Building Inspection plan review and zoning review counters will be open to the public by appointment only.
Street Vacation
When you and your neighbors want to permanently close a street no longer needed as a public thoroughfare, you, the property owners can request a street vacation. This process is necessary to ensure the public interest in the street right-of-way and the public utility of the right-of-way is no longer necessary [State Statutes 66.1003 & 66.1005].
Note: If the right-of-way was purchased by the City for street purposes it is generally sold to adjacent owners at fair market value.
Process Overview
Send in Requests
All property owners adjacent to the street to be vacated should send the following items to the City Clerk and the City Engineering Division:
- A letter of request
- A sketch of the area to be vacated
City Clerk
City-County Building
210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Room 103
Madison, WI 53703Phone: (608) 266-4601
City Engineering
City-County Building
210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Room 115
Madison, WI 53703Phone: (608) 266-4751
Request Review
The request is introduced to the Common Council and referred to the Board of Public Works, the Plan Commission and the Transportation Commission for consideration.
All these reviewers report back to the City Engineering Division. City Engineering also coordinates the vacation request with other City agencies and the Utility companies.
Public Hearing
If the Commissions approve the street vacation, City Engineering prepares a description of the area to be vacated, including easements and other restrictions. You may be required to obtain a survey of the area to be vacated.
The Common Council then holds a public hearing and approves or rejects the vacation request.
Completion
If approved, the vacated right-of-way is divided in compliance with the laws regarding reversion.