Dane County, WI. All 13 depend on your premises, the work you do or how you are set up. Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services charges $100 one-time filing, on paper or online for the articles of incorporation. 7 of the 13 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-07 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a contractor or trade in Dane County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Erosion Control and Stormwater Management Permit (towns)only if it applies to youDane County Land & Water Resources DepartmentBase fee: $100 for projects eligible for simplified plans; $250 for an erosion control permit (s. 14.06); $500 for a stormwater management permit (s. 14.07). Plus $0.007 per square foot of land disturbed and $0.016 per square foot of new or redeveloped impervious area. A preliminary review letter is $50, credited against the base fee. Fees double for a late or expired permit; a significant plan revision costs the base fee (Ord. 14.15).per project2026-10-07
Dwelling Contractor Certificationonly if it applies to youWisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, Division of Industry Services$25 credential fee, initial and annual renewal alike; a first application adds a $15 application feerenews on the date of issuance2026-09-03
General Contractor Licensing — Wisconsin Trades Credential Listonly if it applies to youWisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, Division of Industry ServicesNo feenot applicable2026-09-03

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

Local permits that apply to every type of business in Dane County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Sanitary Permit (Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System)only if it applies to youPublic Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health DivisionVaries — formula on the Dane County pagea 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 DivisionVaries — formula on the Dane County pagevalid 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 youDane County Department of Planning & Development, Zoning DivisionVaries — formula on the Dane County pageone-time, per project2026-10-07
Conditional Use Permit, Rezone, Variance and Appeal (county-zoned towns)only if it applies to youDane County Department of Planning & Development, Zoning DivisionVaries — formula on the Dane County pageone-time, per application2026-10-07
County Sign Permit (county-zoned towns)only if it applies to youDane County Department of Planning & Development, Zoning DivisionVaries — formula on the Dane County pageone-time, per sign2026-10-07
County Trunk Highway Access Permit – Commercial Siteonly if it applies to youDane County Highway and Transportation DepartmentVaries — formula on the Dane County pageone-time, per access permit2026-10-07

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

WI registrations that apply to every type of business

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to youWisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services$100 one-time filing, on paper or onlineperpetual, but an annual report is due each year2026-09-03
General Business License — Wisconsin positiononly if it applies to youWisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer ServicesNo feenot applicable2026-09-03
Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youWisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services$130 one-time online filing plus a $1 portal fee; $170 on paperperpetual, but an annual report is due each year2026-09-03
Annual Reportonly if it applies to youWisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services$25 a year online; $40 on paper, which is the $25 plus a $15 paper surchargeannual — due at the end of the calendar quarter containing the anniversary of formation2026-09-03

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

How much does it actually cost to permit a contractor or trade in Dane County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 13 records listed for a contractor or trade in Dane County, WI, 0 apply to every business of this type and 13 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

7 of the 13 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 2 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:

Erosion Control and Stormwater Management Permit (towns): Base fee: $100 for projects eligible for simplified plans; $250 for an erosion control permit (s. 14.06); $500 for a stormwater management permit (s. 14.07). Plus $0.007 per square foot of land disturbed and $0.016 per square foot of new or redeveloped impervious area. A preliminary review letter is $50, credited against the base fee. Fees double for a late or expired permit; a significant plan revision costs the base fee (Ord. 14.15).

The other 6 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Dane County permits page and the WI state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Dane County?

Permits for a contractor or trade in Dane County, WI come from 6 separate offices: Public Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health Division, Dane County Department of Planning & Development, Zoning Division, Dane County Land & Water Resources Department, Dane County Highway and Transportation Department, Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services, Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, Division of Industry Services. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.

What does a contractor or trade need in Dane County that other businesses do not?

3 of the 3 permits particular to a contractor or trade here apply to no other business type we cover in Dane County: Erosion Control and Stormwater Management Permit (towns), Dwelling Contractor Certification and General Contractor Licensing — Wisconsin Trades Credential List.

