St. Francis, WI — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Building Inspection

Street address

3400 E Howard Avenue, St. Francis, WI 53235

Phone

414-316-4311

Coverage

City of St. Francis building inspection and permit intake for building, fence, sign, pool, and related work.

Online portal

Website permit form library

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for St. Francis

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.

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Calls for appointments are scheduled within 24 hours; next-business-day inspection requests must be placed by 3:30 p.m.

01

Review the permit form library and project-specific requirement sheets.
02

Call to schedule an appointment with the Building Inspector.
03

Obtain and submit the permit application at City Hall with required plans and survey materials.
04

Pay fees and wait for issuance.
05

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 ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

St. Francis building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

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.

Fees are handled through City Hall during permit intake.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

414-316-4311 (phone)

Inspection hours: Appointment only; schedule by 3:30 p.m. for next-business-day inspection.

Typical sequence: Permit issuance, required inspections, final inspection.

Failure to call for final inspection has a published fee penalty.

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about St. Francis permits

01 Do I need a building permit in St. Francis, WI? ▸

02 How much does a building permit cost in St. Francis, WI? ▸

Building permit fees in St. Francis, WI are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. 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..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in St. Francis, WI? ▸

To apply for a building permit in St. Francis, WI, follow these steps: 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.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in St. Francis, WI? ▸

Building permit processing times in St. Francis, WI typically run Calls for appointments are scheduled within 24 hours; next-business-day inspection requests must be placed by 3:30 p.m.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 How do I schedule a building inspection in St. Francis, WI? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in St. Francis, WI via: 414-316-4311.

last verified April 2026 source Building Inspection ↗ entry id permits/wisconsin/milwaukee/st-francis

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Building Inspection before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

St. Francis

Other jurisdictions in Milwaukee County.