Waukesha building department

The City of Waukesha Building Inspection Division, part of the Community Development Department on the second floor of City Hall at 201 Delafield Street, enforces building, property maintenance, and zoning codes inside the City of Waukesha. It issues building, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and occupancy permits and inspects the work. Waukesha County is made up of many separate villages, towns, and cities, each with its own permit office. Check the parcel in the city’s public property viewer before applying if the address might be outside city limits.

Applying through eTRAKiT

Waukesha runs permits, inspections, and violations through eTRAKiT at permits.waukesha-wi.gov/etrakit..

• Homeowners need a public eTRAKiT account. On one- and two-family residential permits, only a homeowner who lives at the job address may apply, and they must sign the Wisconsin Cautionary Statement to Property Owners.
• Contractors need a City of Waukesha contractor (AEC) account, set up under eTRAKiT’s Contractor tab. Residential contractors must provide their Dwelling Contractor (DC) and Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (DCQ) certifications.
• Applications and plans may also be emailed to [email protected].

For commercial additions and alterations, the city’s application notes that a supervising professional is required (SPS 361.40) once the building is 50,000 cubic feet or more. Above that size, plans must also be signed and sealed under Wis. Stat. ch. 443. City review of commercial plans follows state or E-Plan Exam approval.

Work that does not need a permit

The city’s 2025 Development Fees schedule lists these as exempt for one- and two-family homes:

• Cabinet and countertop replacement in the same location without significant drywall removal
• Re-siding and re-roofing with no structural changes
• Window and door replacement with no change in opening size

Fences also do not need a permit in Waukesha. They still must meet the height and placement rules in Municipal Code Section 22.58:

Fence location	Residential districts (RN-1 to RN-4)	MU, DC and other districts
Front yard	4 ft	6 ft
Street side	4 ft (6 ft if set back at least 2 ft)	8 ft
Interior side / rear	6 ft	8 ft
Vision triangle	3 ft	3 ft

Decks

New decks need a building permit, detailed plans, and a current, accurate plat of survey showing property lines, existing buildings, and the size and location of the deck. Decks must meet the Uniform Dwelling Code and city zoning. The deck drawings must show:

• Post size and spacing, and footing details
• Joist and beam sizes, spacing, and spans
• How the ledger and framing connect to the house
• Decking material
• Stair and guard details
• Doors that open onto the deck

Footings, piers, or direct-burial posts must go at least 48 inches below grade. A footing within 5 feet of an existing house wall must bear at the same elevation as that wall’s footing. Three inspections are required: posthole/footing before concrete, framing before the frame and stringers are covered, and a final with steps, guards, and handrails installed. Also see do I need a permit for a deck.

2025 fee highlights

These come from the city’s 2025 Development Fees schedule (revised November 2025):

Item	2025 fee
1-2 family new structure, addition, alteration, or attached garage	$0.41/sq ft
Residential deck; detached garage, shed, or accessory building	$0.33/sq ft
Plan review, 1-2 family	New $315; addition or alteration (including solar PV) $145; deck or pool $145; detached garage or accessory building $115
Private swimming pool	$14 per $1,000 valuation
Erosion control, grading, and driveway permit (1-2 family)	$175
Occupancy permit, new 1-2 family	$60 per unit
Minimum building fee	$125
Re-inspection	$120
Failure to call for final and occupancy inspections	$100
Work started without permit	2x the permit fee total
Demolition / raze	$95 plus $0.013/sq ft (max $3,000)
Wisconsin Uniform Building Permit seal	$35

Trade permits have their own base fees in the same schedule:

• Residential HVAC (furnace, boiler, or AC split unit): $60 per unit
• Residential electrical, new work or additions: $100 base plus $0.16/sq ft
• Residential plumbing, new work or additions: $125 base plus $0.25/sq ft

Commercial building permits start at $0.39/sq ft for business and office space. Each commercial plan submittal also carries a $100 plan entry fee.

Inspections

Inspections are required for new construction, alterations, and repairs, for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work, and for new occupancies or changes of occupancy.

• Electrical and plumbing permits: schedule online in eTRAKiT.
• Building and occupancy permits: schedule by phone or email with Building Inspection staff at (262) 524-3530.

Inspectors are generally available Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Certificates of occupancy

Every commercial business in Waukesha needs a valid Certificate of Occupancy for that specific business and operator, obtained before it occupies the space. After you apply, Community Development checks the building and zoning ordinances and sends fire, plumbing, construction, and electrical inspectors. The certificate is issued once they approve. The 2025 schedule lists:

• Change of tenant (no inspections): $75
• Change of use: $105
• Change of occupancy classification or new commercial construction: $235
• Temporary commercial occupancy: $500

Related offices

Conditional uses, site plans, and planned unit developments go through the Planning Division and Plan Commission before building permits are issued. Planning is in the same Community Development Department. The city’s Development Handbook lists these contacts:

• Fire Marshal: (262) 524-3651
• City Engineering: (262) 524-3600
• Waukesha Water Utility: (262) 409-4460

Contact

• Building Inspection Division: City Hall, 201 Delafield Street, 2nd Floor, Waukesha, WI 53188
• Phone: (262) 524-3530
• Email: [email protected]
• Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.