Erosion Control and Stormwater Management Permit (towns)

A contractor or developer disturbing more than 4,000 square feet of land (Ord. 14.06(1)), or making developments that add a cumulative 20,000 square feet of impervious surface to the site (14.07(1)), in a Dane County town needs a permit from the Land & Water Resources Department; under 14.07(4) land disturbance of more than 4,000 square feet on a site developed as commercial also brings in the stormwater management requirements. Under Ord. 14.15 the base fee is $100 for projects eligible for simplified plans, $250 for an erosion control permit and $500 for a stormwater management permit, plus $0.007 per square foot disturbed and $0.016 per square foot of new or redeveloped impervious area; a $50 preliminary review letter is credited against the base fee, and fees double for a late or expired permit. The department's 'Where to Apply for Permits' sheet (dated 3/2023) lists all eight cities and all twenty villages under "Apply at the City or Village Office", including those where county staff review plans under contract, and says "All permit applications ... should still be directed to municipal staff"; this county permit therefore covers projects in the towns. Contact LWRD at 608-224-3730.

Dwelling Contractor Certification

Two credentials that interlock rather than substitute. The dwelling contractor certification is the business's — it is what lets a firm contract for work on one- and two-family dwellings and pull building permits — and the business must additionally hold, or employ someone who holds, the individual dwelling contractor qualifier credential, which renews at $30 and requires a twelve-hour approved course within the year before applying. The money that matters is not the fee: the business must show financial responsibility of at least $25,000 by bond or insurance, plus liability cover of at least $250,000 per occurrence. The department's credential fee table sets the initial fee for the business certification at $25 plus a $15 application fee, and for the qualifier credential at $30 plus a $15 application fee. Reinstatement is $200. Note this reaches residential work only; the department's trades fee table lists no general or commercial building contractor credential.

General Contractor Licensing — Wisconsin Trades Credential List

No fee is recorded. The Department of Safety and Professional Services' published table of trades credential fees lists every contractor credential the department issues — automatic fire sprinkler contractor and its maintenance variant, dwelling contractor and dwelling contractor restricted, electrical, elevator, HVAC and utility contractor — and that table lists no general or commercial building contractor credential. On that schedule, state-level contractor credentialing reaches residential work on one- and two-family dwellings, through the dwelling contractor scheme, and the specific trades. A commercial project still needs plan review and permits, and any electrical, plumbing, HVAC, fire sprinkler or elevator work must be done by the relevant licensed trade. Municipalities may register contractors separately.

The other 6 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Dane County, WI; what each one involves is set out on the Dane County permits page. The 4 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across WI and are covered on the WI state page.

How does a contractor or trade compare with other businesses in Dane County?

The closest match is a auto repair shop, which shares 0 of these permits. A contractor or trade also needs Erosion Control and Stormwater Management Permit (towns), Dwelling Contractor Certification and General Contractor Licensing — Wisconsin Trades Credential List. A auto repair shop needs Automotive Repair Shops — Wisconsin Conduct Rules (ATCP 132), which a contractor or trade does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Dane County, WI, compared with a contractor or trade
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a contractor or tradeOnly a contractor or trade needsOnly it needs
Auto repair shops1031
Childcare centres1031
Coffee shops6036
Fitness studios1031
Food trucks5035
Restaurants5035
Retail stores2032
Salons and barbers2032
Veterinary clinics1031

Sources

Every figure for the permits explained on this page was read from one of these government pages on the date shown. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Dane County permits page and the WI state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Dane County Code of Ordinances ch. 14, Erosion Control and Stormwater Management (rev. 11/30/22) — s. 14.15 feesDane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  2. Where to Apply for Permits — erosion control and stormwater, by municipality (3/2023)Dane County Land & Water Resources Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
  3. Wisconsin DSPS — credential fees and renewal dates (business and health credentials)Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  4. Wisconsin DSPS form 3096 — dwelling contractor certification, with the financial responsibility requirementsWisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03

Related

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.