Frequently Asked Questions

To see what your assessed property value is, visit this page on our website. 

• Exterior Inspections
• Interior Inspections
• Maintenance Inspections
• Sale Inspections

• Contact the Assessor’s Office at 608-825-1186.
• If your question cannot immediately be answered you will be directed to the appraiser for your area. If you have recently received an Assessment Change Notice, we encourage you to contact our office to make an appointment to meet with the appraiser during Open Book.
• Meet with the appraiser during Open Book.

Open Book is the period of time, just after the Assessor has completed the annual Assessment Roll. In Sun Prairie it is after the Assessment Change Notices have been mailed.

An increase in your assessment does not necessarily mean an increase in your property taxes. Additionally, a decrease in your assessment does not necessarily mean a decrease in your property taxes. Your property tax rate will not be last year’s property tax rate multiplied by this year’s assessed value.

Though the assessed value of your property affects your share of taxes, the actual amount you pay is determined by the budget needs, or levy of the schools, city, county, technical college and state reforestation. All of these taxing bodies decide their budget needs based on services to be provided to the community. If the total levy remains the same, only those properties that are not presently paying their fair share of the tax burden will pay more taxes after a revaluation. Properties presently paying more than their fair share will pay less. 

To illustrate how the levy affects your assessment we’ll look at Badgertown; a community of two. Each resident owns a house valued at $100,000. Badgertown’s tax levy is $2,000; the amount needed to cover its expenses. Since each resident owns 50% of the total property, they each pay 50% of the levy giving them each a tax bill of $1,000.

If property values in Badgertown go up 10%, then each property is assessed at $110,000. The amount they pay in taxes, however, remains the same. Each resident still owns 50% of the total property in Badgertown and must pay 50% of the $2,000 tax levy or $1,000. And what if values start dropping? Residents’ property might drop to $80,000 each but because they each still own 50% of the property, and Badgertown still needs to collect $2,000, they will continue to see a $1,000 property tax bill.

Visit our Recreation and Programs page for more information about registering for recreation and aquatics programs.

Refund requests must be made during Parks and Recreation Department business hours of Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. All participant program cancellation request must be received at least five business days prior to the start of the program. No refund will be issued after this time.  

Visit our website for details about our refund policy.

In the case of inclement weather, programs may be cancelled. Your safety is our concern. Classes will not be held if facilities are unsafe or if weather is dangerous.

Download the app "Rainout Line" in the App Store or Google Play. Once downloaded, search for Sun Prairie. We highly encourage customers to utilize Rainout Line as Rainout Line and Sun Prairie Parks and Recreation Department social media accounts will be the primary way to receive information about cancellations.  

For more information, visit our Weather Cancellation page.

We are pleased to offer financial assistance to individuals and families that reside in Sun Prairie that may not be in a position to participate due to financial hardship. Funding is available for those persons who qualify by filling out a scholarship application once per calendar year (January to December). Most programs are eligible under the scholarship program. Contact our office at 608-837-3449 to obtain a scholarship application or download the form.

The original permit fee covers the cost of typical inspections related to your project.  In the event that additional services are necessary - such as multiple re-inspections, excessive time required for the inspector to complete an inspection, or inspections that are not ready at the scheduled time, additional fees will be charged.

If the contractor pulls the permit they do have to provide proof of all required state credentials.  If the homeowner pulls the permit and is doing the work themselves (as long as they both own and occupy the residence) then they do not have to be licensed. Please call 608-825-1184 for more information.

You may pay tickets / citations at the window located in the lobby of the City Hall at 300 East Main Street. The window is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m. (excluding holidays).

Payments are accepted in the form of cash, money order, check or credit card.

Sun Prairie Municipal Court also accepts payments for tickets / citations online.

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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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

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).

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.

  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. 

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

EMS is an acronym for Emergency Medical Services.  The profession was born from the battlefield in the Napoleonic era when Napoleon’s physician Dominque-Jean Larrey used horse-drawn carts as the first “ambulance” to move injured soldiers off of the battlefield to a treatment area.  The idea made its way to the United States during the Civil War.  In WWI, the United States Army used non-physicians in the trenches to treat casualties; in WWII, these men entered combat and became the corpsmen and medics we know today.  In the 1950s, civilian programs began developing and by the mid-1960s, the EMS profession in the United States started to take shape. Click Here for more EMS History 

1. Early detection
2. Early reporting
3. Early response
4. On-scene care
5. Care in transit
6. Transfer to definitive care

The public should know that we work hard, we train hard, and we are grateful for the privilege of being able to help others in their times of need.  And we are human, too. We do this job because it's our choice to be there and help people. If your loved one's heart stops, we will do everything we know how to save them as if they were our own family. If we have to tell you that we can't save them, you should know that we hurt, too. Our job means that we sometimes have to see awful things that most people cannot imagine. Our job means that we miss out on a lot of things with our families. We do this job because we’re smart and strong and we have the mettle it takes, and a simple ‘thank you’ means the world to us.

