Kenosha building department

The City of Kenosha Building Inspection Division enforces city and state code requirements for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings inside the City of Kenosha. It handles structural, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits and inspections. The office is at 625 52nd Street, Room 100. Other Kenosha County villages and towns run their own permitting, so confirm the parcel is inside city limits.

What needs a permit in Kenosha

The division’s “Do I Need a Permit?” chart and permit forms list these thresholds:

Project	City of Kenosha rule
Accessory structure (shed, playhouse, gazebo, garage)	Permit required if over 120 sq ft. Single-story accessory structures of 120 sq ft or less in residential zones are exempt.
Deck	Permit required to build new, repair, or replace
Fence	Permit required for fence-type structures over 3 ft tall, including arbors or trellises used as fences
Roof	Reshingling only on a one- or two-family dwelling does not need a permit
Accessible ramp	Permit required (separate wheelchair ramp packet)
Retaining wall	Separate retaining wall permit packet
Electrical, plumbing, HVAC	Separate trade permits

See our guides on shed permits and fence permits for general background.

Fence rules

Kenosha’s fence information sheet limits residential front-yard fences to 4 feet and requires them to be at least 50% open. Chain link and stockade fencing are not allowed in front yards. Rear- and side-yard fences are limited to 6 feet above natural grade. Fences next to a public sidewalk must be set back 6 inches, and no fence may encroach on a neighboring property. Locating the property line is the owner’s job; the city suggests hiring a licensed land surveyor to set markers. Commercial fence permits also need a separate site plan.

Applying for a permit

Kenosha publishes a separate application packet for each permit type. Contact the division by email at [email protected], by phone, or in person. Common submittal requirements from the city’s packets:

• Accessory buildings (garage, shed, gazebo, greenhouse, pavilion): the application, an electrical permit application if needed, and a new plat of survey by a professional land surveyor. The survey must show existing buildings, the proposed building, setbacks, distances to other structures, drainage patterns, and grade changes. Also include one set of plans (8½” x 11” or 11” x 17” at ¼” scale), plus either the owner’s cautionary statement or the contractor’s state credential.
• Residential alterations (one- and two-family only): floor plans showing room uses, door and window sizes, and room and hallway dimensions, plus cross-section drawings, both at ¼” scale.
• New one- and two-family dwellings: the new one- and two-family dwelling cover sheet. The city also publishes a separate footing/foundation packet. Since September 1, 2026, a post-foundation as-built survey must be emailed to [email protected] and approved before a backfill inspection can be scheduled.
• Plumbing plan review: Kenosha is delegated to review plumbing plans and uses SAFEbuilt. Review is triggered by 16 or more fixtures, grease traps, catch basins, or manholes. File the SBD6154 cover sheet with the city; the minimum plumbing plan review fee is $85.

Fee highlights

Item	Published fee
New accessory building	$180 ($60 building + $60 plan review + $60 zoning review)
Fence permit	$60
Roof permit, residential	$60
Roof permit, commercial	$180 ($120 building + $60 plan review)
Residential alteration	$60 each for alteration, residential plan review, and zoning plan review
New one- and two-family dwelling (structural)	$0.50/sq ft, plus $180 residential plan review, $60 zoning plan review, and $42 per Wisconsin building seal

The new-dwelling figures come from the city’s permit-fee table prepared for its new housing fee report. The other fees are printed on the current application forms.

Homeowners and contractors

Kenosha’s homeowner brochure says owners of one- and two-family dwellings may be able to pull their own permits for new homes, additions, alterations, remodeling, decks, porches, and garages. Electrical work is limited. An owner-occupant who has passed the homeowner’s electrical test may get an electrical permit for minor work only, such as adding a lighting or outlet circuit or running power to a garage. The brochure requires a Wisconsin-licensed contractor for:

• Electrical service and panel work
• Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC on a new one- or two-family home
• Exterior sewer and water laterals
• HVAC installations
• Gas piping

Inspections

For residential projects, call (262) 653-4263 to schedule inspections. Typical stages are post-hole/footing, rough framing, and final. New one- and two-family dwellings follow the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code (SPS 320–325) sequence: footing, foundation, rough, insulation, and final.

Occupancy permits and vacant buildings

Kenosha requires a business occupancy permit whenever a new business opens, an existing business changes owner or tenant, or a building alteration is proposed. The city’s vacant-building guidance notes that interior, fire, property-maintenance, and permit inspections may be needed before occupancy is approved. A change of use can also require zoning review, a conditional-use permit, or site-plan review.

Contact

• Building Inspection Division: 625 52nd Street, Room 100, Kenosha, WI 53140
• Phone: (262) 653-4263
• Email: [email protected]
• Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.