Auto Repair Shop Permit Requirements in Madison, WI

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Wisconsin Department of Revenue - Seller's Permit

   Required of every individual, partnership, corporation or other organization with a Wisconsin sales location making retail sales of taxable products or taxable services, with limited exceptions for wholesalers, manufacturers and certain marketplace sellers. The permit is issued through Business Tax Registration, which also covers withholding and use tax accounts. Rates: 5% state; seventy counties add 0.5%; Milwaukee County is 0.9% and the City of Milwaukee adds 2%, both effective January 1, 2024, so the rate inside Milwaukee is 7.9% - the only Wisconsin city with a municipal sales tax.

   Official government source

   $20 one-time Business Tax Registration fee, then $10 to renew every two years - it is not free. The $20 is the same regardless of how many locations need a seller's permit. DOR can additionally require a security deposit of up to $15,000 in some cases, returned after 24 consecutive months of compliance.·Register online through My Tax Account. DOR does not publish a guaranteed processing time - contact [email protected] or 608-266-2776 to check status.

   $20 one-time Business Tax Registration fee, then $10 to renew every two years - it is not free. The $20 is the same regardless of how many locations need a seller's permit. DOR can additionally require a security deposit of up to $15,000 in some cases, returned after 24 consecutive months of compliance.

   Register online through My Tax Account. DOR does not publish a guaranteed processing time - contact [email protected] or 608-266-2776 to check status.

2. Wisconsin DNR - Used Oil and Hazardous Waste

   Wisconsin auto repair shops must comply with DNR used oil and hazardous waste management standards (Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 679). Used oil, antifreeze and other automotive fluids must be stored in appropriate containers and recycled or disposed of properly; landfilling used oil and filters is banned. This is an ongoing compliance obligation, not a one-time state registration or permit for typical small-quantity generators.

   Official government source

   No DNR registration or permit fee for typical small-quantity generators; collection, recycling and disposal are priced by private used-oil haulers and recyclers.·Ongoing compliance - no separate registration or permit application for typical shops.

   No DNR registration or permit fee for typical small-quantity generators; collection, recycling and disposal are priced by private used-oil haulers and recyclers.

   Ongoing compliance - no separate registration or permit application for typical shops.

1. City of Madison - No General Business License

   The City of Madison does not have a general/generic business license. Per the city's own guidance: "The City of Madison does not have a generic business license. Most licenses issued by the Clerk's Office are for things that need to be inspected" (e.g. restaurants, pools, hotels). There is no general or blanket business license and no annual renewal or display requirement for most business types. The Clerk's Office licenses only specific regulated activities - alcohol, tobacco and vaping, adult entertainment, secondhand dealers, transportation and tattooing among them. A Certificate of Occupancy from the Building Inspection Division is still required for a commercial space.

   Official government source

   $0 - Madison has no general or blanket business license. Fees apply only to the specific regulated activities the Clerk's Office licenses. If you are taking a commercial space, the Certificate of Occupancy is $10.00 first certificate, $150.00 each additional, or $75.00 for a zoning change of use or occupancy (City of Madison Building Inspection fee schedule).·Not applicable - there is no general city license to apply for.

   $0 - Madison has no general or blanket business license. Fees apply only to the specific regulated activities the Clerk's Office licenses. If you are taking a commercial space, the Certificate of Occupancy is $10.00 first certificate, $150.00 each additional, or $75.00 for a zoning change of use or occupancy (City of Madison Building Inspection fee schedule).

   Not applicable - there is no general city license to apply for.

2. City of Madison - Zoning and Certificate of Occupancy

   Auto repair shops must operate in properly zoned commercial or industrial areas. Obtain zoning approval and a Certificate of Occupancy from the City of Madison Building Inspection Division before opening. This is a city function - Dane County does not issue zoning or occupancy approvals inside the City of Madison.

   Official government source

   Certificate of Occupancy: $10.00 first certificate, $150.00 each additional; $75.00 per certificate for a zoning change of use or occupancy. Any buildout is charged separately - alterations and repairs to an existing structure are $11.00 per $1,000 of value, $25.00 minimum, and zoning review is $0.03 per sq ft, $25.00 minimum (City of Madison Building Inspection fee schedule).·Not published - confirm current plan review and inspection lead times with the City of Madison Development Services Center.

   Certificate of Occupancy: $10.00 first certificate, $150.00 each additional; $75.00 per certificate for a zoning change of use or occupancy. Any buildout is charged separately - alterations and repairs to an existing structure are $11.00 per $1,000 of value, $25.00 minimum, and zoning review is $0.03 per sq ft, $25.00 minimum (City of Madison Building Inspection fee schedule).

   Not published - confirm current plan review and inspection lead times with the City of Madison Development Services Center.

Official Sources

• City of Madison Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development
• Wisconsin DNR — Used Oil and Hazardous Waste

Related Guides