Emergency Medical Services professionals object to the term “ambulance driver”.  The education and training required to work as a paramedic can take a full year to achieve and cost in excess of $6000.  Additionally, the Sun Prairie paramedics dedicate themselves to serving the community at great personal sacrifice including loss of family time, a job that is inherently dangerous, and considerable physical and mental stresses.  The City of Sun Prairie is committed to providing its citizens the highest possible pre-hospital medical care, and so all Sun Prairie EMS employees are state-certified paramedics; many have also earned the distinction of being Nationally Registered Paramedics through the NREMT.

In EMS, there is no such thing as a lunch or dinner break, and the paramedics must provide their own meals. They are required to be ready to respond at all times during their 24-hour shift, and so each crew will typically try to bring groceries with them at the start of their shift, but when they cannot, they will make a quick trip to the store. Sometimes they might stop by a restaurant if they have not had time to prepare a meal at the station. In order to be judicious with City resources, the crews are diligent to make sure that such a stop coincides with a trip they were already making, such as on the way back from an incident or the hospital.

 A Sun Prairie Police Officer (within the City) or a Dane County Sherriff's Deputy might respond before or with the ambulance crew. The Sun Prairie Fire Department might respond to a serious car accident, fire, or carbon monoxide emergency.  These additional resources are sent when the information that is provided to the 911 dispatcher suggests that they might be helpful, or necessary in an emergency.

Lights and sirens are only used in emergent situations, which means that the situation is time sensitive, and the transportation needs to be faster than normal. We always try to get to the patient and then to the hospital as quickly and safely as possible, but it's not always necessary to use the lights and sirens.  Whether to use our lights and sirens is decided on a case by case basis based on the information that we have available to us either on our way to a call, or after we meet our patient.

Running is risky – if they were to trip and fall, then they would be of no help to the person who needed them, and they would probably become a patient themselves.  Running prevents them from surveying a scene thoroughly, and they might overlook a hazard like a protective dog, a weapon in the room, downed power lines, or similar.  Running also elevates their own heart rate and respirations, which does not create a sense of calm for their patients, and makes it difficult for them to think clearly and act deliberately.

In most cases, we are able to respect a patient's wishes as to which hospital they would like to go to. If you aren't sure which hospital to go to, the paramedics can help you decide which one may be preferred based on the patient's medical condition and/or any insurance they may have. In some cases, the patient's emergency dictates which hospital we will need go to. For example, serious trauma patients will almost always be transported to UW Hospital because they are the only Level 1 Trauma Center in the area. A woman in labor would be brought to Meriter or St. Mary's since UW doesn't normally treat OB/Gyn patients. If a patient is very sick and needs to be seen and treated by a doctor within minutes, we may take them to St. Mary's Sun Prairie Emergency Center as it is the closest hospital where they can receive stabilizing care before continuing on to their hospital of choice.

When you call 911 simply let the dispatcher know of the special circumstances.  Also, completing a File of Life card and keeping it on your refrigerator for each family member can help once the ambulance arrives.  For advanced concerns, consider alerting Sun Prairie EMS in advance if your child or loved one lives in the area and has specific needs that will influence how the paramedics care for them.  There are several options available for us to ensure that we are aware of you special needs and can respond to it appropriately.  

Sun Prairie EMS will provide ambulance transportation to all patients, no matter their medical condition or their ability to pay.  Hospital emergency rooms, however, triage patients based on how serious their medical condition is, regardless of how they got there.  In some cases, people might take an ambulance to the hospital only to find themselves in the same waiting room they would have entered had they driven their own car.

Locally, the Madison Area Technical College offers paramedic training, and many Sun Prairie EMS paramedics received their training there.  Other programs exist around Wisconsin and in neighboring states, and scholarship programs are available (search the internet for the most updated information).  If you’d like to get a first-hand look at what it’s like to be a paramedic in Sun Prairie, please contact us and we’ll be glad to give you a tour of the station! Fill out a job interest card here.

When a driveway is being replaced, modified, or a new driveway is installed, you need to complete a Driveway Permit. The fee for the permit is $25. Permits applications can be accessed here.

