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 kitchen permit rules — the basics
Kitchen renovation permits in Green Bay are obtained at City Hall, 100 N. Jefferson Street, Room 608. Phone: (920) 448-3300. Long project permit application required. Wisconsin SPS codes + Green Bay local ordinances govern. Wisconsin DSPS-certified Dwelling Contractors for structural work; Wisconsin-licensed master plumbers for plumbing; Wisconsin DSPS-licensed electricians for electrical. WPS natural gas serves kitchen gas appliances; any new or modified gas connection requires a plumbing permit with pressure test.
Foundation type is the primary cost variable for kitchen sink relocation. Green Bay's older housing stock (many homes from the 1920s through 1960s in established neighborhoods) commonly has full basements with accessible first-floor drain pipes. Basement homes: drain relocation accessible from below without concrete cutting (~$600–$1,500). Newer Green Bay construction (post-1980s) may be slab-on-grade, requiring saw-cutting (~$1,500–$4,000). Confirm foundation type before finalizing kitchen layout.
| Kitchen scope | Permit required in Green Bay? |
|---|---|
| Same-layout cabinets, countertops | No permit. Cosmetic at existing connections is permit-exempt. |
| Move kitchen sink (basement home) | Plumbing permit at City Hall Room 608. Wisconsin-licensed master plumber. Basement access from below, no concrete cutting. ~$600–$1,500. Common in older Green Bay homes. |
| Move kitchen sink (slab home) | Plumbing permit. Wisconsin-licensed master plumber. Concrete saw-cutting. ~$1,500–$4,000. Less common but present in newer Green Bay construction. |
| New gas line or appliance | Plumbing/gas permit. Wisconsin-licensed master plumber. WPS natural gas. Pressure test before concealment. |
| Wall removal (structural) | Building permit. Wisconsin DSPS-certified Dwelling Contractor. Wisconsin SPS structural provisions. No seismic engineering required. |
| New electrical circuits | Electrical permit. Wisconsin DSPS-licensed electrician. DIY: must meet city inspector first at (920) 448-3300. |
What kitchen remodels cost in Green Bay
Cosmetic same-layout: $12,000–$32,000. Open-concept with basement drain relocation: $44,000–$78,000. Slab drain relocation (if applicable): adds $1,500–$4,000. Contact (920) 448-3300 for permit fee.
Common questions about Green Bay WI kitchen remodel permits
How do I apply for kitchen permits in Green Bay?
Long project permit application submitted in-person at City Hall, 100 N. Jefferson Street, Room 608. Phone: (920) 448-3300. Wisconsin DSPS-certified contractor or owner-occupant of primary single-family residence.
Does moving the kitchen sink require a permit in Green Bay?
Yes — plumbing permit from City Hall Room 608. Wisconsin-licensed master plumber or owner-occupant of primary single-family residence. Cost depends on foundation type: basement (accessible from below, ~$600–$1,500) or slab (concrete cutting, ~$1,500–$4,000). Many older Green Bay homes have basements.
Does Green Bay require structural engineering for kitchen wall removal?
Wisconsin SPS codes require appropriate structural documentation for load-bearing wall removal, but Wisconsin SPS does not require seismic engineering (Green Bay is in a low seismic zone). The Wisconsin DSPS-certified Dwelling Contractor specifies the replacement beam and connections per Wisconsin SPS structural provisions.
Who provides natural gas to Green Bay?
Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) provides natural gas to Green Bay. WPS also provides electricity. Gas line modifications require a Wisconsin-licensed master plumber, a gas permit at City Hall Room 608, and pressure testing before concealment.
Can the homeowner do their own kitchen electrical work in Green Bay?
Owner-occupants of primary single-family residences can do their own electrical work, but must first meet with a city electrical inspector at City Hall to demonstrate basic wiring knowledge. Call (920) 448-3300 to schedule. Rental properties require a Wisconsin DSPS-licensed electrician for all electrical work.
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 SPS codes — how Green Bay building codes differ from most states
Wisconsin uses the Safety and Professional Services (SPS) code system — the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services's own regulatory code framework — rather than the International Code Council (ICC) codes used by most other states. The Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC, encompassing SPS 320–325 for residential construction), Wisconsin Commercial Building Code (SPS 361–366), and Wisconsin Plumbing Code (SPS 382–387) are Wisconsin's own code structure with Wisconsin-specific provisions.
For homeowners and contractors, the practical implication is that Wisconsin-specific code requirements apply rather than the 2018 IRC or 2021 IRC that governs most other states in this guide. Wisconsin's energy code (SPS 363) reflects Climate Zone 6 requirements that are substantially more demanding than zones applicable to Texas, Oklahoma, or Florida. Wisconsin's contractor certification requirements (Dwelling Contractor Certification + Qualifier Certification through DSPS) are Wisconsin-specific and separate from any national contractor certification. Green Bay Building Inspection Division enforces Wisconsin SPS codes alongside local Green Bay municipal ordinances. Contact (920) 448-3300 for current code requirements applicable to your specific project.
City of Green Bay Building Inspection Division. Wisconsin DSPS certification required. Contact (920) 448-3300 for current permit fee schedule. Not engineering advice.