City Hall, 100 N. Jefferson Street, Room 608, Green Bay, WI 54301
Phone: (920) 448-3300 (8 AM–4 PM)
Website: greenbaywi.gov/permits →
WI DSPS: (608) 261-8500 · dsps.wi.gov
Green Bay electrical permit rules — the Wisconsin system
Electrical permits in Green Bay are obtained at City Hall, 100 N. Jefferson Street, Room 608. Phone: (920) 448-3300. Wisconsin Safety and Professional Services (SPS) codes govern electrical work. Wisconsin DSPS-licensed electrical contractors perform permitted electrical work. Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) provides electricity to Green Bay; service changes require WPS coordination alongside the city permit.
Green Bay's electrical DIY rules are distinctive: owner-occupants of their primary single-family residence may perform their own electrical work with a permit, but they must first schedule a meeting with a city electrical inspector at City Hall at (920) 448-3300. The inspector asks basic wiring questions to verify the homeowner has adequate knowledge. Bring a floor plan showing location of all receptacles, lights, and switches. This is a Green Bay-specific process that differs from most other cities in this guide. Rental properties: Wisconsin DSPS-licensed electricians must pull the permit and perform all electrical work.
WPS (Wisconsin Public Service) provides both electricity and natural gas to Green Bay. Service changes and panel upgrades require WPS meter coordination. WPS customer service: 800-450-7260.
| Factor | How it affects your Green Bay electrical permit |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin DSPS electrical license | Wisconsin DSPS electrical license required for licensed electricians. Verify at dsps.wi.gov or (608) 261-8500. City Green Bay-licensed electricians: call (920) 448-3300 for local licensing info. |
| DIY electrical: must meet inspector first | Owner-occupant of primary single-family residence can do own electrical work with permit, but MUST first meet with city electrical inspector at City Hall. Call (920) 448-3300 to schedule. Rental property: licensed electrician only. |
| WPS meter coordination for service upgrades | WPS (Wisconsin Public Service) serves Green Bay for electricity. Panel upgrades: WPS meter coordination required. WPS customer service: 800-450-7260. Wisconsin net metering for solar. |
| Wisconsin SPS electrical codes | Wisconsin uses its own SPS code system, not the NEC directly. Contact Green Bay Building Inspection at (920) 448-3300 for current Wisconsin SPS electrical code requirements applicable to your project. |
| Rough-in inspection before covering | Wisconsin SPS and Green Bay: rough-in inspection required before insulating or covering any new wiring. Call (920) 448-3300 at least one business day before inspection needed. |
What electrical work costs in Green Bay
New circuit: $250–$500. EV charger: $700–$1,400. Service upgrade: $3,500–$7,000. Contact (920) 448-3300 for current permit fee.
Common questions about Green Bay WI electrical permits
How do I apply for an electrical permit in Green Bay?
In-person at City Hall, 100 N. Jefferson Street, Room 608. Phone: (920) 448-3300. Wisconsin DSPS-licensed electrician or owner-occupant of primary single-family residence (after meeting with city inspector first at City Hall). Rental properties require licensed electrician.
What is the Green Bay DIY electrical inspection requirement?
Owner-occupants of their primary single-family residence who want to perform their own electrical work must first schedule a meeting with a city electrical inspector at City Hall at (920) 448-3300. Bring a floor plan showing all proposed electrical fixture locations. The inspector will ask basic wiring questions to verify your knowledge before allowing the permit. This is a Green Bay-specific requirement. For rental properties, this option is not available — a Wisconsin DSPS-licensed electrician must do all electrical work.
Can a homeowner do their own electrical work in Green Bay?
Yes, but only in their primary single-family residence, and only after meeting with a city electrical inspector at City Hall. The homeowner must demonstrate basic wiring knowledge. Condominiums, duplexes, and rental properties do not qualify — these require a Wisconsin DSPS-licensed electrician for all electrical work.
Who provides electricity to Green Bay?
Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) provides electricity to Green Bay (part of WEC Energy Group). WPS also provides natural gas. WPS is a regulated utility, not a competitive market like Texas ERCOT. Contact WPS at 800-450-7260 for service information.
What electrical codes govern Green Bay?
Wisconsin uses Safety and Professional Services (SPS) codes — Wisconsin's own code system, not the NEC or ICC codes directly. Contact Green Bay Building Inspection Division at (920) 448-3300 for current Wisconsin SPS electrical code requirements applicable to your specific project.
Green Bay basements — the renovation advantage
Green Bay's combination of a 48–60 inch frost depth requirement and the practical economic reality of deep excavation has made full basement construction the dominant residential foundation type in the city. When footings must reach 4–5 feet below grade to protect against frost heaving, adding another 2–3 feet to create a full basement (7–8 feet total) adds relatively little incremental excavation cost while dramatically increasing usable square footage. Green Bay homeowners have built with this logic for well over a century, resulting in a housing stock in which full basements are standard rather than exceptional.
The renovation consequence is significant: first-floor drain pipes in basement homes run through the floor joist space and are accessible from below without any concrete cutting. A Wisconsin-licensed master plumber can access bathroom or kitchen drain pipes from the basement, reroute them to new fixture locations, and complete the work for approximately $600–$1,500 — a fraction of the $1,500–$4,000 or more required in slab-on-grade markets like Allen TX, Norman OK, or Pearland TX. For Green Bay homeowners considering bathroom or kitchen renovations that move drain positions, this basement advantage can mean thousands of dollars in savings compared to the same renovation in a slab market. Contact City Hall Building Inspection at (920) 448-3300 for permit questions.
Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) — Green Bay's dual-utility provider
Unlike most cities in this guide where electricity and natural gas are provided by separate companies, Green Bay is served by Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) for both electricity and natural gas. WPS, a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group headquartered in Green Bay, serves approximately 474,000 electric customers and 350,000 natural gas customers in northeast and central Wisconsin. The single-utility structure means Green Bay homeowners coordinate with one company for all energy service changes: panel upgrades, gas line modifications, meter disconnects, and solar interconnection all route through WPS.
WPS customer service: 800-450-7260. Electric emergency: 800-450-7240. Gas emergency: 800-450-7280. For construction-related service changes (meter disconnects for panel upgrades, gas meter changes for gas line work), coordinate with WPS alongside the City of Green Bay Building Inspection Division permit at (920) 448-3300. WPS offers net metering for solar installations; verify current net metering terms at wisconsinpublicservice.com before finalizing solar system design. WPS customers may also be eligible for Wisconsin Focus on Energy rebates for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements.
City of Green Bay Building Inspection Division. Wisconsin DSPS certification required. Contact (920) 448-3300 for current permit fee schedule. Not engineering advice.