Show All Answers

1. Where do I vote?

There are eight sites for polling purposes in the City of Sun Prairie. Your polling location is determined by the ward that you live in.  To find out where you vote, visit My Vote Wisconsin.

2. How many animals can I have licensed in the city?

According to city ordinance, in order to protect the public health and public sanitation, the number of dogs and cats you can have is limited to no more than 2 dogs and 2 cats, or 3 animals (3 dogs, or 3 cats) of any 1 of the 2 species, shall be kept in or upon 1 residential unit or by 1 or more persons constituting 1 residential unit, unless the premises be licensed as a kennel. Get more information regarding this ordinance.

3. How can I apply for an Operator's License? (Bartender's License)

Anyone applying for a new operator's license must complete the Responsible Beverage Server Training course or show proof that they have been a licensed operator in the last two years in another Wisconsin municipality.

Information for obtaining an Operator's License can be found here.  

4. What items do I need to apply for a Dog License?

State Statutes and the City of Sun Prairie Ordinances requires all dogs five (5) months of age or older, to be vaccinated for rabies and licensed. Licenses are valid as of January 1st and expire on December 31st of each year and are to be purchased on an annual basis.

Additional information on how to obtain a Dog License can be found here.

5. Can you tell me if a certain business in the city is licensed?

Not every business that operates in the city is licensed by the City of Sun Prairie.  The City licenses some types of businesses while the county and state license other types of businesses.  You can contact our office at 837-2511 to inquire about licenses issued by the City of Sun Prairie.  If you have a problem with a particular business, you can contact the Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin at 800-273-1002.

6. Can I get something notarized at City Hall?

Yes.  There are Notary Publics in the City Clerk's Office.  This service is provided at no charge.

7. Can I serve wine/beer at my business to the public for a grand opening, ladies night out, anniversary, etc?

Answer: No.

Businesses that are open to the public and have no appropriate alcohol license cannot sell or give away or provide tastings of alcohol, including beer, wine, or spirits, to the public.

An alcohol license is required to serve alcohol beverages. Wis. Stat. s. 125.04(1) states that no person (person includes individuals, corporations, LLC’s, etc.) may sell or engage in any other activity for which this chapter provides a license without holding the appropriate license. The City of Sun Prairie forfeiture for violation of this statutory provision ranges from $250 - $500. The penalty under state law is a forfeiture of up to $10,000, nine months in jail, or both (Wis. Stat. s. 125.04 (13)).

If a business does not have an alcohol license, alcohol beverages cannot be sold or given away. Wis. Stat. s. 125.09(1) prohibits “consumption” of alcohol in unlicensed public places. For example, a business at an unlicensed premise cannot have an open house, grand opening, or event that caters to the general public and serves alcohol.

Any charge made directly or indirectly for the alcohol beverage requires the person in charge to hold the appropriate license. The term “sale” is broadly defined. “Sale” is a transfer with consideration or transfer without consideration, if made to evade law, or any shift, device, scheme, or transaction for obtaining an alcoholic beverage (Wis. Stat. s. 125.02(20)).

     - Examples of indirect charges include, but are not limited to, a ticket price including an alcohol beverage, cost of a meal including an alcohol beverage, a purchase of a service with a “free” alcohol beverage, or a donation required in order to consume an alcohol beverage.

Wis. Stat. s. 125.315 prohibits the “giving” of fermented malt beverages to evade law (i.e., businesses such as credit unions, barbershops, salons, etc., giving away beer to customers without a fermented malt beverage license). Wine and spirits also cannot be given away in the same manner under Wis. Stat. s. 125.67. Again, the penalty under state law is a forfeiture of up to $10,000, 9 months in jail, or both (Wis. Stat. s. 125.66).

8. What's the population of Sun Prairie?

In the last 10 years, the City of Sun Prairie has been one of the fastest growing communities in Dane County. As of January 2021, the city's population was 35,895. Please call 608-837-2511 or email us for more information.

9. How can I rent a community room?

  The community room at the Westside Community Center is available for renting through the Recreation Department. You may reserve the Community Room by visiting Recreation Web page , by phone at 608-837-3449, or via email. The Community room at City Hall is currently not available for renting. 

10. What are the Recycle Center hours?

The Sun Prairie Recycle Center is located at 1798 South Bird Street. To view the hours the Recycle Center is open, please visit the Department of Public Works page.

11. My organization would like to sponsor a raffle. How do I go about this?

Raffles are governed by the Wisconsin Division of Administration.  If you have questions regarding Raffles, please call 608-270-2552 or 800-791-6973 or visit their website.

12. How can I contact one of the Sun Prairie Schools?

The best way to obtain information regarding the public schools is by visiting the Sun Prairie School District website.

13. Where can I apply for a marriage license?

Marriage licenses are available at the Dane County Clerk's Office.

14. Where can I obtain a birth certificate?

If you were born in Wisconsin a copy of your birth certificate is available in the Wisconsin Vital Records Office at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, located at:

1 W Wilson St

Madison, WI 53703

PH 608-266-1371

15. Where can I obtain a passport?

Passports are available at the Post Office. At some locations, they may even take your passport photo. Please visit the USPS website for more information.

16. How do I contact the Sun Prairie Post Office?

Click here to go to the official United States Postal Service's Office's website. Or you can call (608) 834-0952 to reach someone at the local Sun Prairie office.