Check Bid Opportunities page for current bid and subscribe on the specific sites. 

A Street Opening Permit is required to create any opening or excavation within the City of Sun Prairie in any:

• public street
• Public alley
• Public way
• Public ground
• Public sidewalk
• City-owned easement

The fee for the permit is $100. Permit application can be accessed here. 

Visit our Permits page to find out when an Erosion Control or Stormwater Management Permit is required.

The 1st Dollar Credit is a credit on your property tax bill for any real estate parcel on which at least one improvement by the land owner is located. The credit should be automatically applied to all qualifying properties. This value is calculated every year by the Department of Revenue after considering the projected number of claims and school property tax rates (for K-8, Union High, and K-12 school districts).

The credit on the 2024 property tax bills for eligible parcels is $92.42. For taxpayers who pay their taxes in 2 or more installments, the credit is applied equally to each installment.

Multiply the assessed value of your property by the mill rate, add the refuse and recycling costs, subtract the state lottery credit amount (if eligible), and subtract the first dollar credit (if eligible).

The City Attorney represents the City of Sun Prairie and its departments acting as the City’s legal counsel by providing legal advice and aid. The City Attorney represents the City in municipal court by representing the City’s interests in citizens adherence to city ordinances and thus pursues citations against those found to be in violation of City ordinance. 

A City Attorney represents the City in a “civil” citation such as a fee/fine against a citizen for a violation of city ordinance. A District Attorney represents a county in a “criminal” offense against a citizen for a violation of state law. In sum, a municipal citation is not criminal and usually involves the payment of a fee/fine. 

No. The City Attorney cannot represent or give legal advice to private citizens. The City Attorney represents the City and because of this cannot protect your legal interests. 

If you wish to contest a citation you may schedule a pre-trial conference with the City Attorney’s Office by entering a not guilty plea online or at your initial appearance (i.e. the scheduled court date on your citation). 

To file a claim against the city you must follow the instructions outlined in Wisconsin Statute § 893.80. For your convenience, there are general instructions for submitting a claim on the City Attorney’s Office webpage found on the City of Sun Prairie website. These do not constitute legal advice and you are encouraged to consult your own legal counsel. 

You may enter a plea online, and/or pay the fine, or appear on your scheduled court date. You may also choose not to appear if the appearance is not mandatory. If this is the case, you will be found guilty by default and must pay the fine. 

You may pay your citation online, via mail, or in person at 300 E Main St. You may pay in cash, card or check. Please do not mail cash.  

Yes, you may set up a payment plan to make payments on your citation. To do so you may contact the Court Clerk at 608-837-9541 or speak to the Court Clerk at your initial appearance (i.e. the scheduled court date on your citation) after making a plea. 

No municipal citations are not criminal. Municipal citations are civil matters pursued by cities for a violation of city ordinance and usually involve a fine/fee as a penalty. 

The Wisconsin Driver’s License point system is a system where each citation issued by a city or municipality in Wisconsin results in a point penalty on the cited person’s license. If an individual has reached twelve points on their license, their license will be suspended as a result.

An Ignition Interlock Device (IID) is a device that is installed in an individual’s car to prevent the start of the vehicle when the user blows more than the legal limit allowable to operate the vehicle. An IID is used as part of the Ignition Interlock Device program in Wisconsin which prevents those with more than one OWI offense or an OWI offense where the individual had a blood alcohol content of .15 and higher from driving their registered vehicle unless they have installed the device. You may obtain one from any provider as long as it is in compliance with state statute, see Wis. Stat. § 343.301. For more information please see the Wisconsin Department of Transportation website: https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/license-drvs/susp-or-rvkd/IID.aspx

On your citation it will state whether your appearance is required or not. If your appearance is required, then you must appear at the address listed on your citation. 

If your appearance is “mandatory” and you do not appear, the judge can find you guilty by default and/or issue a warrant for your arrest. 

If your appearance is not “mandatory” and you do not appear then you will be found guilty by default unless you have already contested your citation by entering a not guilty plea online and have a scheduled pre-trial conference with the City Attorney’s Office. 

No, you are not required to have a lawyer in Municipal Court, although you may obtain one at your own expense. 

No, you are not entitled to a court appointed lawyer for a municipal citation if you can’t afford one because a municipal citation is not a criminal offense. Only for a criminal offense are you entitled to constitutionally appointed counsel. 

Visit our Volunteer with the Museum page for more information about becoming a museum volunteer.

Visit our Donate to the Museum page for more information about donating items to our collection.

Visit our Conducting Historical Research page for more information.

