Every town around Madison requires a permit to finish a basement. What changes is how you apply, whether the trades get separate permits, and when the inspector comes. This page has each town's rules from its own code and permit pages, and the state code items every inspector checks.
What the inspector checks · The order of inspections · Town by town
What the inspector checks
These come from the state Uniform Dwelling Code, which Madison, Middleton, Fitchburg, Verona, Sun Prairie, McFarland and Shorewood Hills apply to basement finishes in houses of any age.
| Item | The rule |
|---|---|
| Ceiling height | 7 feet in habitable rooms and hallways. Beams and other projections can drop 8 inches below that. A room can be lower in places if at least half its floor is 7 feet; areas under 5 feet don't count. (SPS 321.06) |
| Bedrooms | A second exit, usually an egress window in each bedroom, and window glass equal to 8% of the floor area. (SPS 321.03, 321.05) |
| Fresh air | Every habitable room needs openable windows or doors equal to 3.5% of the floor area, or mechanical ventilation. Basements get no exception here. Bath fans vent outside. (SPS 321.05(2)) |
| Smoke alarms | One in each bedroom and one outside the bedrooms within 21 feet of each door, wired to house power with battery backup and interconnected. State law also requires one in every basement. (SPS 321.09) |
| CO alarms | Required in the basement of any home with a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage. (Wis. Stat. 101.647) |
| Wall insulation | Dane County is in Wisconsin's energy Zone 1: R-15 continuous, R-19 in the stud cavity, or R-13 plus R-5 continuous, from the top of the wall to the floor. Rim joists insulated to the same value. (SPS 322.31, 322.32) |
| No plastic on the walls | Plastic sheet vapor barriers (0.1 perm or less) are banned on below-grade concrete or block walls and on stud walls built in front of them. (SPS 322.38(4)) |
| Fireblocking | Furred-out walls get fireblocking at the floor and ceiling, and where soffits meet walls. (SPS 321.085) |
| Foam insulation | Rigid or spray foam has to be covered by 1/2-inch drywall or another thermal barrier. Foam in the rim joist above the bottom of the joists is exempt. (SPS 321.11) |
| Stairs, if rebuilt | 36 inches wide, risers no more than 8 inches, treads at least 9, 76 inches of headroom, and a handrail 30 to 38 inches high on any run over 3 risers. (SPS 321.04) |
The order of inspections
- Plans and permit. Most towns want a floor plan showing rooms, walls, egress windows and insulation.
- Rough. Once the framing, wiring, plumbing and ductwork are in and before anything is covered. You can ask for one combined rough inspection or one per trade. (SPS 320.10(3)(f))
- Insulation. Before drywall.
- Final. Before the space is used.
Under the state rule, if the inspector hasn't come by the end of the second business day after you ask, work may go on. (SPS 320.10(2)(b))
Town by town
City of Madison
Basement alterations or conversions need a permit and plan review, since finishing a previously unfinished space is a plan-review trigger. Check zoning first. Converting a room to a bedroom is a change of use that also needs plan review. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work need their own permits. Source
- Applying: A basement finish goes through plan review: submit plans digitally or at the Building Inspection counter (by appointment). Talk to Zoning first.
- Inspections: Rough framing once plumbing, heating and electrical runs are in, before insulating; insulation before drywall; final. Trade permits get their own rough and final inspections. If you pour a new floor in a basement that will be used for living and sleeping, it's inspected before the pour (MGO 29.10(2)(d)). Complex plan review takes 10 to 15 working days; small jobs can be approved at the counter.
- Older homes: The town applies the state code to alterations of houses built before 1980 too.
- Call: City of Madison Building Inspection, 608-266-4551. All Madison permit rules
City of Middleton
Finishing a basement is listed as a Level 2 project requiring plans (floor plans, framing, energy compliance). Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work need separate trade permits, with rough, insulation and final inspections. Source
- Applying: Basement finishing is a "Level 2" project: floor plans, framing and energy details. Apply through the city's iWorQ portal, with separate electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits.
- Inspections: Rough inspection of framing, electrical, plumbing and HVAC before anything is covered; insulation and energy; final. Request through iWorQ by 2 p.m. for next-day service. A failed inspection costs $50 to redo.
- Older homes: The town applies the state code to alterations of houses built before 1980 too.
- Call: City of Middleton Building Inspection, 608-821-8370. All Middleton permit rules
City of Fitchburg
Basement finishing is listed as alteration work requiring a permit, with separate electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits for that work. Required inspections include rough framing/plumbing/HVAC/electric, insulation and final. Source
- Applying: Online through the city's OpenGov portal, on the "Alterations and Repairs to Existing Buildings" application.
- Inspections: Rough framing, plumbing, HVAC and electrical; insulation; final. Call at least 24 hours ahead.
- Older homes: The town applies the state code to alterations of houses built before 1980 too.
- Call: City of Fitchburg Building Inspection, 608-270-4240. All Fitchburg permit rules
City of Monona
Finishing an unfinished basement needs a building permit, plus electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits for that work. Source
- Applying: Online through General Engineering Company's permit portal, or email a paper application to the city.
