Which Map for Which Question
- Parcel shape, plat and CSM boundariesDCiMapProperty & Land layers: Parcels, Plat Boundaries, Certified Survey Map, Condominium.(Dane County DCiMap) Not a survey.(AccessDane)
- Old aerial photos, 1937 to 2024DCiMap, Basemap GalleryPick a year: 2024, 2022, 2020, 2017, 2014, 2010, 2005, 2000, 1995, 1987, 1976, 1974 or 1937.(Dane County DCiMap)
- FEMA flood zoneFEMA Flood Map Service CenterAddress Search, then view or print the map.(FEMA)
- Flood depth in a big storm (Madison)Madison flood risk mapWatershed Study Flood Risk Map, with an address search.(City of Madison)
- Zoning districtTown zoning map or DCiMapMadison: Zoning Districts.(City of Madison) Towns under county zoning: DCiMap's Rural Zoning layer.(Dane County DCiMap) Others: town maps.
- Soils, slopes, contoursDCiMap or Web Soil SurveyDCiMap's Soils and Elevation layers, including Building Site Potential and Steep Slopes.(Dane County DCiMap) Or USDA's Web Soil Survey.
- Wetlands and shorelandDCiMap or DNR viewerDCiMap: DNR Wetlands and Shoreland Zone layers.(Dane County DCiMap) DNR: Surface Water Data Viewer.(Wisconsin DNR)
- School districtDCiMap or AccessDaneDCiMap's School Districts layer, or District Information in your AccessDane record.(Dane County DCiMap)(AccessDane)
- Survey section cornersDCiMapSurvey System layers: sections, quarter sections and control corners.(Dane County DCiMap)
- Contaminated sites nearbyDNR RR Sites MapRR Sites Map: known contamination, investigations and cleanups.(Wisconsin DNR)
- Private well recordsDNR well searchWell construction reports.(Wisconsin DNR)
- Madison trash dayMadison collection mapCollection schedule map.(City of Madison)
Using DCiMap
- Open DCiMap. It's run by the Dane County Land Information Office, which also runs AccessDane and the Open Data portal.(Dane County Land Information Office)
- Type an address or parcel number in the search box at the top of the left panel. Since version 7.0 (May 2026), an address search selects the parcel for you.(Dane County DCiMap)(DCiMap help)
- The toolbar has Legend, Basemap Gallery, Measure, Coordinate Conversion, Add Data, Share and Print. An Elevation Profile tool sits at the bottom of the map.(Dane County DCiMap)
- Old aerial photos: open Basemap Gallery (the second toolbar button) and pick a year, 2024 back to 1937.(Dane County DCiMap)
- Layers are grouped as Zoning, Water Resources, Soils, Planning, Elevation, Parks & Recreation, Boundaries & Districts, Roads, Property & Land, Survey System, and Buildings & Facilities.(Dane County DCiMap)
- Print: the menu (three lines, top left) has Create PDF Snapshot.(Dane County DCiMap)
- See a parcel mistake? The county's help page sends parcel errors to its Land Records Coordinator, plandev@danecounty.gov.(DCiMap help)
- DCiMap's zoning layers cover county zoning in the towns, plus the Village of Oregon. Other cities' and villages' zoning isn't in it.(Dane County DCiMap)
- The county's Open Data portal has free GIS downloads.(Dane County) Its imagery page lists countywide photos from 1995 to 2024; only the 2024 tiles can be downloaded.(Dane County)
- The 2024 photos were the county's first countywide flight at 3-inch resolution, flown mid-March to the end of April 2024.(Fly Dane)
Flood Maps
- FEMA's Flood Map Service Center: Address Search finds the current flood map (FIRM) for your address. A FIRMette is a piece of that map you can print at home.(FEMA) FEMA says the Service Center or its NFHL Viewer is the place to start for official flood determinations.(FEMA)
- Reading the zone: A, AE, AH and AO are the Special Flood Hazard Area, flooded by the 1%-annual-chance flood. Shaded X is moderate hazard (between the 1% and 0.2% floods). Unshaded X is minimal hazard.(FEMA)
- "Unmapped" means FEMA hasn't published a flood map for that area. A "non-printed panel" usually means the whole panel is one zone.(FEMA)
- Think your lot was put in the high-risk area by mistake? You can apply to FEMA for a Letter of Map Change. A LOMA (amendment) and a LOMR (revision) are the two basic types.(FEMA)
- Wisconsin DNR: the floodplain map viewer shows the state's floodplain data alongside FEMA's, and you can download flood studies from it.(Wisconsin DNR)
- Madison: very few homes are in the 100-year floodplain. Check your address with FEMA's search; floodplain questions go to the Zoning Office, 608-266-4551.(City of Madison) The city's Watershed Study Flood Risk Map shows modeled flood depths for a 1%-chance storm where studies are done, beyond FEMA's zones.(City of Madison) A Historical Street Flooding Map shows streets likely to flash flood.(City of Madison)
- Most homeowners policies don't cover flooding, and flood insurance is available outside a FEMA floodplain too.(City of Madison)
- DCiMap also has a FEMA Floodplain layer, drawn from FEMA's own service.(Dane County DCiMap) When we checked, it didn't load, so FEMA's own site is the dependable source.