KSUN can be seen on Charter TV: 983 and TDS TV: 13/1013 and online at sunprairiemediacenter.com/ksun. KIDS-4 can be seen on Charter TV: 984 and TDS TV: 14/1014. 

Visit our User Guidelines page for more information about our policies.

No. the Sun Prairie Fire Department has specified through ordinance that all key access boxes be Knox Box brand. Knox offers the most fail safe and secure program available. Call 608-837-5066, ext. 3 for more information.

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Please contact the Human Resources Department if you have missed a deadline for a job posting.  If we have not yet received a sufficient number of applications, your information may be considered.  If a significant amount of time has passed after the posted deadline, we may be too far in the selection process for your late application to be considered.  We encourage everyone to review our various job descriptions and sign up to receive a system-generated emails when new jobs are posted.  Please contact us if you have any questions. 

Sun Prairie does an annual testing process for police officers. This is normally done in the spring of each year. Persons interested in this process should fill out a Job Interest Card and we will send you an email when the Police Officer Recruitment process begins.

The City does not currently have a short-term rental use or license defined by city ordinance and therefore do not have any standards in addition to those required by the State of Wisconsin or Dane County. Short term rentals and lodging establishments, such as hotels, are regulated under the same administrative code in Wisconsin State Statutes with licensing and health inspections being the same. 

A short-term rental is considered to be the lease of any residential dwelling, or part thereof, for periods less than 30 days whereas rooming for a period of 30 days or more is considered a conventional lease arrangement. The term "Hotel" means a place where sleeping accommodations are offered for pay to transients, in 5 or more rooms, and all related rooms, buildings and areas. In simpler terms, if an establishment is planning to operate 5 or more rooms under the same legal entity, it would considered be a hotel by the state.

Short-term rentals are required to have a Dane County license, regardless of municipal treatment, as well as state license for remittance of room taxes. Should any complaint be issued against a short-term rental, staff will contact Dane County to verify compliance with an issued license.

The future land use (FLU) map is contained in the City's Comprehensive Plan and identifies areas by their primary intended uses, character, and densities. The FLU map contains different land use categories that together illustrate the city's land use vision. These categories are not zoning districts and do not establish binding performance criteria for land uses, nor are they intended to list every possible use that may be permitted.

 Zoning is the most common method of land use control used by local governments and is one of the main regulatory tools through which the Comprehensive Plan is implemented. Zoning refers to the division of land into distinct areas or zones, each with specific regulations dictating land use, building heights, density, and other factors. The primary purpose of zoning is to regulate land use and development in a manner that promotes orderly growth, protects property values, and ensures the health, safety, and welfare of the community.

 Refer to "Mapping the Future" - a guide to planning and zoning on the Planning Division's Website.

A zoning permit is required from the Planning Division for any addition of use, change of use, or reactivation of a prior use for all permitted non-residential uses. Any parking lot expansion or site alteration also requires a zoning permit. Construction of a one- or two-family dwelling unit no longer requires a separate zoning permit from the Planning Division and shall be submitted directly for a building permit through the City's web-based application software system, OpenGov. 

An interactive map of the city's zoning districts is available on the Planning Division's website. This map is updated regularly as zoning map amendments, i.e. "Rezones," are approved by the City Council. 

Refer to Section 17.12.050 for statements regarding the purpose and intent of standard zoning districts contained in the zoning ordinance.

The City's zoning ordinance considers attached decks and porches as an extension of the primary structure and are therefore subject to those applicable setback requirements of Section 17.24.030. The following exceptions may be considered:

• Terraces, steps, uncovered porches, decks, stoops, or similar appurtenances that do not extend more than three (3) feet above grade may be setback up to eight (8) feet from the rear lot line. 
• Balconies or similar appurtenances, such as a deck, that extend more than three (3) feet above grade may extend into a required rear yard up to six (6) feet.
• A front or street yard setback reduction for terraces, steps, uncovered porches, decks, stoops, or similar appurtenances to residential buildings may be considered as long as they are not located closer than fifteen (15) feet from any street right-of-way and do not extend above the floor level of the adjacent building entrance.

 Refer to Section 17.24.080 - Intrusions into required yards

All fences, landscape walls, or decorative posts may be located on any property line abutting a side or rear yard and a minimum of two (2) feet from the street yard property line (also referred to as the right-of-way). The maximum height of any residential fence, landscape wall, or decorative post shall be six (6) feet except when located within 20-feet of a street yard property line, the maximum height is four (4) feet. 

