Milwaukee Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact

The City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS) is the building, zoning, occupancy, and code-compliance authority for property inside the city. A Milwaukee County mailing address does not automatically mean the city handles a project: municipalities such as Wauwatosa, West Allis, and Oak Creek have their own permitting offices.

Milwaukee building permits and plan review

Start with DNS’s permit checklist to determine whether the work needs a permit. The city’s checklist covers common residential and commercial work, including additions, alterations, HVAC, plumbing, electrical work, garages, roofs, signs, and occupancy changes. Submit the applicable plans and applications through the Permit & Development Center at 809 N. Broadway. Milwaukee’s zoning code and zoning map are separate parts of the review; the Development Center determines official zoning-code compliance, while special uses or variances may require Board of Zoning Appeals action.

Wisconsin’s state building and Uniform Dwelling Code requirements apply alongside Milwaukee’s local building, zoning, historic-preservation, and occupancy rules. A locally designated historic property or historic district may require a Certificate of Appropriateness before exterior work begins.

Inspections, code compliance, and certificates of occupancy

For permitted construction inspections, use the DNS construction-inspection instructions and contact the assigned inspector. If the inspector is unknown, the Construction Section lists (414) 286-2513. Keep the permit and approved plans available at the property. Milwaukee requires an occupancy certificate before a business or other covered use opens; the city’s occupancy page directs applicants to the Land Management System and the Permit & Development Center. DNS also enforces zoning, occupancy, fire, maintenance, and other Milwaukee Code requirements.

Official contact information

The Permit & Development Center is at 809 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202. The permit desk phone is (414) 286-8210; the city’s DNS page lists the current office hours and service information. Milwaukee’s records page directs property researchers to the city’s permit systems for newer records and to staff for older permit archives.