City of Madison Maps
- The city's Maps page lists the Property Lookup Map, Zoning Districts, Street Map, Alder District Maps, Generalized Future Land Use, Planning Areas, Road Construction Projects, and an Open Data Portal.(City of Madison)
- Property Lookup Map and Zoning Districts map.(City of Madison)
- Alder district maps: PDF maps for every district and ward.(City of Madison)
- Historic districts: the city lists its local and National Register districts; see house history.(City of Madison)
Other Towns' Maps
Most cities and villages post their own map page or map viewer. These are the official pages:
| Town | Map page | Zoning |
|---|---|---|
| Cottage Grove | Town maps | On the map page |
| DeForest | Town maps | On the map page |
| Fitchburg | Town maps | On the map page |
| Maple Bluff | Floodplain zoning | Ask the village |
| McFarland | Town maps | Zoning map |
| Middleton | Town maps | Zoning map |
| Monona | Town maps | On the map page |
| Mount Horeb | Town maps | Zoning map |
| Oregon | Town maps | In DCiMap |
| Shorewood Hills | DCiMap | Ask the village |
| Stoughton | Town maps | On the map page |
| Sun Prairie | Town maps | On the map page |
| Verona | Town maps | On the map page |
| Waunakee | Town maps | On the map page |
- Oregon's zoning is inside DCiMap: zoom to Oregon, open Map Layers, and check Village of Oregon.(Village of Oregon)
- Maple Bluff adopted new floodplain zoning in 2025 that affects only its Lake Mendota shoreline.(Village of Maple Bluff)
- Mount Horeb's new zoning map took effect March 12, 2026.(Village of Mount Horeb)
State and Federal Maps
- Wetlands: the DNR's Surface Water Data Viewer. The DNR says wetland maps are a guide only; an on-site check settles it.(Wisconsin DNR)
- Contamination: the RR Sites Map shows known contamination, investigations and cleanups.(Wisconsin DNR)
- Wells: the DNR's well construction report search.(Wisconsin DNR)
- Soils: USDA's Web Soil Survey. Draw an Area of Interest, then open the Soil Map tab.(USDA NRCS)
- Historic aerials statewide: the State Cartographer's Office WHAIFinder has free photos about once per decade from 1936 on.(State Cartographer's Office)
Questions
What is DCiMap?
Dane County's online map viewer, run by the county Land Information Office. Search an address or parcel number to see parcels, aerial photos back to 1937, soils, contours, wetlands, FEMA flood zones, school districts and more.
How do I find out if my house is in a flood zone?
Search your address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov). Zones A and AE are the high-risk 1%-annual-chance flood area; shaded X is moderate and unshaded X is minimal. In Madison, also check the city's watershed flood risk map, which models flooding beyond FEMA's zones.
Can I see old aerial photos of my property?
Yes. In DCiMap, open Basemap Gallery and pick a year from 2024 back to 1937. The State Cartographer's Office WHAIFinder has free historic photos statewide about once a decade.
Are DCiMap parcel lines accurate enough for a fence?
No. The county says its parcel maps are for tax listing and are not a survey. Use your recorded plat or a licensed surveyor.
Where do I find my zoning?
In Madison, the city's Zoning Districts map or the Assessor's record. In towns under county zoning, DCiMap's Rural Zoning layer. Other cities and villages have their own zoning maps, linked in the table on this page.