Badger SaunaMadison, Wisconsin
City of Monona

Sauna permits in Monona, WI

Monona treats every accessory structure the same way: a building permit plus a zoning permit, with no small-shed exemption. Its permit packet explicitly mentions installing wood stoves, so a wood-fired sauna is a known quantity to the inspector. Many Monona lots are lakefront, which adds shoreland rules on top.

Permit requiredWood-fired OK

Do you need a permit for a sauna in Monona?

Yes, building + zoning permit.

Yes. Monona's permit packet requires a building permit and a zoning permit for any accessory structure. The limits are 14 ft tall, at least 6 ft from the house and 3 ft from lot lines. The packet specifically lists wood stove installation.

Researched October 5, 2026 from official code

What Monona requires

Building permitRequired

Required for any accessory structure.

Zoning permitRequired

Required.

Electrical permitRequired

Required for the 240V circuit.

Wood stoveRequired

The permit packet lists "installation of wood stoves."

From lot lines
3 ft minimum
From the house
6 ft minimum
Fee
~$210–$285 (accessory min $75, electrical min $135, erosion control $75)
Limits
Max height 14 ft.
REAR LOT LINE SIDE LOT LINE House Sauna 3 ft 3 ft 6 ft a lit path you'll use in January
Fig. — Monona siting minimumsNot to scale
Where it can go

Siting a sauna in Monona.

Keep the sauna at least 3 ft from the side and rear lot lines and 6 ft from the house. Then think beyond the minimums.

  • 01
    Path before viewA short, lit, shovelable path from the back door matters more than the perfect sightline.
  • 02
    Firm and levelA compacted gravel pad or patio. Barrel saunas sit on cradles, so no frost footing is needed.
  • 03
    Smoke and neighborsWith wood, orient the chimney away from neighbors' windows and keep clear of overhanging branches.
  • 04
    Delivery accessAbout an 8-ft-wide path from the street for a whole-sauna delivery.
Wood-fired in Monona

Permitted with inspection

Monona's packet lists wood stove installation as permitted work. We couldn't read the city's burning ordinance (it's hosted behind a bot check), so ask the inspector about any burn restrictions too.

Good to know in Monona
  • Lakefront lots on Monona fall under shoreland zoning. See the lakefront section on the county permits page.
  • No small-shed exemption. Every accessory structure gets a permit.
  • Keep it at least 6 ft from the house.
Step by step

How a sauna gets permitted in Monona.

The usual order of things. With a Badger Sauna, we do steps two through four for you.

  1. 01

    Call Building Inspector

    Confirm your parcel's zoning, the setbacks, and the stove rules. 608-222-2525 · bldinspec@ci.monona.wi.us

  2. 02

    Draw a site plan

    A simple plan of the lot showing the sauna, the house, and the distances to each lot line.

  3. 03

    Apply

    Submit the building permit, zoning permit, electrical permit, wood stove with spec sheets for the sauna and heater.

  4. 04

    Install & inspect

    A licensed electrician wires the heater on its permit. The inspector signs off, and then the first fire.

Questions

Monona sauna FAQ.

Codes change. Treat this as a well-researched head start, and confirm with the office before you build.

Building Inspector

608-222-2525
bldinspec@ci.monona.wi.us

Do I need a permit for a backyard sauna in Monona?

Yes. Monona's permit packet requires a building permit and a zoning permit for any accessory structure. The limits are 14 ft tall, at least 6 ft from the house and 3 ft from lot lines. The packet specifically lists wood stove installation.

How close to the property line can a sauna be in Monona?

Plan on at least 3 ft from side and rear lot lines, and at least 6 ft from the house. Max height 14 ft. Confirm with Building Inspector at 608-222-2525 before you set the sauna.

Can I have a wood-fired sauna in Monona?

Permitted with inspection. Monona's packet lists wood stove installation as permitted work. We couldn't read the city's burning ordinance (it's hosted behind a bot check), so ask the inspector about any burn restrictions too.

Does an electric sauna need an electrical permit in Monona?

Yes. A sauna heater runs on a dedicated 240V circuit, and Monona requires an electrical permit for that work, pulled by a licensed electrician. This is true in every municipality in Dane County.

Official sources for Monona

Researched October 5, 2026 from Monona's published code and permit materials, assuming a freestanding barrel sauna of 40–70 sq ft, sitting on cradles with no foundation, heated by a wood stove or by an electric heater on a dedicated 240V circuit. This is a guide, not legal advice. Your building inspector has the final word. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.

Nearby towns
MadisonPermit required McFarlandPermit required Cottage GrovePermit required FitchburgDepends on size All Dane County towns