Licenses & Permits

• Department of Revenue Alcohol Seller/Server approved programs
• Alcohol, Cigarette and Tobacco Products Retail License Forms
• Alcohol and Fermented Malt Beverage Application Class A Supplemental Form Rev 5.19
• Alcohol and Fermented Malt Beverage Application Class B and C Supplemental Form Rev 5.19
• Class A Liquor License Evaluation Guidelines
• Class B Liquor License Evaluation Guidelines
• Operator License

The use of loudspeakers or amplifying devices on the streets, in the parks, or on other public property of the city is prohibited unless the party desiring to use such loudspeaker or amplifying device first obtains a permit from the chief of police or obtains a special event permit per section 66-321.  Amplifying Device Permit Applications should be filed at City of Portage Police Department

Amplifying Device Permit Application

Building Permits - Are you making modifications, updating, building new, adding additions, accessory shed, garage or roofing? If so you need a permit. If you have general permit questions please call City Hall 608-742-2176 Public Works Department. If you specific questions about building permits or a large project you can call the building inspector, Mike Bortz, at General Engineering 608-745-4070. You can fax completed permit applications to 608-742-8623, drop off the completed application at City Hall, or mail completed applications to City Hall:

City of Portage
Building Permits
115 W Pleasant St
Portage, WI 53901

To pay for a Building permit you can mail a check to City Hall at the address listed about, come to City Hall and pay when you pick up the permit, or click here for General Payment instructions to pay online or by phone.

General Building Permit Application

New Construction Building Permit Application

Burning permits are required by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in many parts of the state to conduct safe and legal outdoor burning. Regardless of burn location, anyone wishing to burn in the outdoors should contact local fire officials before burning to find out if permits or restrictions are in place. See current burning restrictions.

Burning permits can be obtained at the Fire Station (119 W. Pleasant Street) at the following times:
Monday through Friday:  8:00 – noon and 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday:  8:00-noon

Current Burning Restrictions

Please see Dog & Cat category

The City of Portage allows residents to keep up to 6 chickens in their rear yards upon issuance of a permit. Section 6-122 of City Ordinances outlines the requirements and conditions that residents must comply with in order to obtain and keep a permit allowing them to keep chickens.  To obtain a keeping of chickens permit fill out the form below. Drop off the completed form and fee at City Hall or mail it to:
City Hall
Chickens Permit
115 W. Pleasant St
Portage, WI 53901

Application for Keeping of Chickens

To obtain a Cigarette and Tobacco license fill out the form below. Drop off the completed form and fee at City Hall or mail it to:

City Hall
Cigarette and Tobacco License
115 W. Pleasant St
Portage, WI 53901

Application for Cigarette and Tobacco Products Retail License

To obtain a Dangerous Animal License fill out the form below.  Drop off the completed form, supporting documents, and fee at City Hall or mail it to:

City Hall
Dangerous Animal License
115 W. Pleasant St.
Portage, WI 53901

Dangerous Animal License Application

Direct seller means any individual who, for himself, or for a partnership, association or corporation, sells goods, or takes sales orders for the later delivery of goods, at any location other than the permanent business place or residence of said individual, partnership, association or corporation, and shall include, but not be limited to, peddlers, solicitors and transient merchants. The sale of goods includes donations required by the direct seller for the retention of goods by a donor or prospective customer.  If you are a Direct Seller you must fill out the the application below and submit it along with the fee to City Hall, 115 W. Pleasant St., Portage, WI 53901.

Direct Seller Ordinance

Direct Seller Application

Dog and Cat licenses expire on December 31^st.   Licenses purchased after March 31st will be charged an additional $5 late fee per license.  A $ 5.00 late fee will be charged if the owner fails to obtain a license prior to April 1st of each year, within 30 days of acquiring ownership of a licensable animal or if the animal is more than 5 months of age.

Pet licenses can be obtained from the Treasurer’s office.  A current rabies certificate for your pet from your veterinarian is required to obtain a license.  To pay a reduced fee for a spayed or neutered pet you must provide one time proof of spay or neuter.   Once the pet is in the system as spayed/neutered you no longer need to provide proof of spay/neuter.

Pets are prohibited in all city parks, except the Fritz Port Dog Park in Veteran’s Memorial Field.  For more information about the dog park contact the Parks & Recreation Department at 608-742-2178 or click here for their website.

It shall be unlawful for any owner, keeper or walker of any dog or cat to discharge such animal’s excreta upon any public or private property, other than on the owner’s own private property, within the city if such owner, keeper or walker does not immediately thereafter remove and clean such animal’s excreta from the public or private property.

All pets need to be leashed and under control.

Sec. 6-120. - Limitation on number of dogs or cats.

