Badger Remodel has built and remodeled homes around Madison since 1974. In Fitchburg we take kitchens, bathrooms, basement finishes, additions, decks, floors, windows and doors.
Fitchburg's permits are online-only, its fees run as a percentage of the job, and since 2025 it allows backyard and basement units without an owner-occupancy rule. Here's what that means for your project.
The houses we work on in Fitchburg
| Median year built | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Built before 1960 | 6% |
| Built before 1980 | 27% |
| Built 2000 or later | 44% |
| Owner-occupied | 48% |
| Single-family detached | 38% |
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035, B25003 and B25024 (data).
Fitchburg's homes are young for Dane County: the median house was built in 1996, and more than 4 in 10 date from 2000 or later. The 1970s were the other big decade. For the newer homes, the common jobs are finishing a basement that was left raw by the builder, updating a builder-grade kitchen or bath, and replacing a deck that has reached the end of its life. In the 1970s houses, it's more often layout changes, windows and older wiring.
Permits in Fitchburg
- What's exempt. Maintenance repairs under $2,000 that don't touch structure, fire safety, exits, natural light or major equipment. Uncovered decks under 24 inches high, and sheds under 64 sq ft. Everything else in a remodel needs a permit, including same-size window replacement and in-place plumbing fixture swaps (source).
- Online only. Applications go through the city's OpenGov portal under "Alterations and Repairs to Existing Buildings." There's no paper option.
- Fees are a percentage. Building is 1% of the building cost ($125 minimum), electrical 1.8%, plumbing and HVAC 1.6% each, plus a zoning fee of $52 and $1.05 per $1,000. A deck permit is $275 (2026 fee schedule).
- Don't start early. Starting work before the permit is issued doubles the fee.
- Inspections are requested at least 24 hours ahead, and run Monday to Thursday 8:30 to 3:30 and Friday 8:30 to 1:30. Required stops: rough framing and mechanicals, insulation, and final.
Decks in Fitchburg
A deck 24 inches or more above grade needs a Deck and Shed permit (building plus zoning). Decks up to 4 ft high can reach into the rear-yard setback but must stay 10 ft from the side and rear lot lines. Decks over 4 ft can't go into setbacks at all. Planning and Zoning asks for a site plan even for low decks that are exempt from the building permit (source). Footings go below the frost line, at least 48 inches (SPS 321). More on deck repair and rebuilds.
Overlays and historic sites
Fitchburg's zoning has wetland, wellhead protection and floodplain overlays that can add review for lots in those areas, and designated historic sites need a certificate of appropriateness from the Landmarks Preservation Commission before any other city permit is issued. One- and two-family homes are exempt from the city's architectural control review. We check your lot against the overlays before we quote.
Adding a unit
Since September 2025, Fitchburg allows one ADU per lot in its residential districts, attached or detached, up to 75% of the house's floor area, with a 25 ft height limit for a detached unit and finishes that match the house. Unlike most nearby cities, the code has no owner-occupancy rule, though the unit can't be sold separately.
What we do in Fitchburg
- Kitchen remodels: layout changes, cabinets, counters, tile, lighting
- Bathroom remodels: tubs and tiled showers, vanities, tile floors, fans
- Basement finishing: framing, egress windows, bathrooms, ceilings
- Additions and whole-house renovation
- Deck repair and new decks and patios
- Hardwood, laminate and tile floors
- Window replacement and door repair
Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work is done by licensed trades we schedule and supervise, and permitted where the City of Fitchburg requires it.
How a job in Fitchburg starts
- You send the quote form with a few lines about what you want done. Photos help.
- We come out for a walkthrough, measure, and look at what's behind the work: the framing, the plumbing, the panel, any water in the basement.
- You get a written quote with the scope, the permits it needs, and a schedule.
- We pull the permits, order materials, and book the inspections the City of Fitchburg requires.
Get a quote for your Fitchburg project
Questions we hear in Fitchburg
Do I need a permit to finish my basement in Fitchburg?
Yes. Basement finishing is alteration work that needs a building permit, with separate electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits for that work. Inspections cover rough framing and mechanicals, insulation and final.
How much is a remodel permit in Fitchburg?
Building is 1% of the building cost with a $125 minimum. Electrical is 1.8% of the electrical cost and plumbing and HVAC 1.6% each, plus a zoning fee. The inspector estimates the construction cost, labor and materials included.
Do I need a permit for a low deck?
Not a building permit if it's uncovered and under 24 inches, but zoning still wants a site plan to check setbacks.
We checked the permit, fee and zoning details on this page against the City of Fitchburg's own website, code and fee schedule in October 2026, and linked each source. Rules and fees change, so we confirm with the permit office when we quote.