Public Health Rules in Madison, WI (2026)
5 verified public health rules for Madison, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Restaurant Grade Cards
Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC), the joint city-county agency, inspects Madison restaurants under Wis. Stat. ch. 97 and Wis. Admin. Code DHS 196, posting inspection reports online without letter grades.
PHMDC restaurant inspections
Some RestrictionsRodent Control
Madison General Ordinances Ch. 27 (Building Code) and Ch. 7 require property owners to keep premises free of rodent harborage, and PHMDC may issue abatement orders for active infestations under Wis. Stat. ch. 254.
Rat and rodent abatement
Some RestrictionsBed-Bug Rules
Wisconsin Act 76 (2018) preempts most local landlord-tenant rules, but Madison still treats bed bug infestations as Ch. 27 housing-code violations requiring owner-paid extermination in rental units.
Bed bug landlord duties
Some RestrictionsSyringe Disposal
Wisconsin allows pharmacy syringe sales without prescription under Wis. Stat. §450.11(1g), and PHMDC partners with AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin to operate syringe-services programs serving Madison and Dane County.
Sharps disposal and syringe access
Few RestrictionsFood Handler Certification
Under Wis. Admin. Code DHS 196 and PHMDC permitting, every Madison restaurant must designate at least one Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) holding an ANSI-CFP accredited certification such as ServSafe.
Certified food protection manager
Some RestrictionsLooking for Dane County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Madison city rules.
Public Health Rules in Dane County →