 For residential lots fronting more than one street, a six (6) foot tall fence may be located within 20-feet of a street yard property line on the side yard with administrative approval of a special use permit (SUP) as long as the fence is setback appropriately to allow landscaping on its external side and the increase in height does not obstruct vision for intersecting streets, driveways, sidewalks or other traffic areas. A six (6) foot tall fence may be located within 20-feet of a street yard property line in the front yard with approval of a conditional use permit (CUP), subject to the same conditions as an SUP. A CUP requires a public hearing with the City’s Plan Commission. 

 Fences should remain out of all easements when possible. Please consult with city staff if easements, or other natural areas such as wetlands, are present on your property. All fences require a building permit from the Building Inspection Division prior to installation: https://cityofsunprairie.com/197/Fences 

Refer to Section 17.36.200 - Fencing standards

A Web Application (Current Planning Projects) is available on the Planning Division's website for viewing development projects approved by the Planning Division for construction. This web app includes current planning and zoning projects under review by city staff for either consideration by Plan Commission or administrative approval. 

 Current planning and zoning projects include new construction, new uses or change of use requiring a conditional use permit (CUP), land divisions (subdivisions/plats), annexations, conceptual plans for a planned development, and amendments to the zoning ordinance, zoning map, and Comprehensive Plan. This web application represents planning and zoning level review only and does not represent the issuance of building permits. 

Planned Developments are special districts aimed at revitalizing neglected areas in the community and supporting types of development that the city’s zoning rules don't allow. They seek to enhance the city's appearance and economy by giving more flexibility in how sites are designed and developed, allowing for more creative land use and design options. 

 Planned developments allow for changes to specific land rules and other regulations. In return for this flexibility, they must uphold higher standards in site design and architecture compared to regular developments. These projects follow special procedures and need a public hearing, combining steps from zoning map changes and conditional use processes, along with extra requirements. Planned developments are initiated by property owner(s) and are evaluated for consistency with the City’s Comprehensive Plan and other adopted plans and policies.

 The Planned Development Proposal Process is outlined on the Planning Division's website: https://cityofsunprairie.com/1782/Planned-Development-Proposal-Process

Refer to Section 17.12.080 - Planned development (PD) district procedures.

A duplex house and twin house are both considered to be single-family residences attached on one side to another single-family residence. The duplex house is distinguished from the twin house merely by having both units located on a single lot. Converting a duplex to a twin home requires a certified survey map (CSM) to be submitted to the City's Planning Division for administrative review as a minor land division. If the residence is served by a single sanitary lateral, a plumbing maintenance agreement shall be submitted with the CSM and signed by all land owners and recorded with the Dane County Register of Deeds in conjunction with recording of the CSM. Please note that a CSM must be prepared by a registered land surveyor per State of Wisconsin Statutes. 

 Refer to Section 16.24.010 - Land divisions by certified survey.

No. The City is responsible for enforcing its adopted Code of Ordinances. Many subdivision organizations such as a Homeowner's Association (HOA) have its own set of rules and guidelines established to guide use, allowable structures, and design, generally referred to as a Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions. These covenants are recorded in the Dane County Register of Deeds office and are privately regulated and enforced. The city does not regulate private covenants.

The Sun Prairie Fire and EMS is currently a combination (having both paid on premise and career members) department that staffs both Stations are 24/7.

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• Have your carts at the curb by 7 a.m. on your collection day.
• The cart lid should be closed. If it is overflowing, it will not be collected.
• Leave space between the carts so the truck's mechanical arms can grab each cart to empty them.

Please visit the Recycle Center page to review the center's hours.

Review a list of materials accepted (PDF) at the Recycle Center.

Potholes can be reported though Request Tracker.

City of Sun Prairie does not offer an animal control unit. Call Public Health of Madison & Dane County for the following situations: aggressive animals (Sun Prairie PD), animal bites (Sun Prairie PD), animals in traffic causing safety hazards, dogs in unauthorized park areas (or Sun Prairie PD), investigation of cruelty/neglect complaints, rabies quarantine, sick or injured animals (wild or domestic), and stray or running at large domestic animals. The number to call is (608) 267-1989. This agency does not respond for barking dogs (call Sun Prairie PD) or wild animal nuisances.

You can access the residential refuse and recycling schedule and  map by clicking here. 

You may pay tickets / citations at the City Clerk window located in the lobby 300 East Main Street. There is also a kiosk at both 300 East Main Street and 2598 West Main Street where you can make these payments using the online system. You can also use any mobile device or computer and head to www.cityofsunprairie.com/policepayments. The records bureau is open from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (excluding holidays) to answer any questions regarding your citation. Please note that payments are accepted in the form of cash, money order, check, debit card and credit card. (There is a service fee to use a credit or debit card). To pay online, you will need your citation / ticket number and the amount due on your citation. After authorization of your payment, you will be sent a confirmation email that you should keep for your records. Call 608-837-7339 with any questions.

