City Building Permits
St. Francis, WI - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in St. Francis, Wisconsin. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
City of St. Francis building inspection and permit intake for building, fence, sign, pool, and related work.
- Department
- Building Inspection
- Address
- 3400 E Howard Avenue, St. Francis, WI 53235
- Phone
- 414-316-4311
- Website
- https://stfranciswi.org/building
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Website permit form library • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Review the permit form library and project-specific requirement sheets.
- Call to schedule an appointment with the Building Inspector.
- Obtain and submit the permit application at City Hall with required plans and survey materials.
- Pay fees and wait for issuance.
- Schedule inspections by 3:30 p.m. for next-business-day inspections.
Typical processing time: Calls for appointments are scheduled within 24 hours; next-business-day inspection requests must be placed by 3:30 p.m.
Source: Building Inspection
General Requirements
St. Francis states a permit must be obtained from the Building Inspector at City Hall for fences and other covered building work. Deck applications must include structural plan, site plan, and plat of survey. Pools, accessory buildings, and signs have separate requirement sheets.
Required Documents
- Permit application
- structural plan of deck
- site plan
- and plat of survey for decks
- project-specific sheets for accessory structures
- pools
- and signs.
- Building code
- City fee schedules and permit forms implement Wisconsin state building code framework plus local zoning and architectural requirements.
- Contractor requirements
- General building permit form includes state license number field for contractor.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Residential inspection minimum $60; commercial inspection minimum $75 under the published fee schedule.
- Plan check fee
- Published fee schedule includes plan examination charges such as $300 for one- and two-family building plan review and $75 minimum electrical plan review.
- Permit fee formula
- Examples include $0.35 per square foot for one- and two-family residences and $12 per $1,000 valuation for commercial reroofing or residing.
- Reinspection fee
- Fee schedule includes $100 for failure to call for final inspection and four-times permit fee for work started prior to permit issuance on some permit forms.
- Payment note
- Fees are handled through City Hall during permit intake.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Building Inspection to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- 414-316-4311 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Appointment only; schedule by 3:30 p.m. for next-business-day inspection.
Typical inspection sequence: Permit issuance, required inspections, final inspection.
Failure to call for final inspection has a published fee penalty.
Additional Resources
- Building code: City fee schedules and permit forms implement Wisconsin state building code framework plus local zoning and architectural requirements.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- License lookup guide: Wisconsin Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Wisconsin Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Wisconsin hub: Wisconsin Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Building Inspection before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
St. Francis Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in St. Francis, WI?
- St. Francis states a permit must be obtained from the Building Inspector at City Hall for fences and other covered building work. Deck applications must include structural plan, site plan, and plat of survey. Pools, accessory buildings, and signs have separate requirement sheets.
- How much does a building permit cost in St. Francis, WI?
- The minimum permit fee is Residential inspection minimum $60; commercial inspection minimum $75 under the published fee schedule.. Fees are calculated as: Examples include $0.35 per square foot for one- and two-family residences and $12 per $1,000 valuation for commercial reroofing or residing.. Plan check fee: Published fee schedule includes plan examination charges such as $300 for one- and two-family building plan review and $75 minimum electrical plan review..
- How do I apply for a building permit in St. Francis, WI?
- 1. Review the permit form library and project-specific requirement sheets. 2. Call to schedule an appointment with the Building Inspector. 3. Obtain and submit the permit application at City Hall with required plans and survey materials. 4. Pay fees and wait for issuance. 5. Schedule inspections by 3:30 p.m. for next-business-day inspections.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in St. Francis, WI?
- Typical processing time is Calls for appointments are scheduled within 24 hours; next-business-day inspection requests must be placed by 3:30 p.m..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in St. Francis, WI?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: 414-316-4311.
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