Madison, WI Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Required inspections
- Foundation, structure, insulation, plus final
- Sleeping basements
- Extra inspection required before floor is poured
- Failed-call fee
- $25 when work isn't ready for inspection
- Occupancy rule
- Unlawful before final inspection and certificate issue
- Enforcing office
- Director, Building Inspection Division
Summary
Madison's Building Inspection Division requires three staged inspections during construction, foundation, structure and insulation, plus a basement floor inspection for sleeping space and a final inspection, under Section 29.10, MGO. Contractors must call for each inspection before work continues, and occupancy is unlawful until the final inspection and certificate of occupancy issue.
No work shall be done on any part of the building or structure beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the approval of the Director of the Building Inspection Division... It shall be the responsibility of the contractor/owner to call the Building Inspection Division for all required inspections listed below:(a)Inspection of Foundations: To be made after trenches are excavated and poured and the necessary forms erected... (b)Inspection of Structure: To be made after the roof is in place; all framing, fireblocking and bracing are in place and all pipes, chimneys and vents are complete.(c)Inspection of Insulation: To be made after the insulation is in place, required vapor barrier has been installed and sealed.(d)Basement Floor Inspection: To be made if the basement is to be used for living and sleeping purposes...(e)Final Inspection: To be made after the building is completed and is ready for occupancy.
Full Breakdown
10(2), MGO bars any work from proceeding past the point covered by each successive inspection without the Director's approval, and requires the contractor or owner to call for each of the following: foundation inspection after trenches are excavated, forms erected and lot-line stakes set; structure inspection after the roof, framing, fireblocking, bracing, pipes, chimneys and vents are in place; and insulation inspection after insulation and vapor barrier are installed and sealed. A basement floor inspection is added before the floor is poured if the basement will be used for living or sleeping space, and a final inspection is required once the building is complete and ready for occupancy.
10(1), MGO separately bars covering or concealing 'reinforcing steel or structural framework of iron or steel' before the Director signs off on that portion of the work. 10(3), MGO allows the city to assess a $25 charge for that failed inspection call. 11(1), MGO.
Violations & Fines
Calling for an inspection when the work isn't ready costs $25 per failed call under Section 29.10(3), MGO. Occupying a building before the final inspection passes and a certificate of occupancy issues violates Section 29.11, MGO, and any Chapter 29 violation carries a forfeiture of $10 to $1,000 under Section 29.20(2), MGO, with each day treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Madison
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Building Inspections in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dane County handle building inspections.