If you have been the victim of a personal or property crime, and wish to report it to the police for investigation, an officer will need to speak with you directly. We do not take these types of complaints over the phone.

You can either come to the police department to file the report or call our main number at 608-837-7336, and an officer will be dispatched to your location.

Those interested in scheduling a tour of the police department should contact the Sun Prairie Police Department Records Bureau at 608-837-7339. The records bureau is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Sun Prairie Police Department does not install car seats; however, the Sun Prairie Volunteer Fire Department provides certified technicians to inspect your child car seat, and show you how to correctly install and use it free of charge. Schedule your appointment today!

More information available on the Sun Prairie Volunteer Fire Department page.

Visit our Parking Restrictions page for more information.

Sun Prairie area residents can renew their license plate stickers at both Pick N' Save locations (east and west) and Woodman's. Residents seeking to renew their license stickers should bring their license plate number to the store and their I.D. Clerks will process the renewal and provide the citizen with a new license plate sticker at the counter / kiosk.

• Pick N' Save East at 640 East Main Street
• Pick N' Save West at 2538 Ironwood Drive
• Woodman's at 1099 South Grand Avenue

Fingerprint services are temporarily suspended as of Monday, March 11, 2024.

The Sun Prairie Police Department has temporarily suspended fingerprint operations for the general public. Other area agencies that offer the same service are listed below with their days and times.  Please call the agency beforehand to ensure the information has not changed.

Madison Police Department

(608) 266-4075

Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

McFarland Police Department

(608) 838-3151

By appointment only

Only offer electronic fingerprinting

Middleton Police Department

(608) 824-7300

Wednesdays only 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (appointments encouraged, but not required)

Only offer electronic fingerprinting

UW Police Department

(608) 265-3279

Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. (appointments encouraged, but not required)

Offer both electronic and ink

Waunakee Police Department

(608) 849-4523

Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Only offer ink fingerprinting

To report a crash, please call 9-1-1 or our non-emergency number, 608-837-7336. You must exchange names, addresses, and license numbers with the driver and / or occupants of the vehicle struck.

If law enforcement is not contacted, self report the accident to the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles.

Those interested in scheduling a ride along should fill out the Citizen Observer Application. This form should then be either mailed or dropped off at the police department. Should you have any questions, please contact the Sun Prairie Police Department Records Bureau at 608-837-7339.

Dog licenses are processed through the Clerk's office.

Requests for police records may be submitted through the following link - https://sunprairiewi.justfoia.com/publicportal/home/track.

Requests will be fulfilled as soon as practicable and without delay based on the order in which they were received. Ten working days generally is a reasonable time for responding to a simple request for a limited number of easily identifiable records. For requests that are broader in scope or that require locating, review, or redaction of many documents, a reasonable time for responding may be longer.

When 3 or more inches of snowfall occurs, the City declares a "Snow Emergency." Parking is prohibited on all streets until the snow emergency has been cancelled. Cars parked on a City street in violation of a Snow Emergency may be ticketed or towed. There is a $50.00 fine for parking in violation of a Snow Emergency.

Snow Emergency warnings are called in to local radio and TV stations. You may also check the city website and our Facebook or call the Department of Public Works at 608-837-3050.

Another option is to sign up for Nixle. Nixle is free and every time a Snow Emergency is declared, an alert will be sent out to those that are signed up. Information can be received online and via e-mail. Residents receive messages by phone as part of their text-messaging plan (otherwise standard text message rates apply). The system is simple to use and provides an easy sign-up process. Register now and learn more at the Nixle website.

Nixle’s Community Information Service is built exclusively to provide secure and reliable communications. Its authenticated service connects City agencies to citizens in real time, delivering information to residents of geographically targeted areas and neighborhoods. Citizen questions about the service and its capabilities can be answered through the Frequently Asked Questions page on the Nixle website. Should you need additional assistance, Nixle provides free citizen support via email.

Information regarding alarm permits for residential and businesses can be found on the Security Alarm Permit page.

The Sun Prairie Police Department has free cable locks available for pick up at the following locations:

• City Hall Police Department, 300 East Main Street
• Westside Community Building Police Department, 2598 West Main Street

If you are a gun owner and do not currently have a safety lock of some sort on your firearm, we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to help make your home and our community as safe as it can be. No I.D. or additional information is needed for pick up. In addition, you may pick up multiple locks. 

