Badger Remodel has built and remodeled homes around Madison since 1974. In McFarland we take kitchens, bathrooms, basements, additions, decks and docks, floors, windows and doors.
McFarland still runs permits on paper, every deck needs one, and lots near Lake Waubesa have their own setbacks.
The houses we work on in McFarland
| Median year built | 1989 |
|---|---|
| Built before 1960 | 11% |
| Built before 1980 | 36% |
| Built 2000 or later | 37% |
| Owner-occupied | 73% |
| Single-family detached | 65% |
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035, B25003 and B25024 (data).
McFarland has grown steadily since the 1960s. The median home was built in 1989, about a third before 1980 and a third since 2000, and nearly three-quarters are owner-occupied, the second-highest share of the towns we serve. That spread means a McFarland job can be a 1970s kitchen that needs a new layout or a 2005 basement that was never finished. Homes built before 1978 bring Wisconsin's lead-safe rules (DHS 163) into any work that disturbs paint.
Permits in McFarland
- Paper only. The application is a PDF you turn in at the Municipal Center or its 24-hour drop box, at least 3 to 5 business days before work starts. Once approved, the permit has to be picked up and paid for before any work begins, or the job risks a stop-work order and double fees (source).
- Fees. A remodel up to $1,000 is $85. From $1,000 to $25,000 it's $0.20 per sq ft ($150 minimum), and over $25,000 it's $0.30 per sq ft ($250 minimum). Windows, roofing and siding are $85 plus $5 per $1,000 over $500. A deck on an existing house is $160 (Appendix A).
- Fixture swaps count. Replacing a plumbing fixture needs a plumbing permit. Only faucet repairs and clearing clogs are exempt.
- Inspections are called in by the permit holder. Water and sewer lateral inspections go to Public Works at least one business day ahead.
- A scam warning. The village says people have posed as officials asking for permit payments by wire transfer. The village never asks for wire transfers (source).
Decks in McFarland
Every deck needs a building permit and a site plan showing distances to the property lines, with no size or height exemption. Footings go below the 48-inch frost line, and decks more than 2 ft above grade need guardrails at least 36 inches high. The village's deck handout also says to check your neighborhood covenants and to call Diggers Hotline before digging. Whether a deck needs new boards or a full rebuild depends on the posts, footings and ledger, and that's what we look at first. More on deck repair.
Lake Waubesa lots
Shoreland-wetland zoning applies within 1,000 ft of the lake and 300 ft of a river or stream. Yards on the water are at least 40 ft, and decks can reach up to 10 ft into that yard but no closer than 30 ft to the ordinary high-water mark. Sites that drain to the lake can't use the village's $350 simplified erosion checklist and need an engineered erosion plan. See the McFarland lakefront rules.
Historic properties and added units
Exterior work on a designated historic structure, or any house in a designated historic district, needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Landmarks Commission before the building permit. The commission decides within 45 days.
McFarland's code has no accessory dwelling unit use. The closest option is a temporary auxiliary apartment inside the house for an elderly or disabled family member, which takes a Plan Commission hearing. Detached backyard units are effectively not allowed.
What we do in McFarland
- 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, docks 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 Village of McFarland requires it.
How a job in McFarland 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 Village of McFarland requires.
Get a quote for your McFarland project
Questions we hear in McFarland
Can I apply for a McFarland building permit online?
No. It's a paper application turned in at the Municipal Center or its drop box. We handle it, along with picking up and paying for the permit before work starts.
Does a small deck need a permit in McFarland?
Yes. Every deck needs a building permit and a site plan, with no size or height exemption. A deck on an existing house is $160.
How close to Lake Waubesa can I build a deck?
Decks can reach up to 10 ft into the waterfront yard, but no closer than 30 ft to the ordinary high-water mark.
We checked the permit, fee and zoning details on this page against the Village of McFarland'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.