(a) Purpose. The keeping of a large number of dogs or cats within the city for a considerable period of time detracts from and, in many instances, is detrimental to, healthful and comfortable life in such areas. The keeping of a large number of dogs or cats is, therefore, declared a public nuisance.

(b) Number permitted per family or person. No family or person shall own, harbor or keep in its possession more than four dogs or cats on any residentially zoned lot without the prior approval of the common council except that a litter of pups or kittens or a portion of a litter may be kept for not more than eight weeks from birth. If more than one family or person resides on a residential lot, then only a total of four dogs or cats shall be allowed on a residential lot. For the purposes of this section, the term "family" shall be defined as one or more persons.

To obtain a Dog or Cat license please print the form below and bring it in to City Hall or mail it along with required paperwork and self-addressed stamped envelope to:

City Hall
Deputy Treasurer/Pet Licensing
115 W. Pleasant St.
Portage, WI 53901

Dog & Cat Licensing Form and Pricing

You must obtain a dumpster permit if you have a dumpster located on public property and a public right-of-way.  To obtain a dumpster permit fill out the form below.  Drop off the completed form and fee at City Hall or mail it to:

City Hall
Dumpster Permit
115 W. Pleasant St
Portage, WI 53901

Dumpster Application 19.08.01

Dumpster Permit Ordinance

Fireworks Sale License

To obtain a hotel/motel license fill out the form below.  Drop off the completed form and fee at City Hall or mail it to:

City Hall
Hotel/Motel License
115 W. Pleasant St
Portage, WI 53901

Hotel/ Motel License Application 

To obtain a Junk Dealer License fill out the form below.  Drop off the completed form and fee at City Hall or mail it to:

City Hall
Junk Dealer License
115 W. Pleasant St
Portage, WI 53901

Junk Dealer

Junk Dealer City Ordinance

To obtain a Mobil Home License fill out the form below. Drop off the completed form and fee at City Hall or mail it to:

City Hall
Mobil Home License
115 W. Pleasant St
Portage, WI 53901

Mobile Home Park License Application

Short Term Parking Permits

Short term parking is for a vehicle parked for 72 hours or less.  A short term parking permit can be obtained by filling out an application and paying the fee at the Portage Police Department located at 117 W. Pleasant Street, Portage, WI 53901.  Phone number 608-742-2174 during regular business hours.

Long Term Parking Permits

Long term parking is over 72 hours and up to 3 months.  A long term parking permit can be obtained at City Hall, located at 115 W. Pleasant Street, Portage, WI 53901.  Phone number 608-742-2176.

The designated municipal parking lot for permits is lot 10, Market Square, located at 200 E. Cook St., Portage, WI 53901.

Click here for the Parking Permit Ordinance

To obtain a Right of Way Permit fill out the form below.  Drop off the completed form and fee at City Hall or mail it to:

City Hall
Right of Way Permit
115 W. Pleasant St
Portage, WI 53901

Right of Way Permit Application

To obtain a secondhand dealer license fill out the form below.  Drop off the completed form and fee at City Hall or mail it to:

City Hall
Secondhand Dealer License
115 W. Pleasant St
Portage, WI 53901

Article Dealer Application

Jewelry Dealer Application

Pawnbroker Application

To obtain a sign permit fill out the application below.  Drop of the completed form and sketch at City Hall or mail it to:

City Hall
Sign Permit
115 W. Pleasant St
Portage, WI 53901

Sign Permit Application

Sign Ordinance

If you would like to use City property or City services for an event please review the Special Event information and fill out the appropriate forms.

Below find a link to the application for the Special Event Permit and Street Use Permit. Please note that the Special Event Permit application must be received at least 45 days prior to the event. The Street Use Permit Application must be completed 15 days prior to the event.

For more information please review the Special Event Ordinance.

For Banner Locations please review the Banner Location Map

To obtain a special event permit fill out the appropriate forms below. Drop off the completed forms and fee at City Hall or mail it to:

City Hall
Special Event Permit
115 W. Pleasant St
Portage, WI 53901

Special Event Application

Street Use Permit Application

Amplifying Device Application

To obtain a street privilege permit fill out the form below. Drop off the completed form and fee at City Hall or mail it to:

City Hall
Street Priviledge Permit
115 W. Pleasant St
Portage, WI 53901

Street Privilege Permit Application

Application for Street Vacation

To obtain a taxi cab operator license or a taxi cab company license fill out the appropriate form below. Drop off the completed form and fee at City Hall or mail it to:

City Hall
Taxi Application
115 W. Pleasant St
Portage, WI 53901

Taxi Cab Operators License Application Rev 4.2018

Taxi Cab Company License Application Rev 5.2018

To obtain a zoning and occupancy permit fill out the form below. Drop off the completed form and fee at City Hall or mail it to:

City Hall
Zoning and Occupancy Permit
115 W. Pleasant St
Portage, WI 53901

Zoning and Occupancy Permit Application