Remodel Permits in McFarland, WI: What Needs One

Do You Need a Permit in McFarland?

Yes permit neededNo no permitDepends depends on the workAsk not published, call the office

Project	Permit	What the rule says
Kitchen remodel	Depends	The village lists kitchen remodeling and alterations as needing a building permit, and any electrical or plumbing work needs its own permit. Ch. 8 exempts 'minor repair,' meaning replacement work that doesn't change room arrangement, light/ventilation, exits or exterior appearance. Cabinets and counters alone may fall under that, but confirm with the inspector. Permits: building, electrical, plumbing.(source)
Bathroom remodel	Yes	Bathroom remodels need a building permit. Replacing a plumbing fixture needs a plumbing permit too: the fee schedule charges for 'addition or replacement of plumbing fixtures.' Only minor faucet repairs and clearing clogs are exempt. New circuits need an electrical permit, though swapping a broken switch, outlet or light fixture doesn't. Bathroom heaters used as auxiliary heat don't need an HVAC permit. Permits: building, plumbing, electrical, HVAC.(source)
Finish a basement	Yes	Finishing an unfinished basement needs a building permit, plus electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits for that work. Submit drawings with layout and dimensions. Permits: building, electrical, plumbing, HVAC.(source)
Remove or move a wall	Yes	Removing or moving walls changes room arrangement, so it isn't 'minor repair' and needs a building permit. Ch. 8 also says alterations involving bearing walls, beams or columns must meet current code. Electrical work in the wall needs its own permit. Permits: building, electrical.(source)
Build or replace a deck	Yes	Every deck needs a building permit and a site plan showing distances to property lines, with no size or height exemption. Footings must go below the 48-inch frost line. Decks over 2 ft above grade need guardrails at least 36 in high with openings no bigger than 4 in. Decks must stay 10 ft from the rear lot line (if under 3 ft above grade) or 20 ft (if over 3 ft), and 30 ft from the ordinary high-water mark on waterfront lots. Permits: building, zoning.(source)
Replace deck boards or railings	No	Minor repairs to an existing deck, meaning maintenance that doesn't touch structural parts or increase the size or use, need no permit (Sec. 8-233). Rebuilding the deck or changing its structure does.(source)
Replace windows, same size	Yes	Replacing windows needs a building permit. The fee is $85 for the first $500 of value plus $5 per additional $1,000. Permits: building.(source)
New or larger window (egress)	Yes	Cutting a new or larger window opening is an exterior and structural change. McFarland requires a permit for any addition or change to the exterior, and for all alterations to any part of an existing building. Permits: building.(source)
Replace exterior doors	Ask	Exterior door replacement isn't on either of the village's lists. Ch. 8 exempts 'minor repair' replacement that doesn't affect exits or exterior appearance, but it doesn't say whether a same-opening exterior door counts. Ask the inspector.
Re-roof	Yes	Re-roofing needs a building permit. If more than 25% of the roof covering is replaced in any 12-month period, the whole roof covering must meet code (Sec. 8-82). The village doesn't separate tear-off from overlay. The fee is $85 for the first $500 plus $5 per additional $1,000 of value. Permits: building.(source)
Replace siding	Yes	Re-siding needs a building permit. The fee is $85 for the first $500 plus $5 per additional $1,000 of value. Permits: building.(source)
New flooring	No	McFarland explicitly says new flooring, carpet, tile or wood floors need no building permit.(source)
Replace a water heater	Yes	Replacing a water heater needs a permit. Permits: plumbing.(source)
Build a fence	Yes	Any fence that stays up 30 days or more in a 12-month period needs a fence permit ($85). Under the code, a 'fence' is any continuous barrier 30 inches tall at any point. In residential districts, fences can be at most 3 ft in a required front yard, 4 ft in a street side yard, and 6 ft elsewhere. They must be at least 2 ft from a front or street property line, and only decorative fences are allowed in front setbacks. Supports face your own property. Permits: building.(source)

Checked October 2026 against the Village of McFarland sources listed below.

Who to Call

Village of McFarland Building Inspection
Phone: 608-838-3154
Email: buildinginspector@mcfarland.wi.us
Permit office website

Paper applications only: drop the form at the Municipal Center or its 24-hour drop box at least 3 to 5 business days before you start. Pick up and pay once it's approved. The village never asks for payment by wire transfer.

Permit Fees

From Appendix A, Ch. 8 (last amended by Ord. 2025-10 on 12/9/2025). Repair, addition or alteration building permit: $85 up to $1,000; $1,000 to $25,000 is $0.20/sq ft (min $150); over $25,000 is $0.30/sq ft (min $250). Re-roofing, re-siding and windows: $85 for the first $500 plus $5 per additional $1,000. Deck/porch on an existing house: $160. Fence: $85. Plumbing (residential): $85 plus $0.05/sq ft; adding or replacing fixtures: $85 plus $7 per fixture. HVAC: $85 basic; furnace or AC replacement $85; alterations $85 plus $5 per $1,000 of value. Electrical alterations (residential): $65 plus an outlet-count charge ($20 for 1-5 openings, up to $105 for 91-100). Reinspection: $85. Erosion control simplified plan: $350. Raze (residential): $110. Occupancy permit, one-family: $50. HVAC fees double if work started before the permit, and the village says it can double fees for unpermitted work in general.(fee schedule)

Worth Knowing in McFarland

Homeowner electrical: the village may issue an electrical permit to an owner only for an existing single-family home the owner's family alone occupies, and only if the owner shows the Electrical Inspector they're competent. New service and service reconnection always need a master electrician.(source)
Homeowner plumbing: all plumbing must be done by a state-licensed plumber, except that an owner may do work in a single-family home they own and live in, with a permit.(source)
Historic properties: exterior alterations to a designated historic structure, or any structure in a designated Historic District, need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Landmarks Commission before the building permit is issued (Sec. 62-395). The Commission decides within 45 days.(source)
Erosion control is permitted separately (it's a checkbox on the permit application). The $350 simplified checklist covers UDC sites up to 20,000 sq ft with slopes under 10% that don't drain into lakes, streams or wetlands. Bigger or steeper sites need an engineered plan. The village lists an erosion control plan as a requirement for new construction, and didn't say which smaller projects (such as decks) need one.(source)
Shoreland-wetland zoning (Ch. 62 Art. IV) applies within 1,000 ft of a lake or 300 ft of a river or stream. Waterfront decks must stay 30 ft from the ordinary high-water mark.(source)
Required inspections are called in by the permit holder by phone, fax or email. Water and sewer lateral inspections go to Public Works at 608-838-7287, at least one business day ahead. Failed inspections bring a reinspection fee.(source)
The deck/fence handout tells homeowners to check neighborhood covenants for extra restrictions, and to call Diggers Hotline (1-800-242-8511) before digging.(source)

Other Towns

Sources

Permit rules and fees change. We checked each answer against the town's own website, code or fee schedule in October 2026 and linked the source. Confirm with the permit office before you start. This is a guide, not legal advice.