Rules for Usage

The following rules have been formulated to protect the investment made by Wisconsin's taxpayers in the renovation of the State Capitol. In some cases, these rules are also codified in the Administrative Code, which gives them the force of state law.

• The facility is to be used with care, and is to be used as-is. Rooms are furnished to meet the needs of the Assembly. Outside groups must respect this policy and use accordingly.

• No furnishings may be moved without the express prior permission of the Assembly Sergeant at Arms. All furnishings and property must remain in the rooms where they are found.  We do not provide additional seating or tables beyond what is normally furnished. No adhesive tape or adhesive paper of any kind may be applied to any surface in the building. Signs and banners may not be displayed.
• No food or drink may be consumed in any room unless prior arrangements have been made with the Assembly Sergeant at Arms. No open flames of any kind are permitted. No red beverages are permitted.  No alcoholic beverages may be possessed or consumed. 
• Equipment used in Assembly operations is not to be touched. Under no circumstances shall the equipment or property of the Assembly be removed. No one is allowed on the Upper Dias (Speaker’s Podium) without the express prior permission of the Assembly Sergeant at Arms.
• The facility should be left in the state it was found upon entering. Applicants are responsible for the complete cleanup of any litter and debris (no glitter).  Applicants will pay all fees associated with custodial services.
• Instruments or equipment brought in must be able to be carried by hand and be acoustic. Amplifiers are not allowed.
• The Assembly is not responsible for any theft or damage to any items brought into our facility.
• The building hours are set by the Capitol Police and must be followed. The Capitol is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday. Private events are not allowed in the building past these hours.  All members of your party should exit by closing time.
• Applicants planning very large events or events with a commercial or industrial purpose may be asked to indemnify the state against loss with an insurance policy. Such applicants will provide this proof when asked, and will maintain such coverage in force for the duration of the event.         

• • All reservations require a $750 pre-dated security deposit at the time of application. This is to indemnify the taxpayers against property damage, clean up costs, or any other unexpected costs. Applicants will pay all applicable charges for damage that occurs or any other charges that are incurred by the Assembly Sergeant at Arms arising from their use of the state facility.
  • Applicants will be subject to a non-refundable application fee (wedding) or an hourly usage charge, with a three hour minimum (other event). A staff person will be present for your scheduled event.  Any setup or take down (music, flowers, clean up, etc.) needs to be completed within the allocated time. Failure to do so may result in additional charges.
  • BE AWARE that you are not entering into a binding agreement for the use of space in the Capitol. Our rooms exist first and foremost for legislative use. There is a possibility that your reservation could be changed or cancelled at any time with very little notice. Our office makes every attempt to prevent this from happening.  However, events like unexpected weekend sessions of the Assembly are beyond our control. If this risk is unacceptable to you, please do not reserve our facility. We cannot, under any circumstances, ever guarantee that your event will not be relocated or removed from a space in the Capitol.

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Make A Reservation

1. Determine If the Date you Desire is Available: Click Here to view our online room scheduling system. Use the monthly calendar in the left-hand frame to navigate to the day you wish to check. Click on the date that you wish to reserve. If the date is not a clickable link, this means that there are no events scheduled for that date. 
2. Download and Complete the Application: The Wedding Permit Application and Facility Use Permit Application is stored in the common PDF format. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view and to print it.

• Wedding Permit Application

• Other Use Permit Application

• Click here to request this form in some other format.

3. Return the Appropriate Permit Application to Us: If mailing your form, send it to the address at the top of the form. *Include your $750 deposit check made out to the Assembly Chief Clerk (not the Assembly Sergeant) and Application Fee (when applicable).  Please mail your deposit check to the address appearing at the top of the form. To ensure your reservation, please pre-date your deposit check to within a month of the actual event date. Be sure your check is appropriately dated (cashable) or your room will not be reserved. 
4. Receive a Letter from Us Confirming Your Reservation: After your application has been approved by the Assembly Sergeant at Arms, you will receive a confirmation letter in the mail from us. This may take a few weeks due to regular work obligations of the office.
5. Contact Our Office at 608-237-9624, or Send an E-mail, with Special Requests: The Sergeant's office will let you know if we can accommodate your requests. Advance notice is important to ensuring your requests are fulfilled to your satisfaction.
6. Show Up for Your Event: A member of our staff will be present to open the facility for you, to make sure lights are on, and to assist you. He or she will remain for the duration of your event, and will lock the facility after you leave.  
7. Pay Your Event Charge: We will send you a letter after your event, noting the amount owed (when applicable) and providing instructions for payment.

• Weddings: The Application Fee will cover the cost for the time frame selected; however should the event not conclude within the designated time additional charges could apply.
• Other Events:  You will be charged per hour (three hour minimum) if using the Assembly Chamber or Parlor. If using an Assembly hearing room the charge is half the Chamber / Parlor hourly fee (three hour minimum). This charge will be billed out after your event has ended.
•  All Events:  We will make you aware after the event of any damages to the facility or cleanup costs that will result in any additional charges. We will not cash your deposit check before notifying you of any additional charges or giving you an opportunity either to dispute them or to pay them.

8. Receive Your Deposit Back: You will receive your deposit shortly after you have paid the usage charge and any other charges that may be due, as outlined earlier. We will send you back the check you sent us and then close out your application with a positive recommendation. This will allow you to return more easily the next time we have an opportunity to host one of your events.
9. Questions? Please feel free to contact Pat McKee at (608) 237-9624.