We hope you will take advantage of this free firearm cable locks program. We appreciate your help in keeping Sun Prairie and our surrounding communities the safest they can be. If you have questions, please contact the Sun Prairie Police Department at 837-7336.

Bicycle licenses are available at the police department during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). You can also complete the application online. There is no fee to register a bike. The license is valid for the lifetime of the bicycle. The following information is needed to obtain your bicycle license and sticker:

• Color of bike
• Make and model of bike (new or used)
• Seat, frame, fender, and rim colors
• Serial number of bike
• Speed
• Tire size
• Type of brakes (hand, coaster)

Information on our Med Drop Program can be found here.  Med Drop

SNPD conducted a comprehensive review of the crossing guard program to ensure that we are assigning crossing guards where they provide the greatest safety benefit. The review considered factors such as student crossing volumes, roadway characteristics, traffic controls, speed, crash history, existing pedestrian safety infrastructure, and the overall hazard associated with each location. While the City will see savings from these updates, this decision is about more than the budget - it's about making sure we can provide an effective, sustainable crossing guard program while continuing to prioritize the safety of students and pedestrians in our community. 

No. As with any City service, we have a responsibility to use public resources wisely. The financial impact was one factor we considered as part of this review, but it was not the primary reason for these changes. Safety and effectiveness were central to the discussion, and our ultimate goal is to ensure that limited resources are deployed where the greatest need and safety benefit have been identified through our evaluation. 

No. The absence of a crossing guard does not mean that an intersection is unsafe. It simply means that the City has determined that, based on the available data and existing safety controls (such as traffic signals, all-way stop signs, median refuges, raised crosswalks, etc.), a dedicated crossing guard is not necessary at that location under the current conditions. We will continue to monitor all locations and reevaluate them if conditions change. 

The safety of children remains the City's highest priority. The city is not reducing its commitment to pedestrian safety. We are aligning crossing guard resources with the locations where the greatest demonstrated need exists, and we are confident that these changes will not jeopardize student/children safety. We will continue to engage with our partners at the schools, monitor effectiveness, and make adjustments when warranted. 

This program will continue to be evaluated. If traffic patterns, student crossing volumes, roadway conditions, development, or other circumstances change, the city will reassess the location.

The crossing guard program relies on input from elementary school principals, who may request that the City of Sun Prairie's Traffic Safety Team evaluate the need for a crossing guard at a particular location. The same evaluation criteria and matrix used to assess existing crossing guard locations are also applied when considering requests for additional crossing guard coverage.

Call Sun Prairie Utilities at 608-837-5500, submit it on the Sun Prairie Utilities Website

Over 40 parks, with varying amounts of available activities are located within City of Sun Prairie limits. Parks and open space locations can be found by visiting Parks and Open Space.

Sign up begins around March each year, after previous participants are notified about renewing their participation. Individuals or groups interested in volunteering for this program should visit the Blooming of Sun Prairie.

TIF is short for tax increment financing. TID is short for tax increment district. Tax increment financing (TIF) is the economic tool available by creating a tax increment district (TID).

When a tax increment district (TID) is created, the value of the property at that point in time is set as the base value. The taxes created by the base value continue to pay out to the taxing jurisdictions at the same rate, while the increased value from the base rate that are paid in new taxes are leveraged to fund additional improvements that will continue to increase the value of the property further over the base value. Each TID has a set life that is allowed to have this fund available. When the life of the TID comes to close, all of the taxes then will be released to the taxing jurisdictions.

Graphics source: Vierbicher & Associations

The goals of the City of Sun Prairie’s use of TIF include:  

• The diversification of its economic base through the retention and expansion of existing businesses
• The redevelopment of the areas that are blighted or in need of redevelopment    
• The attraction of new industrial uses and employment centers    
• The assistance to other projects of special community interest 
• The establishment of new employment opportunities for our residents  
• The expansion of our local tax base

To reserve a park shelter with Sun Prairie Parks, Recreation & Forestry, follow these steps:

1. Online Reservations: Visit our Facilities Rental page and use the online reservation system to check availability and submit a request.
2. In-Person Reservations: You can also visit our office during regular business hours (8:00 am–4:30 pm, Monday through Friday) to reserve a facility.

Shelters and gazebos are available for private rental from May 1 through September 30, from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, with specific fees based on shelter type and residency status. The Wetmore Park East Shelter is available from March through December.

For more details on shelter availability, fees, and terms, please review our Facilities Rental page. Contact us at Rec@cityofsunprairie.com or (608) 837-3449 with any questions.