- Inspections: Inspections are done by General Engineering Company; call 608-745-4070. Monona doesn't publish a sequence, so expect the state one: rough, insulation, final.
- Older homes: Unknown: Monona's code wasn't readable online.
- Call: City of Monona Building Inspection, 608-222-2525. All Monona permit rules
Village of Shorewood Hills
Basement remodels are listed as needing a building permit, plus electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits for that work. If more than one basement wall is above finished grade, part of the basement area counts toward the Village floor-area-ratio limit. Source
- Applying: Through General Engineering Company's online application, with all trade permits submitted together. Check zoning with Village Hall first.
- Inspections: Inspections are done by General Engineering Company. The village code lists no sequence, so expect the state one: rough, insulation, final.
- Older homes: The town applies the state code to alterations of houses built before 1980 too.
- Call: Village of Shorewood Hills, 608-267-2680. All Shorewood Hills permit rules
City of Sun Prairie
Finishing or remodeling a basement needs a permit, and a plan is required. Installing drain tile or a basement drainage system also needs a permit. If the house has a sewer backwater valve, its two access covers must stay accessible after finishing. Source
- Applying: Online through the city's OpenGov portal, on the alterations application, with a plan. One permit covers building, electrical, plumbing and HVAC. Allow 5 to 10 business days.
- Inspections: Framing with rough electrical, plumbing and heating; insulation; final. The inspector has two business days after you ask.
- Older homes: The town applies the state code to alterations of houses built before 1980 too.
- Call: City of Sun Prairie Building Inspection, 608-825-1184. All Sun Prairie permit rules
City of Verona
Basement finishing is its own category on the City's uniform permit application, with electrical, plumbing and HVAC listed on the same form. Inspections cover rough framing, electrical, plumbing and heating, then insulation and final. Source
- Applying: Email the city's Uniform Permit Application, with basement finishing checked and every contractor listed. One permit covers the whole job.
- Inspections: Framing with rough electrical, plumbing and heating; insulation; final. Book them on the city's iWorQ portal.
- Older homes: The town applies the state code to alterations of houses built before 1980 too.
- Call: City of Verona Building Inspection, 608-848-9940. All Verona permit rules
Village of McFarland
Finishing an unfinished basement needs a building permit, plus electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits for that work. Submit drawings with layout and dimensions. Source
- Applying: Paper application with drawings showing the layout and dimensions, dropped at the Municipal Center 3 to 5 business days before you start.
- Inspections: An inspection before drywall or paneling goes up, then a final. Call, fax or email the request.
- Older homes: The town applies the state code to alterations of houses built before 1980 too.
- Call: Village of McFarland Building Inspection, 608-838-3154. All McFarland permit rules
Village of Maple Bluff
Finishing a basement is an interior remodel, which the Village says requires a building permit but not Building Board review. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work are checked off on the same application under 'Remodel'. Source
- Applying: Email the General Building Permit Application, with remodel and the trades checked and plans attached, to the Building Board inbox. Interior-only work needs no Building Board review; an egress window or other exterior change does.
- Inspections: The village doesn't publish a sequence, so expect the state one: rough, insulation, final. The owner or contractor calls in each inspection to the village's inspector (General Engineering Company).
- Older homes: Unknown: Maple Bluff's building code wasn't readable online.
- Call: Village of Maple Bluff Building Board, 608-244-3048. All Maple Bluff permit rules
Verified October 2026 against each town's code and permit pages.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to finish a basement in Madison?
Yes. Finishing an unfinished space goes through plan review in Madison, and electrical, plumbing and HVAC work each need their own permit. Every other town on this page requires a permit too.
What inspections does a finished basement need?
Usually three: a rough inspection after framing and the wiring, plumbing and ductwork are in but before anything is covered; an insulation inspection before drywall; and a final. Some towns split the rough inspection by trade.
How tall does a finished basement ceiling have to be?
7 feet in habitable rooms, with beams and other projections allowed to drop 8 inches below that. A room can be lower in places if at least half its floor area has 7 feet (SPS 321.06).
Can I put plastic sheeting on my basement walls?
No. Wisconsin's energy code bans plastic sheet vapor barriers rated 0.1 perm or less on basement walls that are below grade, and on stud walls built in front of them (SPS 322.38(4)).
Can a homeowner pull the permit to finish their own basement?
Usually, for a single-family home you own and live in. Electrical and plumbing rules vary by town; Middleton issues those permits only to licensed trades. See the permit guide for each town.
When we finish your basement
We pull the permit, schedule the inspections and build to the list above. The basement finishing page has how the job runs.
More basement guides
- Before you finish: water, radon and height
- Egress window rules and checker
- Remodel permits for every project, by town
- Basement finishing with Badger Remodel
Permit rules and fees change. We checked each answer against the town's own website, code or fee schedule in October 2026 and linked the source. Confirm with the permit office before you start. This is a guide, not legal advice.