Racine building department

The City of Racine Building Inspection Division, part of the City Development Department on the third floor of City Hall at 730 Washington Avenue, administers and enforces city and state building, heating, plumbing, electrical, and zoning codes inside the City of Racine. Neighboring villages and towns in Racine County issue their own permits, so confirm the parcel is inside the city limits before applying.

What the division permits

Racine publishes separate downloadable applications for:

• Residential and commercial building work (new, additions, remodels)
• Roofing (residential and commercial) and siding
• Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC (air conditioning, heating, ductwork, rooftop units, kitchen hoods)
• Accessory structures: garages, sheds, decks, covered patios, gazebos, pergolas, pavilions, playhouses, porches, and fences
• Pools, paving, curb cuts, and dumpster/street storage
• Demolition (razing), signs, tents, awnings, and communication antennas
• Occupancy permits, including a separate form for adult family homes

The division’s page also posts example plans and blank templates for decks, fences, garages, pools, and tent layouts, plus a sample plot survey. See also our guides on deck permits and fence permits.

How to apply

The city’s standard building permit application is one project per application. It states that:

• Construction drawings are required for additions, remodels, curb cuts, and accessory structures.
• A site plan is required for additions, accessory structures, and street storage.
• Applicants must list the estimated project cost and square footage.
• Building permits are valid for 18 months from issuance (Racine Municipal Code Sec. 18-93).
• Work done without permits may result in double permit fees.

Applications are posted as downloadable PDFs on the division’s page, and completed forms go to the Building Inspection Division at City Hall.

Owner-occupants and contractors

Citing Wisconsin SPS 320.09(9)(a)3, the application says permits can be issued only to an owner-occupant of a one- or two-family home or a Wisconsin-licensed contractor. Owners acting as their own general contractor must sign the state cautionary statement. For one- and two-family dwellings, contractors must attach copies of their Dwelling Contractor and Dwelling Contractor Qualifier credentials. Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work need their own trade permits.

2026 fee highlights

These figures come from the city’s 2026 Building Permit Fee Schedule:

Permit	2026 fee
New residential (1-2 and multifamily) or residential addition	$0.50/sq ft, $100 minimum
Residential alteration	$14.00 per $1,000 of construction value
Accessory structure	$300 with slab, $100 without slab
Residential roofing / siding	$100 per building
Fence	$100 per site
Swimming pool	$100 per pool
Paving	$250 per site
Curb cut	$30 per site
Wrecking (demolition), one- and two-family	$200 per building; detached garage $50
Plan review (all buildings)	$0.17/sq ft, $100 minimum
Erosion control, one- and two-family	$175 per building
Occupancy permit (new business or change of ownership)	$275; under 6 months $175; pop-up business $75
Early start permit	$300 per project
Re-inspection	$100 per inspection
Start without permit	Double the permit fee

HVAC fees start at a $100 minimum per unit. Heating is $20 per 50,000 BTU, distribution is $0.05/sq ft, and hood and duct systems are $150 per unit. Commercial roofing is 0.5% of job cost with a $100 minimum. A Wisconsin state seal is $35. Plumbing and electrical fees are printed on those permit applications, not in the building schedule.

Codes

Racine enforces Wisconsin’s state codes along with Chapter 18 (Buildings and Building Regulations) of the Racine Municipal Code. Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code (SPS 320–325) covers one- and two-family dwellings. Under it, a new dwelling generally gets footing, foundation, rough, insulation, and final inspections.

Inspections

The inspector will tell you roughly how many inspections the permit needs, and the city usually asks for one or two days’ notice when you request one. Call the Building Inspection Division at (262) 636-9464 to schedule. The fee schedule charges $100 for each re-inspection.

Occupancy permits and zoning

Racine requires an occupancy permit when a new business opens or a business changes ownership. The 2026 schedule prices these by length of occupancy. If a use needs a conditional use permit, the city’s conditional-use page says to talk to the Building Department first and then file with City Development’s Planning Division. A conditional-use approval does not replace the occupancy permit or the building and fire inspections.

Contact

• Building Inspection Division: 730 Washington Avenue, Room 304 (3rd floor, City Development), Racine, WI 53403
• Phone: (262) 636-9464. The general City Development line, 262-636-9171, is also listed on the division’s pages.
• Hours: City Development lists 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Planning and Neighborhood Enhancement: (262) 636-9151