Refund/Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be made at least 10 days prior to the reservation date to qualify for a refund, minus a $20 withdrawal fee.

Yes! Dogs are welcome in City parks, provided that:

• The dog must be under the control of the owner at all times
• The dog must be on a non-retractable leash, held in hand at all times, that is no more than 6 feet in length
• The dog must be properly licensed in the municipality that it primarily resides in
• The owner must pick up after the dog
• Only service dogs permitted in playground areas, tennis courts, pickleball courts, volleyball courts, basketball courts, athletic fields, baseball diamonds, the Family Aquatic Center, the Tom & Rita Tubbs Splashpad and Playground, park restrooms/changing facilities, or ice rinks.

For more information on the rules and regulations of City of Sun Prairie parks, please see Chapter 12.44 of the Sun Prairie Municipal Code.

An increase in your assessment does not necessarily mean an increase in your property taxes. Additionally, a decrease in your assessment does not necessarily mean a decrease in your property taxes. Your property tax rate will not be last year’s property tax rate multiplied by this year’s assessed value.

Though the assessed value of your property affects your share of taxes, the actual amount you pay is determined by the budget needs, or levy of the schools, city, county, technical college and state reforestation. All of these taxing bodies decide their budget needs based on services to be provided to the community. If the total levy remains the same, only those properties that are not presently paying their fair share of the tax burden will pay more taxes after a revaluation. Properties presently paying more than their fair share will pay less. 

To illustrate how the levy affects your assessment we’ll look at Badgertown; a community of two. Each resident owns a house valued at $100,000. Badgertown’s tax levy is $2,000; the amount needed to cover its expenses. Since each resident owns 50% of the total property, they each pay 50% of the levy giving them each a tax bill of $1,000.

If property values in Badgertown go up 10%, then each property is assessed at $110,000. The amount they pay in taxes, however, remains the same. Each resident still owns 50% of the total property in Badgertown and must pay 50% of the $2,000 tax levy or $1,000. And what if values start dropping? Residents’ property might drop to $80,000 each but because they each still own 50% of the property, and Badgertown still needs to collect $2,000, they will continue to see a $1,000 property tax bill.

The tax rate is calculated each year to determine what the property tax levy will be for the upcoming year. In other words, it sets the total amount the Sun Prairie municipal government can collect through property taxes to fund services and operations. 

The tax rate adjusts based on both the levy and the total value of all taxable property in the community. It is often expressed in terms of dollars per thousand (also known as the mill rate). If the assessed values established by a revaluation are greater than they were before and the tax levy is the same, then the tax rate will be less. For example, if the tax levy remains unchanged and the total assessed value of the taxation district is doubled, the tax rate will be cut in half.

Until the budget needs for all the taxing bodies are determined, the effect on your taxes cannot immediately be established. Please call 608-825-1186 for more information.

General economic conditions, such as interest rates, inflation, supply and demand, and changes in tax laws, will influence the market value of real estate. As property values change in the market place, those changes must be reflected on the Assessment Roll on an annual basis. Consequently, assessed values can go up or down even if you have made no changes to your property. Please call 608-825-1186 for more information.

You can contact the Assessor’s Office at 608-825-1186. If your question cannot immediately be answered you will be directed to the appraiser for your area. If you have recently received an Assessment Change Notice, we encourage you to contact the Assessor’s Office at 608-825-1186 to make an appointment to meet with the appraiser during Open Book.

Open Book is the period of time just after the Assessor has completed the annual Assessment Roll and Assessment Change Notices have been mailed. 

During this time the Assessment Roll is open to the whole community for review. Time is reserved for property owners to make appointments with the Assessing staff to review property records and discuss valuation concerns. The Assessor’s staff will have a limited number of evening appointments available.

If you wish to object to your assessment we encourage you to first meet with a member of the Assessor’s staff who can answer your questions.

The law requires that the Assessor assess all property not exempt by law, which has any real or marketable value as of January first each year. For more information, please visit our Assessment Process page. 

The last city revaluation occurred in 2023. After that was complete, the City Assessors Office scheduled future revaluations – with 2026 being the next planned revaluation year. The fact that a revaluation is occurring the same year as a referendum was placed on the April ballot is simply a coincidence, and there is no connection between the two.

Revaluations are completed not to increase the total revenue to a community, but to make sure that the taxes paid are equitable. In Wisconsin, the measure of equity is fair market value. While a revaluation can cause your taxes to go up, the City cannot use a revaluation to increase the property tax levy.