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City building permits

City of Kenosha

How to apply for a building permit in City of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Last verified
April 2026
On this page 6
§ 01

Permit authority

Department of City Inspections

Street address
625 52nd Street, Room 100, Kenosha, WI 53140
Coverage
City of Kenosha issues its own city building permits. County sanitary permits may still apply in the city, but county zoning and county building permits do not route through the county portal for ordinary city projects.
§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Kenosha

City building permits are required for the broad set of building, occupancy, deck, pool, addition, alteration, demolition, MEP, and related work listed in the City Inspections fee report and permit forms

Note: No citywide public exemption list was found in the pages reviewed

Required documents
  • Permit application
  • Site plan
  • Plans/specifications
  • Contractor information
  • Valuation or square footage data
Building code
Administered by the Department of City Inspections under city ordinances and applicable Wisconsin state codes
Owner-builder
Not clearly summarized in the public city overview reviewed
Contractor requirements
City forms request contractor information; Wisconsin trade licensing rules apply where required
§ 03

Application process

Application → plan check → issuance → inspection → final

  1. 01
    Pull the correct city permit form from the City Inspections document library.
  2. 02
    Complete the form and assemble site plans, construction plans, and contractor information required by the specific permit packet.
  3. 03
    Submit to the Department of City Inspections at Room 100.
  4. 04
    City staff review the application, calculate fees, and request revisions if needed.
  5. 05
    Pay the assigned fees.
  6. 06
    Receive permit issuance and schedule required inspections with City Inspections.

Source: Department of City Inspections ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Kenosha building permit fees

Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
$60 for fences, repairs to existing porches/decks, and other smaller permit types
02
Plan check fee
Yes; published plan review fees vary by permit type (residential and commercial plan review ranges)
03
Permit fee formula
Mixed flat-fee, per-square-foot, per-fixture, per-unit, and valuation-based formulas
04
Reinspection fee
Fee report lists many inspection-related line items; specific reinspection language was not centrally summarized
05
Penalty (no permit)
Not clearly summarized

Fees are assigned by City Inspections; no clear self-service permit portal was identified

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule
  • (262) 653-4263 (phone)

Typical sequence: Permit issuance, trade or footing/framing inspections as applicable, final inspection, and occupancy/compliance signoff when required

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Kenosha permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Kenosha, WI?
City building permits are required for the broad set of building, occupancy, deck, pool, addition, alteration, demolition, MEP, and related work listed in the City Inspections fee report and permit forms
02 How much does a building permit cost in Kenosha, WI?
Building permit fees in Kenosha, WI are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $60 for fences, repairs to existing porches/decks, and other smaller permit types. Fees are calculated as: Mixed flat-fee, per-square-foot, per-fixture, per-unit, and valuation-based formulas. Plan check fee: Yes; published plan review fees vary by permit type (residential and commercial plan review ranges).
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Kenosha, WI?
To apply for a building permit in Kenosha, WI, follow these steps: 1. Pull the correct city permit form from the City Inspections document library. 2. Complete the form and assemble site plans, construction plans, and contractor information required by the specific permit packet. 3. Submit to the Department of City Inspections at Room 100. 4. City staff review the application, calculate fees, and request revisions if needed. 5. Pay the assigned fees. 6. Receive permit issuance and schedule required inspections with City Inspections.
04 How do I schedule a building inspection in Kenosha, WI?
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Kenosha, WI via: (262) 653-4263.
last verified April 2026 source Department of City Inspections ↗ entry id permits/wisconsin/kenosha/kenosha-city

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Department of City Inspections before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.