13 permits · verified 2026-10-07
What permits do you need to open a retail store in Dane County?
In short
A retail store in Dane County, WI has 1 permit that applies to every business of this type, plus 12 more that depend on your premises, signage 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. 8 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 retail store in Dane County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food License Reinspection, Administrative and Penalty Feesonly if it applies to you | Public Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health Division | Reinspection 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 happens | 2026-10-07 |
| Retail Food Establishment License – Not Serving Mealsonly if it applies to you | Public 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 |
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
| 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 | Varies — formula on the Dane County page | 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 | Varies — formula on the Dane County page | 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 | Varies — formula on the Dane County page | 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 | Varies — formula on the Dane County page | 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 | Varies — formula on the Dane County page | 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 | Varies — formula on the Dane County page | 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.
WI registrations that apply to every type of business
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to you | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services | $100 one-time filing, on paper or online | perpetual, but an annual report is due each year | 2026-09-03 |
| General Business License — Wisconsin positiononly if it applies to you | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services | No fee | not applicable | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to you | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services | $130 one-time online filing plus a $1 portal fee; $170 on paper | perpetual, but an annual report is due each year | 2026-09-03 |
| Annual Reportonly if it applies to you | Wisconsin 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 surcharge | annual — due at the end of the calendar quarter containing the anniversary of formation | 2026-09-03 |
| Seller's Permit and Business Tax Registration | Wisconsin Department of Revenue | $20 initial registration covering two years; $10 to renew each two-year period | 2 years | 2026-09-03 |
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 retail store 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 retail store in Dane County, WI, 1 apply to every business of this type and 12 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.
Of the 1 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $20.00. That is a floor, not a total. 8 of the 13 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 1 has no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:
Food License Reinspection, Administrative and Penalty Fees: Reinspection 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)).
Retail Food Establishment License – Not Serving Meals: $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)
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 retail store in Dane County, WI come from 5 separate offices: Public Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health Division, Dane County Department of Planning & Development, Zoning Division, Dane County Highway and Transportation Department, Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services, Wisconsin Department of Revenue. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.
- Public Health Madison & Dane County, Environmental Health DivisionIssues 4 permits on this page: Food License Reinspection, Administrative and Penalty Fees, Retail Food Establishment License – Not Serving Meals, Sanitary Permit (Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System), Well Location Permit2300 S. Park St., Suite 2010, Madison, WI 53713 · 608-242-6515publichealthmdc.com/businesses-licensing/food-establishments
- Dane County Department of Planning & Development, Zoning DivisionIssues 3 permits on this page: County Zoning Permit – Commercial Construction, Additions and Alterations (county-zoned towns), Conditional Use Permit, Rezone, Variance and Appeal (county-zoned towns), County Sign Permit (county-zoned towns)608-266-4266plandev.danecounty.gov
- Dane County Highway and Transportation DepartmentIssues 1 permit on this page: County Trunk Highway Access Permit – Commercial Sitewww.danecounty.gov/Ordinances/ViewFile/207c71e7-774b-4179-9f59-c4476b978054
- Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer ServicesIssues 4 permits on this page: Articles of Incorporation, General Business License — Wisconsin position, Articles of Organization (LLC), Annual Report4822 Madison Yards Way, North Tower, Madison, WI 53705 · (608) 261-7577onestop.wi.gov
- Wisconsin Department of RevenueIssues 1 permit on this page: Seller's Permit and Business Tax RegistrationPO Box 8902, Madison, WI 53708-8902 · (608) 266-2776www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/FAQS/pcs-btr.aspx
What does a retail store need in Dane County that other businesses do not?
Food License Reinspection, Administrative and Penalty Fees
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.
Retail Food Establishment License – Not Serving Meals
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.
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 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across WI and are covered on the WI state page.
How does a retail store compare with other businesses in Dane County?
The closest match is a coffee shop, which shares 2 of these permits. A coffee shop needs Transient Food Establishment License (events), Retail Food Establishment License – Serving Meals, Retail Food Establishment License and Certified Food Protection Manager, which a retail store does not.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a retail store | Only a retail store needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee shops | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Food trucks | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Restaurants | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Auto repair shops | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Childcare centres | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Contractors and trades | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Fitness studios | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Salons and barbers | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Veterinary clinics | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
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.
- 2025 RES-366 attachment — food license reinspection fees (adopted table)Dane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
- 2025 RES-366 — PHMDC reinspection and administrative reinspection feesDane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
- Public Health Madison and Dane County — food license fees effective 4 May 2026Public Health Madison and Dane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- 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
- 2025 RES-364 attachment — 2026 food license fees (adopted table)Dane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
- 2025 RES-364 — DATCP reimbursement update and PHMDC license fee schedulesDane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
- 2025 RES-364 (matter 31667) legislative history — County Board adoption April 16, 2026Dane County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
- 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
- Food Establishments — licensing, City of Madison Clerk processing, mobile and transient vendorsPublic Health Madison & Dane County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
Related
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.