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.
Wisconsin uses a uniform state food code (Wis. Admin. Code DHS 196), and PHMDC carries out inspections under Wis. Stat. ch. 97 as the local agent. Unlike Los Angeles or New York, Wisconsin does not require A/B/C letter grade placards. Instead, PHMDC publishes searchable inspection reports listing priority and priority-foundation violations on its website. Routine inspections happen one to three times yearly based on risk category. Critical violations require correction on site or follow-up reinspection. Restaurants must hold an annual permit from PHMDC and post it conspicuously.
Operating without a PHMDC permit, repeat priority violations, or refusing inspection access can lead to permit suspension, closure orders, and fines under Madison General Ordinances Ch. 7.
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See how Madison's restaurant grade cards rules stack up against other locations.
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